As summer heats up and rainy days become frequent, pets are more susceptible to fleas than any other time of the year.  All dogs and cats are vulnerable to fleas, even if they are considered indoor pets.

“Warm, wet weather is the prime time for fleas to appear on pets,” Severidt said. “The best way to protect your dogs and cats from fleas is to treat them all year and continue to groom them frequently.”

Severidt said fleas are external parasites that affect many animals and cause itching, allergies or even transmitting tapeworms. They feed on the blood of cats, dogs and other animals. While unlikely to cause fatal diseases, fleas can certainly cause discomfort and even trauma to pets. According to Severidt, adult fleas make up only 5 percent of the flea population and the other 95 percent is made of up of flea stages so tiny they may go unnoticed. Fleas will hide in carpet, furniture, bedding and between floorboards. Just one flea may signify an infestation in the home, which can lead to hundreds or thousands of fleas. Here are some easy tips to prevent pets from obtaining fleas:

Keep the home clean by regular vacuuming and sweeping. Fleas tend to dig into carpet and can even live in floorboards.
Wash sheets, rugs and pet’s bedding in hot water once a week or once every other week. Cleanliness is the most important prevention method for avoiding fleas.
“While fleas can be an annoyance for pets and their owners, they can be prevented and treated,” Severidt said.

Severidt said some symptoms that may signal a pet has fleas include excessive itching or biting of the fur and/or small red bumps on the skin. If a pet does contract fleas, Severidt said there are many ways to treat the animals, including sprays, shampoos, and oral medications. Owners can use treatments such as Sentinel and Capstar to treat pets with fleas.