Veterinarians Are Warning Pet Owners Of A Severe Tick Season Coming
Tick season is coming up soon, and veterinarians are warning pet owners of the dangers of Lyme Disease. With the warmer weather, comes more exposure to the wilderness, and insects like ticks.
I grew up playing in the woods, and it never failed that every time we would come inside my mom would yell at us, “check for ticks!” Finding a tick on yourself or your dog was always gross, but I wasn’t aware of the real dangers of it until more recently. Ticks can carry many diseases but most notable, they carry Lyme disease.
According to the CDC, Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States, with an estimated 300,000 infections occurring each year. It can not only affect humans, but also our beloved pets. If left untreated, dogs with Lyme disease can experience heart complications, joint disease, and permanent nervous system damage.
April is Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month. BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital is sharing some advice on how to keep your dogs safe from ticks, and Lyme disease during these warmer months. Here are some of their helpful tips!
- Inspect your pets after walks
- Remove ticks immediately
- The faster you find and remove a tick, the better off you are.
- Use tick and flea preventatives (Consult your vet for these)
- Keep your yard grass as short as possible, and stay on paths
- Get your dog vaccinated for Lyme disease.
Hopefully these tips can help keep you and your pup safe during these warmer months!