Ticks are becoming more and more prevalent in North America, and they’re now being found in areas where people and pets didn’t previously encounter ticks. These parasites aren’t just a nuisance; they can cause serious—and sometimes deadly—diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and tick paralysis. Contact us immediately if your pet starts coughing or has joint pain, trouble breathing, fever, weakness, or loss of appetite, weight, energy, or coordination. Please visit the Tick Encounter Resource Center for more information.
Dogs like Ezie here, who spend a lot of time outside playing and competing, are at higher risk of picking up a tick – however any dog or cat is susceptible. Even indoor-only pets are at risk because ticks can hitch a ride inside on your clothing or shoes. The best method for keeping ticks off your pet is by keeping your dog or cat on a tick preventive. Tick preventives are safe and highly effective at controlling ticks and the diseases they carry. Call us to get your pet protected today!
Don’t panic if you find a tick on your dog or cat, even if your pet is on a preventive. Some preventives kill ticks after they’ve come in contact with your pet. Ticks can hide easily under your pet’s fur, so as an added measure of protection, we recommend checking your pet for ticks every time your pet comes in from outside. And don’t hesitate to ask us any questions you might have.
Please ask us about NexGuard and Simparica, the monthly Chew Treats that are very effective against fleas AND ticks! Oral products for dogs are currently more effective in our area than topical products. We carry Revolution Plus for cats, which is effective against fleas, ticks, ear mites, roundworms, hookworms, and heartworms. The parasites always evolve, and we try to keep up!