Ticks, Autumn Leaves and Your Dog

Posts by: 
Tori Houle, Lifestyle Contributor and Junior Editor of PetHealthNetwork
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Just because the temperature is dropping, doesn't mean your dog wants to play inside now. One of Harley's favorite things do as the weather changes in play in the giant piles of leaves that fill up our yard. However, it's extremely important to be aware that tick season is not over. While you mostly find ticks in tall grass, they also lurk about in the leaves your dog loves to play in. So here's a simple reminder to always be checking your pets, as well as yourself for ticks year round!

Ticks are terrible little parasites that carry multiple, nasty diseases that can affect both animals and people. Ticks are almost so common, people sometimes dismiss them as a concern, but it’s so important for pet parents to take ticks seriously. To protect your dog from tick-borne disease, it’s important you know where to be checking for ticks, and how often. 

Ticks are still here
While the weather is changing and our summer activities are winding down, that doesn’t mean ticks are going into hibernation. Some disease-carrying ticks have actually become immune to the cold because they’ve developed a type of anti-freeze glycoprotein to survive in harsh conditions. How scary is that? 
Read more about ticks and cold weather here >>

Where should you be checking for ticks, and how often?
When my dog Harley was diagnosed with Lyme disease 2 years ago, I knew I had to step my game up when it came to checking her for ticks. As demonstrated in the video above, Dr. Paul says that important  places to check your dog include:

• Between the toes
• Inside the ears and  around the ear folds
• Under the chin and neck area
• Groin and armpits

Really any places that look like good hiding spots probably are! Remember to always part the hair as much as you can to get the deepest and closest look. You should be checking your pup any time she could have come into contact with parasites, especially after outdoor activities such as hiking or swimming.

When should you be using tick preventives?
The simple answer to this is always. Ticks are prevalent year-round. If you’re unsure about disease in your environment, check this map to see which canine vector-borne diseases are in your area >>Want more information on ticks? Here are some great resources:
Ticks 101 >>
Dogs, Ticks and Tick-Borne Parasites >>
​Protecting Your Dog from Fleas and Ticks >>
6 Tick-Borne Diseases You Should Know About >>
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian -- they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

Reviewed by: 
Dr. Alexis Seguin, DVM, MS, DACVIM