Has Flea & Tick Season Become a Year-Round Event?
(photo credit: Clock Is Ticking / shutterstock.com)
If your furry entourage includes dogs (or cats who might venture outdoors), you already know the importance of keeping them vaccinated against diseases such as rabies, canine distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus (hepatitis), and parainfluenza, as well as up-to-date on their flea and tick meds. Now, these last ones not only protect your pet from picking up parasites and subsequently the diseases they spread, but also prevent them from passing such illnesses on to you. The term one would use for fleas and ticks is “zoonotic,” and it refers to any parasite that can be passed from animal to human.
If you live in the northern US states or south-end of the Canadian provinces, it used to be that your pet’s flea and tick treatment started in late Spring - usually around early May - with the last dose given mid-September. That’s typically when I would kickstart my dogs’ programs. However, a few years back, my veterinarian suggested beginning a bit earlier. In fact, he was suggesting mid-March, given how warming trends had begun to activate fleas and ticks earlier than normal.
Now, vets are recommending protecting your pet from fleas and ticks year-round. And it has less to do with the warmer weather and more to do with the evolving resilience of parasites to colder temperatures. Dubbed an “all-weather” threat to our fur kids, they no longer disappear after the first frost. In fact, they’ve been found to survive under Fall leaves and even snow. And try this for an “ick” factor: fleas don’t just survive in warmth, they thrive. Meaning that if your dog happens to bring one into the house during Fall, that little house guest will lay 40 to 50 eggs each day… hatching to become hundreds of blood-sucking adults.
Options for Keeping Fleas and Ticks at Bay
Happily, staying on top of these parasites is not only easy but affordable. And… you have a number of methods to choose from. Now, before you decide on the best approach, speak with your vet. All treatment options include chemicals with a pesticide component, so including your veterinarian in the discussion is a wise move. You can also narrow the selection by selecting only brands and products that show FDA approval or are vet-recommended.
Flea Collars
Let’s go old-school on this one. Once upon a time, the flea collar was the only way to help prevent this type of parasite. It was minimally effective because it essentially protected just the neck area rather than the full body, where fleas typically gravitate once the neck is out of bounds. So, these collars were more of a “gesture” at eliminating parasites, not an actual solution.
Fast forward, and today’s options offer full body protection, they tackle both fleas and ticks, and they last much longer than their simpler predecessors.
We love this flea and tick prevention collar from Seresto because not only does it provide eight months of protection for your feline, but it kills and repels both fleas and ticks on contact. Vet-recommended, this collar is lightweight and scent-free with a solid surface that won’t stain or absorb odors. If you’re on the hunt for something similar for your dog, this same offering is available for canines.
Oral Protection
One of the easiest ways to protect your pet can be a once-a-month treatment that is no-fuss, no muss, and seriously effective. This NexGard Plus flea and tick treatment is a soft, beef-flavored chew that kills not only adult fleas but also five different species of ticks, hookworms and roundworms. Vet-recommended, super effective and hey, what dog doesn’t like to gobble down a treat?
But infestations can happen in the blink of an eye, and when you’re already dealing with a parasite invasion, you want effective results, but more importantly, you want them fast. And this quick-acting vet-recommended oral flea treatment from CAPSTAR is just the ticket. Just one dose of this FDA-approved flea medication and you’ll see the fleas dropping dead within 30 minutes.
Topical Treatments
Leading the flea and tick prevention market are the topical treatments that you dab between your pet’s shoulder blades. Safe and effective when used according to the manufacturer’s instructions, these products use your pet’s natural body oils (sebaceous) to create a protective, 30-day barrier on his skin. And it’s the active ingredients in the treatment that kill parasites on contact, before they have the chance to bite your pet.
One of the more popular options on the market is K9 Advantix II, which is formulated to protect your dog from fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and lice. Vet-recommended and scent-free, you need just one application every 30 days to protect your pooch from parasites and the diseases that come with them.
Home Protection
If you’ve ever had a pet with fleas, you already know how quickly they can spread from that cute little fur-kid to all over your home. This type of infestation is one you want to avoid at all costs. Yes, I’ve been there, done that, and it’s a tough cycle to break. That’s why you need to safeguard your home at the same time you’re dealing with your pet.
And that starts with a quality flea and tick powder for your home. This option from PetArmor not only helps to eliminate pet odors, but effectively kills fleas, their eggs, larvae and pupae as well as brown dog ticks within 24 hours of application. Just shake the powder over the affected area (up to 400 square feet), then vacuum the next day.
If you’re looking for a treatment that can do double duty, this Hartz UltraGuard Plus spray kills fleas and ticks on contact. But here’s the double-duty part: the non-aerosol, pump-action spray can be used on carpets, soft furnishings, or directly on your pet’s fur to effectively kill fleas, ticks, flea eggs and larvae for up to seven months.
Sharing space with three seriously judgy Schnoodles and 2 felines who prefers to be left alone. #LivingMyBestLife
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