Many owners only think about flea and tick protection in spring, when the season of walks, country trips and outdoor activities begins. But parasites do not follow a strict calendar. In mild weather ticks can remain active earlier in spring and later in autumn, while fleas can live in stairwells, basements, apartments, pet beds and carpets. So the phrase "no need in winter" is far from always safe.
Fleas are not just an unpleasant itch. In sensitive animals even a single bite can trigger a pronounced allergic reaction: the dog or cat starts scratching, licking its paws and belly, gnawing the base of its tail, and redness, scratch marks, crusting and hair loss appear. In heavy infestations, small, elderly or weakened animals may experience weakness and anaemia. In addition, fleas can be involved in transmitting certain parasites, so the problem is not limited to the skin alone.
Ticks are dangerous because their bite often goes unnoticed. After a walk the parasite can be very small and hide in the coat, behind the ears, on the neck, in the groin, between the toes. Some ticks carry the agents of serious diseases, so it is important to check the pet after walks, especially if it has been in grass, a forest, a park or a country garden.
Regular prevention helps avoid waiting until a problem has already developed. It is important to use products suited specifically to your pet: products intended for cats cannot be automatically applied to dogs and vice versa. Age, weight, health status, pregnancy, the presence of other animals at home and lifestyle are all taken into account. For example, a pet that frequently walks in the countryside has one level of risk, while an indoor cat has another — but a truly zero risk is rare.
If you find a tick, notice intense itching, black specks in the coat, skin redness, lethargy, elevated temperature or loss of appetite, it is best to consult a veterinarian. The most effective solution is not a one-off treatment after the fact, but a carefully planned protection regimen chosen in advance and maintained without long gaps.