Can dogs get fleas in winter?

When the weather is colder, all you want to do is snuggle with your pup. Unfortunately, fleas may also want to stay in your warm home. Do fleas die in winter? Not necessary. If you're wondering whether dogs can get fleas in the winter, the answer is yes. Flea populations may decrease slightly, especially outdoors, but will not disappear completely. To be on the safe side, continue flea treatment even during the cold winter months.

Fleas don't die easily in winter

Fleas are more likely to die if temperatures reach freezing and will remain there for a while.¹ But even then this is not always enough. You can't be sure that fleas will die in winter, even if they are outdoors.

The life cycle of a flea helps it survive. A female flea can begin laying eggs within 24 to 36 hours of biting your pet and can lay up to 10,000 eggs in 30 days. These eggs may end up in your carpet or other areas of your home. Flea larvae form a cocoon and grow inside it as pupae, sometimes remaining in the cocoon for up to 30 weeks before developing into an adult flea.

Cold may slow down the fleas' life cycle, but they can still hatch in the winter.² Even if temperatures reach freezing long enough to kill the adults, these fleas may have already found a warmer place to lay their eggs.

Fleas can still be active indoors

One of the warmest places where fleas can “fly” in winter is your home. Although fleas may slow down a bit when it's cold outside, they can still be active and continue their normal life cycle indoors. Temperatures of 70–85°F with 70 percent humidity provide ideal breeding conditions for fleas, so in colder weather they can hide in warmer environments.³

Chances are, you're not keeping your home cool enough to slow the spread of fleas. So if you stop treating fleas during the winter, you may be giving them a chance to gain a foothold in your home.

It's easier to prevent fleas than to get rid of an infestation.

It is much easier to prevent fleas than to get rid of an infestation.⁴ Because fleas are so hardy and reproduce so quickly, they can often infest your home or backyard before you even realize what's happened. Fleas also cause other problems, such as tapeworms.

For this reason, it is best to treat for fleas all year round, not just during the warmer months. Since adult fleas living on your pet make up only five percent of the total flea population in and around your home,⁵ You should not limit treatment to your pet. It is also recommended to treat your pet's environment to more quickly control the infestation.

Flea Treatment Options

Flea treatment should cover not only your pet, but also your home and yard.

Treat your dog with flea and tick shampoo and a protective collar. Adams Flea and Tick Cleansing Shampoo kills adult fleas and prevents eggs from hatching for 30 days. The Adams Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs can protect your dog for up to seven months, which is especially helpful if your dog goes outside frequently.

You can also try topical treatment. Adams Flea & Tick Spot On for Dogs is a product that prevents fleas and ticks from “re-infesting” your dog for up to 30 days. Talk to your veterinarian if you need advice tailored to your puppy.

Next, consider treating your home for fleas. There are many options such as room sprays, carpet sprays, and home sprays. It is important to treat your home as fleas will use it as a refuge during the winter.

Think about your yard too. Adams Yard & Garden Spray can kill fleas in all their life cycles and protect your yard, garden and shrubs for up to four weeks.

Even in winter, you should continue to treat your dog, home, and yard for fleas. Dogs can easily become infected with fleas during the winter because the small insects can take refuge in your warm home to help them survive. If you want to be more prepared, sign up for alerts to know when a flea outbreak occurs in your area.

1. Ifenbein, Hani. “Do fleas die in winter?” PetMD, November 4, 2019, https://www.petmd.com/dog/parasites/do-fleas-survive-winter
2. Ibid.
3. Washington headquarters. “Can Dogs Really Get Fleas in the Winter?” Washingtonian.com, January 28, 2015, https://www.washingtonian.com/2015/01/28/can-dogs-really-get-fleas-in-the-winter/
4. Ibid.
5. Kvamme, Jennifer. "Understanding the Flea Life Cycle." PetMD, https://www.petmd.com/dog/parasites/evr_multi_understanding_the_flea_life_cycle