It’s that time of year again when as dog owners and sitters we are constantly on the watch out for ticks. Ticks are small parasites that attach to animals (and humans in my case last week!) particularly during the wormers months and suck their hosts blood. After a couple of days or attachment they drop off engorged with blood.

It is important to prevent the attachment of ticks to your pet and to remove them if they do attach as ticks can cause problems for your pet. Problems can range from skin irritations or infections to more serious diseases such as Lyme Disease.

Prevention of ticks can be helped using one of many ore entities products on the market. These range from ‘spot on’ medication, shampoos, oral medication, tick collars, powders and sprays. Discuss which methods might be best for your pet with your vet if you are unsure. Obviously nothing guarantees that ticks won’t attach to your pet other than keeping your pet indoors avoiding areas where ticks are common. Checking your pet thoroughly after they have been outside will help to reduce the effects that ticks have on your pet.

If you do find a tick on your pet you can remove them yourself. if you are unsure how to do this then your vet will be able to show you how. Tick removal devices are available at most pet shops and vets and are great at helping you remove the tick yourself. If you do attempt to remove the tick yourself make sure that you remove the whole tick as any part of the tick left in your pet’s skin may cause an infection or reaction.