Ingelheim. Many pet owners think that ticks and fleas are only a problem in the summer. But in heated apartments the parasites remain active even in winter. As soon as the heating is running, parasites feel comfortable in our homes. Fleas particularly like it warm: at normal room temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees, they reproduce all year round. Only the adult fleas live on dogs or cats – their eggs, larvae and pupae, on the other hand, hide in carpets, in sofas or in cracks in the floor and can survive there for months.
Ticks that are brought into the house from outside also stay happy in warm rooms. Normally, when it gets cold, they would become paralyzed. However, in a heated apartment at temperatures above 6 degrees, they remain active and can sting people and animals. Due to the milder winters, many ticks are already out and about all year round.
What can pet owners do?
Dogs and cats should be protected from parasites even in winter – ideally all year round. There are effective remedies against ticks and fleas available in pharmacies: special spot-on preparations (e.g. FRONTLINE COMBO) are suitable for cats to apply, and for dogs there are also practical chewable tablets (e.g. FRONTPRO) that last for one month.
Further information at www.frontline.de.