One Good Thing About Winter
Most of us look forward to no more bugs during the winter. No flies buzzing in the kitchen because the kids left the door open. No more ants finding a place to get in. Best of all…. no more spiders!
With all of that, we think that our dogs are safe too. We may grow lax in treating them for fleas and ticks or stop altogether during the winter.
Three Important Reasons You Should Treat Your Dog For Fleas and Ticks In Winter
- Fleas
- Ticks
- Heartworms
How do fleas survive winter?
Fleas are persistent and crafty little parasites. Thankfully no flea can survive in near-freezing temperatures for a long period of time. However, fleas are very resourceful creatures and will seek out warm-bodied hosts, as in dogs, cats, raccoons, opossums. Or they will find warm shelters such as sheds, garages, even (gasp!) your home in order to survive all year long. Immature fleas can even develop in freeze-protected dens of wild animals.
An Unwelcome House Guest
Adult fleas don’t have wings, but they still get around very well. They jump. They can survive cold temperatures as low as 30 degrees. But, when they jump onto your dog and your dog goes back in the nice warm house, they can live all year long….. in your house. A flea can jump vertically up to 7 in. and horizontally up to 13 in.
Snow may be covering the ground, but dog owners must still be vigilant about pest control, says veterinarian Michael Dryden, of Kansas State University, in an article on the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) website.
The Female Flea
The female flea typically lives for several weeks on a host – your dog. During this time, she will suck the host’s blood two to three times and lay twenty to thirty eggs each day. She may lay several hundred eggs over her lifespan. These eggs fall off of the host into the yard, bedding, carpet, and wherever else the animal spends time.
Flea Eggs
Flea eggs then begin to develop where they have landed. Since they are about 1/12 the size of the adult, they can even develop nearly anywhere, even in small cracks, the floor, between crevices in carpeting. The egg then hatches into larvae. These tiny worm-like larvae live among the carpet fibers, in cracks of the floor, and outside in the environment. They feed on organic matter, skin scales, and even the blood-rich adult flea feces. (Oh yuck!)
Then there are the southern states of the U.S.
For residents of the southern states of the U.S., where the winter season may only go as low as the 30s, fleas will often stay active throughout most or all of the winter season. Only sustained cold (less than 30 degrees) and low humidity levels will kill off outdoor eggs, larvae, and adult fleas.
Winter is the best time to fight fleas
The best time to fight fleas is during the winter. That is when there is the best chance they will become less active and fewer in number. Regularly vacuuming the areas where your pet spends time and continuing regular flea treatments throughout the winter season are the best ways to combat them before the next flea season is in full swing.
The Tenacious Tick
Ticks are also capable of surviving winter temperatures when they are able to find a host to feed on or a warm location to hide in during the coldest weather months. Generally, adult ticks will still be a threat when temperatures hover around 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ticks survive the winter in a variety of ways, but they do not go away just because it is cold. Depending on the species – and stage in their life cycle – ticks survive the winter months by going dormant or latching onto a host.
Ticks that carry Lyme disease
Blacklegged ticks, (deer ticks) which carry Lyme disease, remain active as long as the temperature is above freezing. The adults look for food right around the first frost.
Tick Prevention is necessary even in the winter
For this reason, if your pet spends time outdoors in the winter, tick prevention is still a good idea. And since most medications are designed to thwart both fleas and ticks, it’s a good idea to use preventive medications through the year.
What about Heartworms
Mosquitoes, of course, are carriers of the heartworm parasite, a life-threatening pest that can cause severe disease and even death. They are difficult and expensive to treat. Heartworms actually take up residence in the lungs. Even in areas where residents do not have to worry about mosquitoes during the winter, their return in the spring and summer months can catch you off guard. It is best to be pre-prepared.
Prevention year round is the best policy
Prevention is always the best practice. Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes may seem to be just a nuisance but they are capable of causing severe health problems.
Heartworm infection is a life-threatening disease for your dog. Fleas can cause skin disorders, infections, and even anemia. Ticks can carry Lyme disease which is very serious for pets as well as humans. You know the saying… “It is better to be safe than sorry”.
