Ticks

Ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of their host and can possibly transmit diseases to your pet's and even yourself.

Ticks are more common in the spring and summer, but you must always be careful and check your pet’s as ticks can survive as long as the temperature is above 0 degrees.

It is important to check your pet’s for ticks after going on a walk or having playtime, especially if there is a wooded area or any long/tall grass. Be sure to thoroughly check between the fur. Their armpits, groin, head and eyelids, tail, toes, legs and neck area under the collar are all common spots you should check.

There are many different species of ticks, some common ones we may see here in Ontario are the Deer Tick, Black Legged Tick, American Dog Tick and Lone Star Tick, just to name a few.

If you find one on your pet, you want to remove it as soon as possible. There are tick removers you can buy, or I would recommend going to your veterinarian clinic to get them removed. You have to make sure you get the whole tick because if you just try to pull them out, their head is likely to stay attached.

If you do remove any from your pet I would suggest putting the tick in a bag or container and bring it to your vet clinic so they can identify the species and let you know additional information about any risks or concerns for disease.