fleas and ticks: hiding, lurking and ready to attack

Where do fleas and ticks live?

You may not see them, but they're there.

Fleas and ticks can be nestled in hiding places inside and out without you ever knowing it. See below for some of their more common hideouts:

On other pets and animals
Around shrubbery and bushes in your backyard where other infested animals frequent

In addition, developing stages of fleas may be lurking out of sight:

In carpets, floors and sofas of your home

That's why you need flea & tick protection like FRONTLINE brand products that can attack fleas and ticks on your pet. Anything less just won't do.

That's why you need protection like FRONTLINE brand products Anything less just won't do.

The flea life cycle—break it, or else.

Flea infestations start with just 2 fleas laying hundreds of flea eggs within a matter of days.¹ FRONTLINE brand products prevents an infestation by not only killing adult fleas—which comprise only 5% of the total flea population—but also by killing flea eggs and larvae too.¹

This diagram demonstrates the 4 main stages of the common flea life cycle including flea eggs, larvae, pupae and adult fleas.¹

The 4 Stages of the Flea Life Cycle

Fleas infesting your pet. Invading your home.
In no time.

Slide from left to right to see how quickly fleas can lay eggs and reproduce.

Flea Eggs¹:

Day 0

Day 21

Flea bites can lead to diseases.

These nibbles start out as a simple itch but can lead to a wide range of diseases or other parasites, including:

Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD)³
Anemia³
Tapeworm⁴
Rickettsiosis⁵

These conditions can deprive your pet of energy, cause skin problems or adversely affect your pet’s health in a number of ways.

Identify some of the common US ticks.⁶

Ticks are disgusting and can be dangerous. Don't let their tiny size fool you—ticks are menacing creatures. Once they burrow into your pet's skin, they may transmit life-threatening diseases.

See below for some of the most common tick-borne diseases⁷:

Lyme disease
Babesiosis
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Ehrlichiosis

Primarily found in the southeastern, eastern US.
Found east of the Rocky Mountains and in limited areas on the Pacific Coast.
Commonly found in the southeastern, northeastern, mid-Atlantic and upper midwestern states.
Found throughout the United States.
Usually found in the Pacific coast of the US.

Other Flea and Tick Protection Tips

To keep your pet even more protected, take aim at fleas and ticks in and around your home. Here are a few tips:

Periodically, wash your pet’s bed cover in hot water and dry it on a high heat setting to kill any flea eggs and larvae
Make your yard less appealing to ticks by cutting grass short and eliminating brush piles
Vacuum frequently in your home, especially carpets where your pet tends to lounge
Cover up all outside crawl spaces and garbage cans to deter wildlife that may carry fleas and ticks

Find the size that's right for your pet.

Use the selector tool to find the FRONTLINE Plus that's right for your pet.

Take the flea control quiz.

Who's smarter—you or a flea? Test your knowledge and hone your killing skills with our quiz.

Take the flea control quiz.

Who's smarter—you or a flea? Test your knowledge and hone your killing skills with our quiz.

Get answers to your questions.

Read responses to some of the more common FAQs about FRONTLINE Plus.

1. Dryden M. Biology of fleas of dogs and cats. The Compendium. 1993;15(4):569-578.

2. Data on file at Merial.

3. Rust MK, Dryden M, The biology, ecology, and management of the cat flea: biology, ecology and control. Annu.,Rev. Entomol. 1997;42:451-473.

4. Dryden MW, Rust MK. The cat flea: biology, ecology and control. Veterinary Parasitology. 1994;52:1-19.

5. Taylor MA, Coop RL, Wall RL eds. Veterinary Parasitology. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, UK, 2007.

6. Greene C. Infectious Disease of the Dog and Cat. 4th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2006:242.

7. Center for Disease Control. Ticks. Geographic distribution. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/geographic_distribution.html. Accessed July 5, 2016.

8. Center for Disease Control. Ticks. Diseases transmitted by ticks. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/diseases/index.html. Accessed July 5, 2016.

1. Dryden M. Biology of fleas of dogs and cats. The Compendium. 1993;15(4):569-578.

2. Rust MK, Dryden M, The biology, ecology, and management of the cat flea: biology, ecology and control. Annu.,Rev. Entomol. 1997. 42: 451-73.

3. Dryden MW, Rust MK. The cat flea: biology, ecology and control. Veterinary Parasitology. 1994;52:1-19.

4. Taylor MA, Coop, RL, Wall RL eds. Veterinary Parasitology. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, UK, 2007.

5. Greene C. Infectious Disease of the Dog and Cat. 3rd ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2006:242.

6. Center for Disease Control. Ticks. Geographic distribution. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/geographic_distribution.html. Accessed July 23, 2012.

7. Center for Disease Control. Ticks. Diseases transmitted by ticks. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/diseases/index.html. Accessed July 30, 2012.

1. Data on file at Merial.

2. Vet-dispensed; MDI Data.

Where do fleas and ticks live?

You may not see them, but they're there.

The flea life cycle—break it, or else.

The 4 Stages of the Flea Life Cycle

Fleas infesting your pet. Invading your home. In no time.

Flea bites can lead to diseases.

Identify some of the common US ticks.6

Other Flea and Tick Protection Tips

FRONTLINE® CUSTOMER SERVICE

Fleas infesting your pet. Invading your home.
In no time.

Identify some of the common US ticks.⁶

FRONTLINE^® CUSTOMER SERVICE