Treatment FAQ

when do dogs need flea treatment

by Karlee West Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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eight weeks

What months do dogs need flea treatment?

December through February are arguably the lowest risk months for parasites, so many pet-parents will forgo coverage in those months, and start flea and tick prevention again in March or April when the weather begins to warm.

How often do dogs need flea treatment?

monthlyPets, especially dogs and cats, require regular attention to keep them in perfect health. One tip is to administer flea and worm treatment; a monthly top-up that can help to protect your pet against serious health complications in the long-term.

Do dogs need flea treatment year round?

We always recommend giving flea and tick protection year round as the weather is unpredictable. Fleas can live outdoors and can survive in temperatures as low as 33 degrees for up to 5 days (long enough to jump on to your dog or you during your short walk outside and make their way in to your home!).Mar 30, 2017

How often do puppies need flea treatment?

every 4 weeksFleas can still jump onto your puppy in the winter, and your warm home will be the perfect environment for triggering flea eggs to hatch. So, if you're asking yourself “how often should I give my puppy flea treatment?”, the answer is every 4 weeks for optimal protection – year-round, leaving no gaps.

How can you tell if your house has fleas?

Signs of a flea infestation include seeing:fleas hopping on your drapery, carpet, or furniture.multiple dot-like insects in your pet's fur.your pets scratch, lick, or bite their fur excessively.

Do I need to give my dog flea and tick medication in the winter?

Yes. Though many species of ticks and fleas are slowed down or dormant during the winter, certain areas of the United States are not cold enough to truly kill these parasites and stop their activity. Because ticks and fleas can carry diseases that could harm your dog, it's best to keep them protected all year long.

Do dogs really need flea and tick?

"Ticks and mosquitoes are dangerous to the health of people as well as pets," says Dr. Jill Lopez, a veterinarian with Merck Animal Health. "For that reason, flea and tick protection is essential for all dogs and cats that live with you."

Is there a flea season?

Flea Season Has No Off-season Though fleas may be less prevalent during colder months, there is technically no season in which your pet is not at risk of contracting fleas. As long as they have a warm host to live on, like your family pet, fleas will make themselves at home no matter the time of year.

Are fleas worse this year?

And for many, it's now a year-round concern. Summer is typically thought of as peak “flea season,” but milder winters, along with central heat and carpeting, have led to more fleas, more often. Pet parents and pet sitters alike are understandably frustrated.

Do all puppies have fleas?

And, unfortunately, they're pretty darn common. There are plenty of ways that your puppy can get fleas, which means that most pups will have at least a few of the bugs at one point or another.Dec 28, 2018

Do puppies need flea treatment?

Before the age of eight weeks, puppies often stay inside and their exposure to fleas is minimal. At this time, it's important to ensure that all other pets which come into contact with your puppy are treated against fleas. When your puppy starts venturing outside, they need to be given a flea preventative.

Can an 8 week old puppy have flea medicine?

Puppies aged eight weeks and older can often be treated with standard flea control products. There are several different options including spot-ons, tablets and collars. Advantage spot-on is suitable for pets from eight weeks. It kills fleas within 24 hours and is effective for up to four weeks.

When to Treat For Fleas in The Heat

For instance, if you live in some parts of the Southern United States, you will be dealing with the ideal conditions for fleas: between 65 and 80 d...

When to Treat For Fleas in The Rain

If you live in a cold and wet climate, both K9 Advantix II and Frontline Plus are waterproof, meaning they can keep your pet flea-free even during...

When to Treat For Fleas in The Cold

Ok, so you live somewhere that can be downright freezing. There’s only a high flea threat during a few months of the year. When should you begin to...

Southern and East Coast Ticks

However, that isn’t even the most crowded tick area in the United States. For that you have to head to the South and the East Coast, where you will...

How many species of fleas are there in dogs?

There are more than 200 species of fleas affecting dogs, and these can also transmit disease and cause tapeworm infections and anemia. Some dogs are very sensitive to fleabites and suffer from serious allergic reactions of itchy, red, and scabby skin and even hair loss.

