Q: My dog was treated for fleas this summer, so why is he getting them again in the winter?
— Alex K., Gloucester, Mass.
A: Fleas trigger allergic reactions, pass on tapeworm infection, and are generally unwelcome. Adult fleas don’t survive in cold weather, and we usually see a decrease in the number of flea infestations during the cold months.
However, fleas and flea eggs will continue to thrive indoors regardless of the outside temperature. What likely happened is that your dog now has fleas that developed from flea eggs deposited in your house last fall. When a flea bites a person or a pet, it takes a blood meal and then lays 50 or more eggs, which can stay dormant for many months, only to mature later on under the right conditions.
To properly eliminate fleas, you must treat the pet, clean the environment, and prevent reinfestation. Vacuuming twice a week for at least three weeks has a big impact since you will vacuum up adult fleas, which readily suffocate in the vacuum bag. As the vacuum passes over eggs it cannot pull up, the vibrations and warmth of the vacuum will trigger those eggs to develop more quickly and become more vulnerable the next time the vacuum comes around.
Vacuum all surfaces, including rugs, hardwood floors, linoleum, couches, beds and anywhere else your pet has access. There are sprays and powders that can be carefully considered to help clean the environment, but flea eggs can be fairly resistant to these chemicals during certain stages of their life cycle, so don’t rely exclusively on these products.
To treat a pet, we recommend combining a monthly topical product with a very safe monthly flea sterilizer called lufenuron (aka Program) for a minimum of three months. If a pet is taking lufenuron and gets bitten by fleas, those fleas cannot lay viable eggs. In fact, using lufenuron preventatively in dogs and cats can help prevent a flea infestation from occurring in the first place.
Not all pets show symptoms when they have fleas, so treat all pets in the house to successfully eliminate a flea problem. Your vet can help you set up a thorough plan and answer your questions about fleas.
Dr. Ray Cahill owns and operates SeaPort Veterinary Hospital in Gloucester, Mass. Submit questions to seaportvet@verizon.net.
