Fleas and ticks don’t just leave your pet with itchiness and skin irritation — they can also cause serious health issues. Many loving pet owners mistakenly assume that flea and tick control is only needed in the warmer months. In fact, this isn’t the case, as these critters can often survive winter. Find out how to keep your furry friends safe all year-round below.

What Happens to Fleas & Ticks in Winter

Ticks don’t die as soon as it gets cold out. Some species survive the winter by going dormant. They may nest under piles of leaves, insulated by snow, for instance — or burrow into underground dens. All it takes is a warm winter day above 45 degrees Fahrenheit for these sleeping critters to come out of hiding.

Fleas need the weather to be a bit warmer than ticks to make it through the cold months, requiring temperatures of at least 55 degrees. However, they can find sufficiently warm spots in protected areas in your home, for instance under the house or in a basement.

Also, keep in mind that it only takes one flea to start an infestation. A single female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day for three months. If your cat or dog is hosting one of these critters when cool weather arrives, your home may already be infested come winter.

How to Keep Your Pet Safe

If you’ve had an unseasonably warm winter day and spent time with your pet outside, always check for ticks and fleas. Run your hands through their fur to look and feel for ticks. To check for fleas, lay down a white sheet and run a comb through their fur. They will show up as black specks on the sheet.

Continue to practice regular flea and tick control even when it’s cold outside. Collars, sprays, shampoos, and topical medications are all possibilities, as are oral medicines. Talk to your veterinarian to figure out what option is best for your animal based on its lifestyle and the region you live in.

For advice on flea and tick control in the Troy, MO, area, trust Troy & Wentzville Veterinary Clinics. These professionals provide top-quality services for both large and small animals, treating each of their four-legged patients with gentle and compassionate care. Their team brings more than six decades of experience to the table, so you can rest easy knowing your pet is in capable hands. Get to know their friendly team of animal lovers online. For an appointment, call (636) 528-4534 for their Troy location, and (636) 327-6488 for their Wentzville office. You can also connect with them on Facebook.