When do ticks and fleas become active?

fleas. ticks. Although fleas and ticks pose a threat to pets year-round, these pests become most active during the warmer months, starting as early as March in some areas of the United States. Find your state on the map shown here to learn where and when your pets are most at risk for fleas and ticks.

Can fleas fly on dogs?

Fleas require blood from an animal host to be able to live and reproduce. They don’t have wings, so they can’t fly. However, they are serious jumpers with the ability to jump 100 to 200 times their size.

Do blacklegged ticks live in dogs?

Since deer are the main host of the Blacklegged tick and are active in fall and early winter months, this type of tick survives on the warm body of its host – until it drops off and attaches itself to your dog.

How old can a puppy be to get flea and tick treatment?

What age is safe for tick and flea treatment? In general, it is not safe to use flea or tick medication on puppies younger than seven or eight weeks old. However, there are options that are safe for even very small puppies. One such option is a tablet that works only for 24 hours, but it is not very preventative.

How old should a puppy be to avoid fleas?

You have to consider the puppy’s age. If younger than eight weeks , it is recommended that you avoid any of the shampoos and other topical treatments available on the market.

How to get rid of fleas in puppies?

An alternative is using a flea comb. For puppies younger than four weeks, the best solution is a comb. With this, you can safely get rid of fleas – if you can get your pup to keep still long enough. Manually comb out all the pests you can, and then either squash them (which might be too gross for some people) or dump them in boiling water.

How to get fleas to hatch?

Try using dehumidifiers. Flea eggs need a suitable environment to develop and hatch – at least 50% humidity. You can use a dehumidifier to make your home less of a breeding station. If your puppy is older than eight weeks, you can start using methods like flea and tick collars and other, stronger shampoos and spot-ons.

How to get rid of a puppy that is too old?

When your puppy is old enough, you can use one of the many solutions available these days, such as flea collars and medication.

How to make a flea trap?

To make the trap, fill a shallow bowl with water. Make sure it will be easy for the fleas to jump in. Then add about 20ml to 30ml of dish soap to the water. This will help reduce surface tension, causing the fleas, which are usually too light to go below the surface, to drown.

What to do when you get a new pet?

Spread the love. When you get a new pet, you obviously want to give them the best possible life and home. Included in this ‘best possible’ scenario, is proper health care and grooming. You don’t want your little furry friend to suffer and itch because of fleas and ticks.

When should I give my puppy a flea collar?

Seresto Flea and Tick Control Collar is suitable for puppies to wear from the age of seven weeks.

How long does a dog's flea collar last?

In the case of Seresto Flea and Tick Control Collar, your dog is protected for up to eight months. Make a note of when you need to replace the collar so you can check you have enough protection left to cover your holiday period, or if it’s coming to the end of its eight-month protection period, replace it with a fresh collar before you leave ...

How many eggs do fleas lay on a dog?

If you do spot a flea on your dog or any other household pets that haven’t been treated, you’ll need to act quickly to defend your home. Female fleas can lay 40 eggs every day, so the number of fleas in your home and on your pet can multiply rapidly. Image.

How to avoid fleas in your home?

There are some key things you can do to avoid suffering from a flea infestation at home: De-fle a all household pets regularly fleas will jump onto all animals in the home, so treat all pets (cats, dogs and rabbits) for fleas regularly to ensure they’re covered at all times.

Why does my dog have a itch when I bite him?

Some dogs are allergic to flea saliva, so fle a bites trigger an itchy skin condition called flea allergy dermatitis, which can lead to hair loss and make your pet miserable. Fleas also carry the tapeworm parasite which can be passed onto dogs and cats when they’re ingested, such as through grooming.

How does a spot on flea treatment work?

Spot-ons work by transporting the active ingredient across your dog’s body on the skin and hair, and some spot-on products kill fleas through contact. This means your pet doesn’t need to be bitten for the treatment to work, helping to reduce potential risks of disease infection. Image.

