Ticks & Pets

General Information:

  • Dogs are very susceptible to tick bites and tickborne diseases. Vaccines are not available for most of the tickborne diseases that dogs can get, and they don’t keep the dogs from bringing ticks into your home. For these reasons, it’s important to use a tick preventive product on your dog.
  • Tick bites on dogs may be hard to detect. Signs of tickborne disease may not appear for 7-21 days or longer after a tick bite, so watch your dog closely for changes in behavior or appetite if you suspect that your pet has been bitten by a tick.
  • Indoor and outdoor pets can get ticks; any ticks brought inside by humans or other pets can put your indoor cat at risk for tick bites.
  • Cats are extremely sensitive to a variety of chemicals. It is very important not to use products on your cat that are intended for dogs. Consult your vet about what medications are best tick/flea prevention in cats.  

Talk to Your Veterinarian About:

  • The best tick prevention products for your animals
  • Tickborne diseases in your area

Tick Bite Prevention & Removal: 

  • Check your pets for ticks daily, especially after they spend time outdoors. Pay close attention to the ears, eyelids, under the collar, under font and back legs, between toes, and around the tail.
  • If you find a tick on your pet, remove it immediately.
  • Reduce tick habitat in your yard.

Graphic-Where-to-check-your-pet-for-ticks

Complications Associated with Ticks:

  • Blood loss
  • Anemia
  • Tick paralysis
  • Skin irritation or infection
  •  Lyme Disease: Lyme’s Disease can affect humans, dogs, cats and other mammals. Clinical signs of Lyme disease in animals include depression, swelling of the lymph nodes, loss of appetite, fever, swollen, painful joints and kidney failure. Lyme disease is most effectively treated with antibiotics.