Despite the best flea and tick products on the market pet owners are still asking questions about ongoing flea and tick infestations. Likely culprits are weather patterns, heightened owner awareness and neighborhood wildlife. Recent studies point to global warming as the reason parasites are more prominent.

Environmental experts say warm seasons are lasting longer, giving Northern states a greater problem with fleas. It used to be that many states were too cold for fleas or, at least, they disappeared in the wintertime. Leading Veterinarians in all regions to recommend a year around preventative flea and tick control.

Treatment must be continued to get rid of the entire infestation. Fleas can lay 40 to 50 eggs a day, and they drop in the carpet and spread anywhere the pet goes. Pet owners need to understand that just because the fleas aren’t on Fido doesn’t mean there isn’t still a problem.

Education seems to be key teaching people that year around weather changes require year around preventive treatment. Pet owners should understand the effect of year-to-year weather changes on parasite populations—and the logic in consistently applying a monthly preventive—is part of the plan in helping pet owners make the right choices in flea and tick control.