How long do fleas lay dormant?

In fact, flea eggs, larvae and pupae can be found in the home anytime and in the pupal stage can lay dormant for several months, so you may not realise you have any fleas in your home until you turn on your central heating and they begin to hatch.

How old can a puppy be to get fleas?

The flea treatment (according to veterinarians) will be safe for puppies as young as four weeks and a minimum of two pounds. Also, some flea shampoos can be used, but they are not very effective. Some pet owners even say that they strip out the dog’s natural oils but never kill the fleas.

How old can a dog be to wear a flea collar?

This collar can be used for dogs as young as seven weeks and up to eight months. The flea comb is also used as an alternative to medication or for puppies younger than four weeks. It is recommended to regularly run the flea comb throughout your dog’s coat to check fleas’ presence and safely remove them.

What is a tick and flea?

Written by Erwin Borgers in About Dogs. Fleas and ticks are the little monsters that make the life of our pets uncomfortable. Fleas and tick infestation are most prevalent in the spring and summer months. They need warm weather to survive, and the cold weather causes these parasites to stay dormant. Therefore, we wonder if fleas and ticks treatment ...

Why do ticks make my dog itch?

When they sense the warmth of the animal body, they jump and latch on to the animal. Ticks may not cause itching but will cause anemia, as they are bloodsuckers. These parasites feed on the blood of the dog. When they feed, they inject a salivary protein into the pet’s skin, causing severe itching.

Why do ticks and fleas get in winter?

There are several myths about fleas and ticks in winter: The first is related to the belief that pests are only a problem during the “flea season.”. As we mentioned, fleas thrive in hot and humid conditions. These warm months are generally called the “Flea season.”.

What temperature do ticks get in dogs?

Ticks can be active in temperatures from 40 and as low as 32 degrees. When you take advantage of the warm and mild days in winter to take your dog out, you expose your pet to ticks. Your dog can also be infected through social settings, such as kennels and doggie parks.

Where do flea eggs fall off?

When the flea eggs fall off your pet, they hide in wood cracks and pitted tile areas as well as the carpet fibers. When these eggs hatch, you will have a house full of jumping, biting fleas. So, even if you have a different kind of floor, you should be using flea and ticks preventatives for your pet all the time.

How long do fleas live?

Here are some fun facts for you to munch on: 1 Fleas can live outdoors in temperatures as low as 33 degrees for up to five days (long enough to latch onto your dog, come into your home, and relish in the warmth of your living room). 2 Flea eggs can live year round in protected areas such as crawl spaces or porches. 3 Our best friend, Mr. Tick, is certainly more active in the late summer and early fall. However, even in the winter, if the temperature exceeds 40 degrees – which it can in most places – ticks will become active again (some experts think the threshold is more like 32 degrees). So, on those “balmy” winter days of 32 degrees or higher, when you just have to take your dog out to enjoy the so-called warmth, you’re exposing him to ticks.

Why don't people take flea and tick medicine all year round?

These are the two biggest reasons why people don’t use them all year round. The cost of these meds can be staggering, and a good way to combat that cost is by taking a few months off.

How long do fleas live outdoors?

Fleas can live outdoors in temperatures as low as 33 degrees for up to five days (long enough to latch onto your dog, come into your home, and relish in the warmth of your living room). Flea eggs can live year round in protected areas such as crawl spaces or porches.

Do you need flea and tick medicine?

They always need flea and tick medicine. But for those of us who do experience a bitter winter, it should be known that most, if not all, veterinarians suggest year-round flea and tick treatment.

Can a dog get a flea in the winter?

The chances of your dog or cat getting a flea or tick in the wintertime are considerably lower than in the warmer months. That’s for sure. So, you might be willing to play a game of chance. However, if you lose that game, what happens? Your pet could suffer an infestation, which results in your home being infested. Your pet could suffer adverse reactions to the flea or tick that needs to be treated. It could be far more costly and annoying to rid your home and pet of fleas (or ticks) after one infestation, than the cost of paying for medicine all year long.

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