Tick Season:

Now that the weather is improving and we are spending more time outdoors, you need to think about tick protection for your pet and your family.

 Ticks can carry diseases, including heartworm and Lyme, and jump from one host to another.

 You will want to use a tick prevention product from your vet; we list the main ones below. (Always follow instructions for maximum protection)

Make sure you inspect your pet daily for any unusual lumps or nodules on his body-especially if they like to spend time in tall grass.  You can easily spot the tick on the pets body if you part the fur.

  How to remove a tick from your cat or dog:

Removing a tick is easy if you just follow these simple steps.

To remove an attached tick, use a pair of fine-tipped tweezers or special tick removal instruments. These special devices allow one to remove the tick without squeezing the tick body.

This is important, as you do not want to crush the tick and force harmful bacteria to leave the tick and enter your pet’s bloodstream.

1. Grab the tick by the head or mouth parts right where they enter the skin. Do not grasp the tick by the body.
2. Without jerking, pull firmly and steadily directly outward. Do not twist the tick as you are pulling.
3. Using methods such as applying petroleum jelly, a hot match, or alcohol will NOT cause the tick to ‘back out.’ In fact, these irritants may cause the tick to deposit more disease-carrying saliva in the wound.
4. After removing the tick, place it in a jar of alcohol to kill it. Ticks are NOT killed by flushing them down the toilet.
5. Clean the bite wound with a disinfectant. If you want to, apply a small amount of a triple antibiotic ointment like Bacitracin to the wound.
6. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

NEVER use your fingers to remove or dispose of the tick. The contents of the tick can transmit disease if you squeeze the body.

Once an embedded tick is manually removed, it is not uncommon for a welt and skin reaction to occur. A little hydrocortisone spray will help alleviate the irritation, but it may take a week or more for healing to take place.

In some cases, the tick bite may permanently scar leaving a hairless area. This skin irritation is due to a reaction to the tick’s saliva.

Many people are concerned about the tick head staying the body, but this is rare.

Make sure your pet is protected with one of the following against tick (and some protect against fleas as well):

Frontline® Plus

K9 Advantix®

bioSpot SPOT ON®

Preventic Tick Collar