The warmer weather is here and that mean's ticks are as well and that's bad news for everyone including your pet.
Animals are extremely susceptible to ticks and are often an easy target for a tick.
"We absolutely do experience a lot of ticks on animals and we started pulling them off about a week and a half ago," said Dr. Roxane Neufeld, Owner & Veterinarian at Dauphin Vet Clinic. "They are definitely out and about."
After that next walk or even during it, you should be checking your animal. You can never check them too much but it is recommended that you check at least once or twice per day.
If you do spot a tick on your animal it's always best to remain calm while taking the tick off.
"When you're pulling off ticks you need to grab it as close to the skin as possible and pull it off," said Neufeld. "Don't traumatize the tick otherwise you may actually cause them to transmit disease. Gently pull them off and I usually put them into a jar of alcohol and that kills them. After that, wash your hands thoroughly just to make sure no diseases are spread."
"We worry about the deer tick most here. They are very small and you'll usually see them in the brush, they transmit Lyme disease and we're always worried about that," she added. "Most commonly you should check your pets ears, armpit area and around their head."
If you are planning on going out for a walk, you can prepare and make sure you're ahead of the game.
"We have some great products that work for up to 12 weeks that will help to prevent ticks," added Neufeld. "The best bet is to stop in at the clinic and we will gladly help you pick the best product for your pet, we'll get you covered."
