As much as we’d love for cold weather to banish pet parasites, the notion that your pet doesn’t need parasite prevention in colder months is false.
See how different pet parasites live through freezing conditions to understand why we recommend parasite prevention year-round for dogs and cats.
Fleas and ticks find your home cozy, surviving and potentially multiplying indoors comfortably year-round. They can also overwinter in garages, barns and sheds, waiting for you or your pet to walk by and carry them into your toasty home. Even when they live fully outdoors, a warm spring or fall can extend the flea and tick season up to 10 months a year. So, when do dogs need flea and tick medicine? The answer is year-round, and the same goes for our cats!
Watch the video below to find out more about the importance of year-round flea and tick prevention.
Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes, but just like for fleas and ticks, mosquito season can kick-start early or linger late into the fall, thanks to unpredictable weather patterns. Warm spells can even cause mosquitoes to reactivate in the middle of winter, when they are least expected. Even in areas that remain consistently cold all winter, mosquitoes still overwinter inside buildings or within “heat islands” created over structures and parking lots that trap heat in urban areas.
Of all the parasites, intestinal worms are often the least affected by the cold. Roundworms and whipworms shed eggs that are quite hardy, easily surviving freezing temperatures for many months and ready to infect your pet as soon as they’re ingested. Meanwhile, tapeworms are transmitted when pets hunt other creatures like mice or rabbits, or swallow fleas during grooming, both of which can occur regardless of the weather outside. Your pet can contract intestinal worms at any time of the year, highlighting the need for parasite prevention year-round in dogs and cats.
You can see that a set parasite “season” doesn’t exist. Stopping parasite preventives because the weather turns cold puts your pet at risk of contracting these bothersome bugs and the diseases they carry. Continue your pet’s parasite prevention uninterrupted this winter to keep your furry friend healthy and your home parasite-free.
If you have more questions about the importance of year-round flea and tick prevention or your pet’s overall parasite protection plan, consult your VCA care team.
