In freezing climents do you need front line and heard guard all year round?

Question

for my dogs that is

actually my vet told me i only needed it for 8 mo out of the year

Answer 1

I live in Upstate, NY and while so far this season has been relatively mild, there hasn't been a mosquito since at least the end of September.

My vet says it's the owner's choice on when to stop heartguard and flea medication and the recognize that it gets brutally cold up here during the winter. So fleas, ticks and mosquitoes aren't able to survive.

So we only go till October for heartguard and usually into November with flea meds. This year is a little different since we are tight on funds.

Answer 2

Mosquitos are gone when the water starts to freeze, so no you don't need heartworm prevention in the winter months. Start it again a month before everything starts to thaw.

Fleas outside will go dormant for the winter, so if your dog and home are flea free you should be fine. If you board your dog or you or your dog are around other dogs who may have fleas, then you might want to stick with flea preventative year round.

Answer 3

Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes, so you do not need heartguard in the winter. Fleas and flea eggs can live in the carpets in your house so you may want to keep using frontline. I use heartworm medication in the Summer and only use flea medication when one of my dogs has a flea problem. Luckily, it has been about ten years since any of my dogs has had fleas.

Answer 4

No, In cold climates you don't need to use Heartguard or Frontline during the cold months. Depending on where you live the usual is from May thru October/November.

Answer 5

In the winter, it will get cold enough to kill any fleas outdoors, but you can pick it up indoors as well. It only takes one flea to create a problem. They don't live on the dog; they feed on it. You can give brewer's yeast/garlic tabs as a natural flea repellent.

Heartworm you CAN stay on year round, but again, you don't have to. However, if you do stay on it year round, you won't have to get or pay for a blood test come spring when it's time for your dog to go back on it. I don't give my dog heartworm year round, because the less pills the better. I don't like to give medications and chemicals unless needed.

Answer 6

I would still use the HWP because it also protects against round worms and hook worms. As for the flea prev. it is up to you when to use it. Fleas live on the pet and they drop off to lay the eggs.
Vet tech for 14 years.

Answer 7

Right-we go April-October.

Answer 8

Yes. Definitely the heartgard. Fleas and ticks are less prevalent in the winter, but it's still a good idea to use it.

Answer 9

Yes, even if its colder they can still live. You need to keep them on this medication all year round to complelty prevent fleas, ticks, and heartworms! Ask your vet and they'll say the same thing!

Answer 10

id use what the vet says is the best but me i use heart gaurd and it seems to work perfectly in freezing climates my friends in alaska use it also and they say it works great compared to the other leading competitors