The change in seasons brings sunnier days, baseball games, and spring showers – all of which are welcome after a long, cold winter.  However, a downside to spring is that parasites, such as fleas and ticks, also reappear.  Protecting your dog from preventable disease is an important step in being a responsible dog owner.  Here, preparing for flea and tick season will be discussed. Flea and Tick Life Cycles Before we discuss how to prevent and treat flea and tick infestations, it is important to understand the individual life cycles of both these insects. Flea Life Cycle Fleas have four life stages during their life cycle, which is important because all four stages must be exterminated to rid an animal or home of an infestation.  The cycle begins with flea eggs, which are approximately 0.5 mm long and resemble a grain of white rice.  Fleas lay their eggs in the...