When the temperatures drop, it’s easy to assume that fleas and ticks take a break too. Many pet owners relax their guard, thinking that cold weather means their furry friends are safe from these parasites. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Fleas and ticks are resilient, and skipping prevention during the winter months can lead to some serious issues for your pet and your home. Here’s why year-round protection is essential.

Fleas Can Survive Indoors (and Thrive!)

One of the biggest misconceptions about fleas is that they die off in the winter. While outdoor flea populations may decrease in extreme cold, your warm and cozy home provides the perfect environment for fleas to survive and multiply. Even if your pet picks up just a few fleas before winter sets in, those pests can quickly infest your home, hiding in carpets, furniture, and bedding. A single flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day, turning a small problem into a full-blown infestation in no time.

Ticks Can Be Active Year-Round

Unlike fleas, ticks don’t rely on warmth from your home to survive. Many species, including the dreaded deer tick (which carries Lyme disease), remain active even in colder temperatures. If the ground isn’t frozen, ticks can still latch onto your pet during a walk or backyard playtime. Some tick species even survive snow and can crawl onto your pet when temperatures rise above freezing. Since ticks transmit serious diseases, a single bite can be enough to put your pet at risk.

Flea and Tick Eggs Don’t Care About the Season

Even if adult fleas and ticks seem less active in winter, their eggs and larvae continue to develop in hidden spots. These parasites can remain dormant for weeks or months, waiting for the right conditions to become active again. Skipping prevention allows these pests to re-emerge and infest your pet and home as soon as the weather warms up. Year-round protection helps break this cycle, preventing infestations before they start.

Health Risks Don’t Disappear in the Cold

Fleas and ticks aren’t just an itchy annoyance—they pose real health risks to pets. Fleas can cause allergic reactions, skin infections, and even anemia in severe cases. They also carry tapeworms, which can be transmitted to your pet. Ticks are even worse, spreading diseases like Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis. These illnesses can cause long-term health problems, including joint pain, fever, and organ damage. Skipping flea and tick prevention, even for a few months, puts your pet at risk.

Prevention Is Easier Than Treatment

Dealing with a flea infestation or a tick-borne illness is far more stressful and expensive than keeping up with regular prevention. Once fleas take hold in your home, it can take months of deep cleaning, treatments, and vet visits to get rid of them completely. Tick-borne diseases often require long-term treatment, and some have lifelong effects. By maintaining consistent flea and tick prevention, you save yourself time, money, and the headache of dealing with these issues later.

Don’t Let Winter Give You a False Sense of Security

It’s tempting to take a break from flea and tick preventatives during the colder months, but the risks far outweigh the benefits. Fleas and ticks are experts at survival, and they don’t need warm weather to cause problems. Keeping your pet on a year-round prevention plan is the best way to ensure they stay healthy and protected.

If you’re unsure about which flea and tick prevention is best for your pet, our team at 108 Avenue Animal Hospital can help. Schedule an appointment today, and let’s keep your pet safe all year long.