- Apply a Tick Control Product
There are a variety of tick control products available from your veterinarians office. The appropriate product will depend on your dog’s lifestyle and activity level so a conversation with your Vet is always a good idea. Most products are applied topically once a month although if you live in or travel to highly infested areas some products are recommended to be applied every 14 days.
2. Vaccinate
A Lyme vaccine is available from your veterinarian. It is an annual vaccine that can be included in your dog’s yearly exam and vaccine protocol.
3. Avoid Infested Areas
Ticks love bushes and tall grass. They cling to the top of the grass and wait for an animal to pass by. By removing any tall grass from your property and avoiding wooded areas especially in spring and fall when ticks “bloom”, you will reduce the likelihood of your dog picking up a stowaway.
4. Inspect Your Dog Daily
If like many dog owners you enjoy hiking and camping or just walking through the woods, avoiding ticks can be more challenging. It is then necessary to inspect your dog for ticks every day. This involves searching through their fur for any passengers and removing them. Ticks do not necessarily bite right away, they can walk around on your dog for several days before they find a good spot to take a blood meal. The most common areas to find ticks on your dog are around the ears, neck/jaw area, and armpits. Places where there is body heat and the blood is close to the surface. The ticks should be removed properly with a pair of tweezers or a special instrument called a tick twister. When feeding, ticks burrow their head under the skin so it is important that they be removed properly to avoid leaving a part of the tick behind.
Written by Moncton Animal Clinic
