Q. When I went to my veterinarian to pick up flea and tick preventives for the summer, she told me I should be using them all year. Do I really need to do this?

Many of us know that fleas and ticks are abundant in the environment during the warm weather. But here are some facts from the Companion Animal Parasite Council that challenge such knowledge:

* Fleas can live outdoors for up to five days in temperatures as low as 33.8 degrees.

* Flea eggs and fleas in immature stages can live year round in protected environments, such as crawl spaces and under porches.

* The flea cycle can continue throughout the year on unprotected pets in our homes as well.

For these reasons, the CAPC recommends year-round prevention of fleas and ticks throughout your pet's life. Fleas cause many animals significant discomfort, and both fleas and ticks can transmit diseases.

In our area, temperature fluctuations even during the coldest months can make it hard to determine exactly when to start and stop using flea and tick control products, and guessing wrong can allow an infestation to occur. So if the goal is to keep all fleas and ticks off of your pet (and out of your house) at all times, then year-round prevention is best.

— Rita Angelo