Tick Season

It’s starting to warm up, and for those of us with outdoor pets in rural areas, that means the beginning of tick season. Ticks like to hang out in mostly in low shrubs, bushes, and trees, so these are the areas to watch out for. These pests burrow their heads under the skin of our pets and feed off of their blood. As such, they can pass on some nasty blood borne maladies like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Since you probably don’t stand a chance of keeping your outdoor pets away from the bushes, the best protection isn’t corralling your pet, but using one or more of the many tick control products on the market.
There are many ways to protect your pets from ticks nowadays. Sprays, powders, shampoos, and the ever-popular flea & tick collars are just a few. If the possibility of a tick infestation is particularly high in your area, you may want to talk to your vet about vaccinating your pet against Lyme disease.
If your pet has already picked up some of these freeloading pests, you have several options to choose from. If it’s just a few ticks, you may want to try removing them yourself, in which case you want to be sure to pull the tick straight out with no twisting or squeezing for best results. The other options are a removal product (like a shampoo or a powder), or a trip to the vet.
Whatever method you use to protect your pet from ticks, a little knowledge of the dangers of ticks can go a long way to ensuring their tick-free Spring and Summer months.