Can Animals Still Get Fleas During The Winter Months?

Yes, your animal can still get fleas during the winter. Many fleas die off in colder temperatures, but not all of them. Don’t let the winter season give you a false sense of security – it is possible.

Fleas are not able to survive freezing temperatures, but they may seek out warmer locations when the temperature drops. And if they find a cozy place to live, they can survive there until it warms up again next year. 

Now that you know fleas can survive the winter, it’s important to take some precautions for your furry friend. Here’s what you need to know to protect your dog or cat from fleas during the winter.

Can Fleas Survive Indoors During the Winter?

Yes, the regulated temperature created within your home by your HVAC system creates the perfect environment for fleas to live and reproduce. Do you find it comfortable when it’s 65° – 80° Fahrenheit in your house? So do fleas.

Fleas can live for about a year in protected areas like crawl spaces, porches, and garages, without a pet or host to feed on.

Prevent Fleas on Your Pet This Winter

It’s a lot easier to prevent fleas than to get rid of an infestation. Since fleas reproduce so fast, they can often infest your home or backyard before you realize what has happened. Because of this, it is best to treat for fleas all year round, and often you will need to treat both your pet and your house.

Tips for Treating Your Pet for Fleas This Winter

• Fleas typically target hosts that aren’t as healthy or that have undeveloped immune systems. These include puppies, kittens, and older animals. This means that things like your pet’s diet, immune system, and how much exercise they get each day are very important when it comes to flea control and prevention.
• Grooming is another key aspect of flea treatment. Combing your pet with a flea removal comb will help to remove adults and destroy eggs. Even though this can be time-consuming and tedious to search for fleas, it will allow you to keep your pet flea-free. It will also save you from having to deal with a full-on flea infestation later.
• Prevention is the real key to reducing your pet’s risk of exposure to fleas. The most effective way to control flea infestations is to treat the pet directly all year round. Prescription and non-prescription direct treatments in the form of topical applications, flea shampoos, tablets, powders, collars, and sprays are all products that can be used to effectively treat fleas on your pet.

Tips for Treating Your House for Fleas This Winter

• Keeping your home clean is one of the most effective ways to combat fleas. Cleaning and vacuuming the carpets and furniture will pick up eggs and existing fleas.
• Actively cleaning your pet’s sleeping areas and washing used blankets will significantly reduce eggs and larvae. This is crucial if your pets sleep or inhabit your furniture.
• Many over-the-counter products can be used to control your home against fleas. Products like sprays and traps have been designed to allow a low concentration of insecticide to be used safely by homeowners.
• If you decide to choose a DIY pest control, be sure to follow directions as some insecticides can be harmful to your health. The best thing to have your home fully taken care of is to call your local pest control company for flea service.

How Many Fleas Does It Take to Start an Infestation?

It only takes one to start the process. A flea can enter your home by catching a ride from outside and then lay eggs that lead to a full-blown infestation.

A flea pupae can also remain in their cocoons until the environment is warm enough for them to hatch. A single pupa is able to remain dormant for more than a year waiting for a suitable, warm condition.

Flea Health Risks to Pets

These pests are not only annoying, but they can also pose health risks to you and your pets.

• Some cats and dogs are allergic to flea saliva, which results in severe skin irritation and causes them to continuously scratch at the infected area.
• Cats and dogs can also develop anemia as a result of blood loss during a flea infestation.
• Fleas can also cause tapeworms in humans and pets.

Call Our Flea Control Experts Today

The risk of your pet catching fleas in the winter is lower than in other seasons, but it’s not impossible, making flea treatment necessary year-round. And if you do find fleas on your pet, they can be a very challenging pest to control on your own. The safest and most effective way to have your home fully taken care of is to call your local control pest company for flea control service.

If you have a flea infestation, our flea exterminators have what it takes to solve the problem. We’ll perform a thorough inspection, identify the scale of the problem, and provide a tailored solution. Don’t flee from fleas anymore – tackle them head-on!

Call Lookout Pest Control today for a free estimate.