Summer is just around the corner. While we do enjoy the warm weather, this time of year does have a few pitfalls, such as ticks. Tick populations have exploded in recent years, even in areas where they were once fairly uncommon. Here, a Newmarket, ON vet discusses keeping your pet safe from these dangerous parasites.
Dangers
Ticks are not only disgusting, they can carry several diseases. Many of these diseases, such as Lyme disease, can afflict both pets and people. If that weren’t bad enough, the bites of some ticks—specifically Lone Star Ticks—can cause people to develop allergies to red meat.
Prevention
When it comes to treating medical issues in pets, an ounce of prevention can be worth several pounds of cure. Keep up with your pet’s parasite prevention! There are many different types available, such as topical drops, shampoos, and collars. Talking to your vet will help you determine which one is the best for you. Never double up on these products, however: this can expose pets to unsafe levels of pesticides. Ask your vet for more information.
Keeping Your Property Tick Free
There are some ways to make your property less welcoming to ticks. Putting a three-foot gravel border around your property can help. Ticks don’t care about property lines, but they don’t like crossing open ground, and often turn back from these barriers. We also advise picking up fallen produce, as it can attract deer and other tick-carrying animals. Keeping your lawn and hedges neatly trimmed will also help. If you have bird feeders in your yard, set them back from the house a little bit.
Removal
We recommend doing daily tick checks on your pet, especially after he or she has been outdoors. Better safe than sorry! If you do find a tick, don’t panic. You’ll need tweezers or a tick popper, some antiseptic, and rubbing alcohol. Use the removal tool or tweezers to pull the tick out. Make sure you get all the pieces! Then, disinfect the area with antiseptic. A treat or some ear scritches is probably in order for your furry patient. You may want to take a picture of the tick. We know, this isn’t something you necessarily want to commemorate. It will, however, come in handy if your pet does develop symptoms.
Please contact us, your Newmarket, ON vet clinic, anytime. We’re here to help!
