During the winter months many pet owners may think it is safe to stop flea treatments, however this is not the case. Although fleas are less common during the colder winter months they can still be present and quickly become a problem for now or in the future.
Warm and heated houses provide the perfect environment for fleas to develop and reproduce. Fleas can reproduce throughout winter, with the adult female flea being able to lay up to 50 eggs a day. Fleas are also able to adapt to their environment with their lifecycle taking anywhere between 2 weeks and 2 years to be completed. The flea can remain in the pupae stage for up to a year waiting for the perfect temperature to emerge. Although you may not see a flea infestation during winter it will only take a few adult winter fleas can lead to a severe spring flea outbreak.
Controlling and eradicating fleas takes continual, year round, compliance. You should continue to treat all pets in the household with a suitable flea control product throughout the winter months. Failure to do so can lead to a flea outbreak during winter or spring which can be difficult to get under control.
For more information on Fleas and Flea Control please read our other Help Centre Articles titled Flea Control and Eradication and Tips For Effective Flea Control.
Originally published in My Pet Magazine Winter 2015.
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