Ticks In the Fall

Spring and summer are prime seasons for tick movement and the spread of tick diseases such as Lyme Disease; and while the weather may be cooling down, homeowners with pets may think they are in the clear for tick bites on dogs and cats; but they are mistaken.

As long as temperatures remain above freezing, tick bites are possible; and they will seek pets for shelter and insulation in the fall season. When dogs and cats are done playing outside in the fenced-in yard, it's important that pet owners perform a thorough tick check on their pets, grooming them for hidden ticks in the fur.

These are the areas where ticks tend to hide on dogs and cats:

• Between toes
• In the groin area
• Underneath dog collars/clothes
• Elbows
• Under the tail
• In and around the ears

Be sure to remove ticks with a tick remover tool in its entirety if found on pets; and take companion animals to the vet for Lyme Disease testing. 

For tick management, homeowners should move firewood and leaf piles away from homes to prevent ticks from entering inside homes.

Don't let pets fall victim to Lyme Disease because of lack of tick disease prevention. Click here to learn about American Dog Ticks, the most common tick to bite dogs.