Flea control medicine: All year round? (shih tzu, allergy, yorkie, vet)

[titaniummd]

Maybe this is not a good question but are fleas around in the winter time? Do you typically put flea control medications on your pet all year round?

[ESFP]

I don't, but you may need to talk to your veterinarian. There is much debate as to whether a flea can survive winter. I think they can, but they need the animal's body heat to thrive. Keep your house flea-free and your dog should be fine in indoors. If he's an outside dog, he may be targeted by fleas looking for warmth. In that case, he may need year-round treatment. Again, your vet would know the unique circumstances of your dog and environment.

[cleosmom]

I'm thinking with you being in FL the fleas don't go anywhere, that's tropical in winter compared to other zones.

Double check with your vet.

[barndog]

I'm in NC, and, yep, the fleas here survive year-round, which is kind of surprising since it was in the 20's the other night.

My shih tzu stays on flea and tick control yearly and has since he was a tiny baby.

[TeddieXRuxpin]

Like Barndog said, the fleas are living year roung. I also use flea meds on all the dogs every month; if not then it's crazy around here. One flea turns into 10, that turns into 20 and then before you know it they're every where.

Plus Ted has a flea allergy and one flea will set him off into a frenzy.

[ShelbyGirl1]

Same here....Here in Texas on the coast, it never gets cold enough to kill off the current flea population. I use flea meds 12 months of the year.

[Keeper]

I use it all year around in FL but not where I live now. Of course, that could change if I see fleas on them. If they are around, my Yorkie will get them so I know to get the flea meds out for the gang.

[APBT_Samara]

Depends on where you live climate wise and then just your yard/acreage. In a warm climate like where you live it would probably be a good idea. I never use flea prevention and my dogs don't have fleas. We have a seasonal climate so fleas can thrive here in the summer but I don't have them on my acreage and we've not picked them up anywhere else. Some other people where I live could have a flea problem, in the winter they can live inside where it is warm so those people would still need to get rid of the fleas and probably use a preventative, even if it is just for awhile.

[World Citizen]

Just look at the size of the roaches (palmetto bugs) in Florida and you know that the bugs don't die in winter down there -- they just keep getting bigger!

[tstone]

Originally Posted by ShelbyGirl1

Same here....Here in Texas on the coast, it never gets cold enough to kill off the current flea population. I use flea meds 12 months of the year.

We live in the same general region, and I never use flea meds. They are indoor dogs. In the summer months, I will use flea shampoo sometimes, though. However we've never had an issue, ever. I think we are generally over-treating and over-vaccinating our pets.