Some pet owners skip flea, tick & heartworm preventives during winter months. Veterinarian Alicen Tracey says Parasite eggs can sit around a warm house, and would you know when to start up treatment again?

Year-round heartworm preventive is recommended to avoid any lapse in protection. If you’re pet is indoors, you may not need to give flea or tick preventives during frozen months, but studies show that ticks are far more active in colder months than originally thought.

To avoid the small but real chance of an off -season tick encounter or dormant flea egg annoyance in your house, follow your vet’s recommendations. FYI, cats are also susceptible to heartworm, it’s more difficult to detect than in dogs, and it can be deadly.

Remember the old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.

Reference: Paw Print Magazine, Fall 2022 issue.