Watch out – it’s tick season!

April 29, 2024

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Did you know there are over 800 types of ticks? When the weather warms up, the ticks start to breed and feed, potentially putting you and your pet at risk.

Groom your pet regularly checking for any ticks, particularly after walking through long grass or areas where deer/sheep may have been. Check around the head, neck and ears which are common areas for ticks to attach, but as they can latch on anywhere on the body, a full check is recommended. And most importantly, ensure your pet has adequate protection – this prevents the ticks from latching on and kills the tick once it begins to feed.

Ticks change colour when they have fed – they are usually red/brown when unfed and dark grey when fed and can be mistaken for a small blood blister type lump.

Tick bites can be uncomfortable for your pet, especially if they are not removed properly but worse, infections can develop, and many diseases like Lyme disease, Babesiosis, various tick-borne fevers, encephalitis and Anaplasma can all be contracted from feeding ticks, some of which can be life threatening.

Come and chat to us about the most appropriate type of protection for your pet – you can even spread the cost (along with lots of other member benefits) by joining our Lifetime Care Club!

If your pet does get a tick, don’t panic but ensure it is removed promptly and correctly. Vet Liz shows us how here. You can always bring your pet in to see one of our nurses if you need help.