Yes, dogs can get fleas in Winter – and treatment should continue all year round. It is summer that has typically been viewed as the main season for fleas in the UK, but it is now much more common to see flea infestations throughout autumn and winter. It is therefore important that as pet owners, you are not only treating your dog during the warmer months and ignoring the problem in the colder months. It is important that appropriate treatment is given whatever the time of year.

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Why are fleas a problem?

Fleas are wingless insects that usually infest birds and mammals and especially cats and dogs. The most common species of flea that as owners we can see on pets in the UK is Ctenocephalides felis (commonly known as the cat flea).

Fleas can cause a number of problems in our pets. As well as being a general nuisance for the dog, causing itchiness, some dogs can also be allergic to the actual flea saliva. This will cause the dog to have a reaction known as FAD (Flea Allergy Dermatitis) dogs with FAD will be extremely itchy and will often excessively groom the affected area, causing hair loss and reddening of the skin which could lead to an infection.

Fleas will also bite humans before finding a more suitable host to live on. Like our dogs, we can also suffer from an allergic reaction to the flea bites. This normally occurs around the ankles.

Young puppies, old dogs or those with a health problem can also experience clinically significant anaemia as a result of a heavy flea infestation. Unfortunately this is a particular problem in puppies (and, to a lesser extent, toy breeds) due to the larger surface area to volume ratio, meaning they are more affected by blood loss caused by fleas.

Fleas can also act as an immediate host of the tapeworm Dipylidium caninum. If a flea is ingested during grooming, the worm can use the fleas as its immediate host and cause further problems such as gastrointestinal issues.

Different stages of the flea lifecycle

A fleas lifecycle consists of four stages: the egg stage, larvae stage, pupae stage and the adult stage. The lifecycle can take just fourteen days, depending on the environmental conditions.

A female adult flea must feed off the dog to produce eggs. Each female can produce up to 50 eggs a day, this is equating to about 2000 eggs in each fleas lifetime!

The larval stage are tiny and maggot-like, feeding on flea faecal matter (which is mainly dried blood) and organic matter in the environment such as dead skin cells. They typically live in carpets and soft furnishings, but can also thrive in the dust between floorboards

The pupae stage may hatch in as little as seven to fourteen days. The pupae then emerges as an adult flea and the lifecycle starts again. The pupae are very resistant to being killed and can sometimes even survive insecticide treatment while safe in their cocoons.

How have fleas become an all year round problem for dogs?

The fleas lifecycle is heavily influenced by environmental conditions. The optimal temperature for a flea is between 18C and 25C, along with a relative humidity of between 70 and 85%. Central heating, double glazing and carpeted floors help to maintain the temperature into the winter months, allowing fleas to thrive and reproduce all year round. The average temperature of a home nowadays is between 21C and 24C, so while adult fleas are not able to survive above around 35C or reproduce below about 8C, they thrive in a heated home!

Adult fleas are the only lifecycle stage to live on our dogs, this is in order to feed. The remaining immature stages of the lifecycle are present within the homes – 95% of the immature stages live in the carpets and soft furnishings! As adult fleas lay eggs, these will fall off the dog, into the surrounding environment, and under the right conditions will hatch into flea larvae.

Following the larval stages, fleas will develop into pupae. Pupae are the most resistant stage of the flea lifecycle and can survive for over six months. It is therefore very possible for larvae to spin a cocoon and pupate in the summer months before finally hatching out as an adult flea in the winter. The new adult flea will then seek out a host for them to feed and reproduce.

Treating your dog for a winter flea infestation

The ideal conditions of a home environment are also the reason that many dog owners will struggle to get rid of an established infestation. The most challenging part of controlling a flea infestation is reducing or eliminating the stages of the lifecycle in the environment. Control of infestation is only successful if all stages of the parasite are removed.

For dogs and their owners that are suffering an infestation in the winter, it remains critically important to treat the home environment in addition to treating the dog with a parasiticide treatment.

A vacuum cleaner can be used to remove some of the flea lifecycle  stages from the carpets and soft furnishings. The machine must be emptied after doing so as to avoid flea eggs hatching inside of it.

Soft furnishings and pet bedding should also be washed at a temperature of 50C or more – 60C if at all possible for the most effective results. This will ensure that both larvae and eggs will be effectively killed. As an owner, you should complete this process for all areas of the home that the dog has had access to. It is important to not forget places such as the car and some toys which are fluffy could also become contaminated.

Flea pupae in particular can be very hard to remove, they are often sticky and camouflaged well, often sticking to carpets. During this stage in the lifecycle, pupae are protected by a cocoon which shields the new adult flea from harm before it emerges. If the conditions are not right, this pupae can lay dormant for months. The only way to kill this part of the lifecycle is to encourage them to hatch.

Carbon dioxide, vibrations and heat are important factors when it comes to stimulating new fleas to hatch- this is why vacuuming before using an environmental flea treatment is important – this can also help to kill remaining parasites.

Treating the dog with a preventative treatment.

In order to avoid an autumn or winter flea infestation, you can talk to your local SQP/RAMA or veterinary surgeon about options that are available to you. We can recommend a regular preventive treatment to you. It is important to apply flea treatment whenever it’s needed if your dog is picking up fleas and setting up an infestation.