If your news feed is like most, it’s filled with information about ticks. That’s because experts are predicting that this may be the worst year for ticks in years. That’s a problem for you, and that a problem for your pets.
Why there are so many. First of all, we didn’t have much cold weather this winter, so ticks emerged earlier in the year than they normally would. In addition, there has been a surge in the population of mice, which means ticks have more to eat. And with more food – there are more ticks.
How to prevent ticks. The very first line of defense is prevention. At Town N Country, we recommend Simparica and Vectra. You also need to check your pet for ticks after every foray into the great outdoors. In your own yard, putting wood chips or gravel border around your yard can help ticks from migrating into your space. Keep your lawn mowed, too, since ticks prefer tall grass.
When you find a tick. Use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to your pet’s body as possible, then pull it straight out quickly. Put alcohol on the area of the bite. If you discover that a part of the tick is still embedded, don’t panic, and don’t dig out the tick. Apply alcohol and an antibiotic ointment, and the head will usually naturally disintegrate in a few days.
What then? Watch the area of a tick bite for infection. If you see a rash or infection, call us. Also contact us if your dog begins to display symptoms such as vomiting, weakness, or a fast heart rate.
There isn’t a 100% fool proof way to keep ticks away, but with a good preventative medicine and some basic precautions, you’ll have a better chance of beating the tick, even if they are the ones breaking records.
