BY JUNO DEMELO
IT’S TICK SEASON, when warmer temperatures prompt the little buggers to emerge in a big way—and we do mean big. “One female tick can lay thousands of eggs,” says Ruth Scimeca, VMD, PhD, a clinical parasitologist in the department of veterinary pathology at Oklahoma State University. Their season is getting longer than ever, thanks mostly to the shorter winters ushered in by climate change, and in some areas of the U.S. they’re active year-round. Unfortunately, they score meals by chomping not only onto humans but also onto our furry friends, putting our dogs and cats at risk of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, which can lead to kidney failure, anemia, and more. Here’s how to help protect our four-legged pals from those eight-legged nemeses.
Pick Your Poison
You have three main options in this bloody battle: collars, which repel ticks by releasing low concentrations of insecticide over your pet’s skin; oral medications, which get absorbed into your pet’s bloodstream or tissues and kill the tick after it bites; and topicals, which can either repel or kill, depending on the active ingredient. The choice is up to you and your pet, Scimeca says. Just keep the following in mind: Collars are easy (put one on and you’re set—for up to eight months, with some versions), but they aren’t ideal for dogs who swim a lot, because water can compromise their effectiveness. Oral medications can protect against fleas and heartworm too, but they have to be administered regularly (typically monthly), and your pet has to be willing to take them. Topicals also need to be dosed out on a schedule and can be messy.
Whichever one you use, get a prescription from your vet for maximum protection, because over-the-counter formulas are hit or miss in terms of effectiveness. Your vet will also know which option is best for your animal (some tick options for dogs contain ingredients that are toxic to cats).
With tick protection, you can’t really be too cautious. Say your dog already takes an oral or topical medication— you may want to supplement that with a repellent spray or collar before you go on a hike, Scimeca says.
Perform Regular Checks
Ticks love to hide in tall vegetation, so check your pup as soon as you’re back from a romp in grass that hits above your ankles. Even if you stick to pavement or freshly mowed lawns, it’s still a good idea to do checks daily this time of year, says Gene Pavlovsky, DVM, medical director of the Veterinary Medicine South Clinic at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign. “Run your fingers through their fur from back to front to expose their skin, feeling for any tiny lumps or bumps,” he says. Check around your dog’s eyes and tail, in and around his ears, under his collar, in the armpits of his front legs, and between his back legs and all his toes. Ticks range in size and color (they can be brown, reddish brown, or black) and usually look like an unassuming dot; you can find lots of photos at cdc.gov/ticks. Outdoor cats should also get a daily once-over. If your kitty only ventures outside occasionally, you can probably limit checks to weekly brushing sessions, which (bonus!) also help remove skin flakes and loose hair.
Tweeze with Precision
If you find a tick, don’t panic. It’s unlikely a tick will transfer from your pet to you. (For one, they don’t jump. For another, they’ve found a host. No need to look for a new one!) Of course, it’s always wise to check yourself too. Now for removal: Put on disposable medical gloves and use fine-tip tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible without pinching your pet. “Push the skin down with the tweezers and pull the tick straight out slowly,” Scimeca says. This will keep any parts of the tick embedded in your pet’s skin from breaking off. If you can’t get the entire thing, don’t worry: The rest will eventually dry up and fall out.
Afterward, wash your hands and the site of the bite with soap and water, then flush the tick down the toilet. Watch your pet for loss of appetite, fatigue, or difficulty walking, all of which can indicate tick-borne illness. (The symptoms may not develop until weeks or even months later.) If you notice anything unusual, call your vet, who can run tests and discuss whether antibiotics or other treatments are warranted. Be careful out there, and remember: Tick season doesn’t have to suck!
BORIS JOVANOVIC/STOCKSY