As the days heat up, so does the breeding of fleas and ticks. While they breed all year long, the warmer weather causes a major population boom. It is important to protect your pets as well as yourself from these little pests. There are many products over the counter or prescribed by your veterinarian that can be used to control the pest population on your animal. There's also a vaccine for dogs to protect from Lyme disease. However, treating your animal is not the only way to eliminate these pests. Their environment needs to be treated as well.