Why is my dog getting ticks all of a sudden
There can be several reasons why your dog is getting ticks all of a sudden. One of the most common reasons is that you have recently been in a wooded area or areas with thick, dense foliage. Ticks like these environments as they provide a moist environment for them to thrive, as well as plenty of potential hosts for them to latch onto.
Another common cause could be due to insect repellents that you may have recently applied to your pet’s fur. While these products do an excellent job at stopping insects from tagging along for the ride, they can also serve as tick magnets, drawing tiny critters closer than normal. Taking regular breaks and using preventative measures such as tick collars can help ensure that your pet stays tick free while out enjoying the outdoors.
It could also be temperature related; rising temperatures during summer months attract ticks as they are moving around more often looking for new hosts. During this time, it’s even more important that you monitor your pet closely when outside to ensure it doesn’t pick up any pests on its travels.
Lastly, there are certain seasonally-active diseases which can make finding ticks easier on animals; some of these include Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). If you think your pet may have contracted one of these illnesses then visiting a vet is advised to properly diagnose the issue and provide suitable medical advice.
Treat your Pet Regularly with Flea & Tick Prevention Medication
Your pet may be getting ticks all of a sudden because it is not being treated with flea and tick prevention medication on a regular basis. Flea & tick medicines help to keep the pests away from your pet, but must be used consistently in order for them to be effective.
There are many different types of flea and tick preventive medication available on the market, such as topical or seresto pet collars oral medications. Talk to your veterinarian about which type would be most appropriate for your pet, how often it should be given, and how long it will last before needing to be reapplied. Depending on where you live and the lifestyle that your pet leads, it can vary between needing to apply medication monthly or every few months.
It is important to stay on top of the flea & tick maintenance for both your pet’s health, as well as yours! Make sure that you are committing to treating your pet regularly with a flea & tick prevention product and have fun exploring the great outdoors together!
Look for Signs of Ticks After Every Walk
If you’re wondering why your dog is suddenly getting ticks, look for signs of ticks after every walk. Ticks are most likely to latch onto dogs during walks because they feed off the blood of their host. This means that if your dog spends a lot of time outside and in tall grass or trees, he or she is at higher risk for ticks.
To check for signs of ticks after you take your pup on a walk, it is best to do a thorough inspection from head to toe. You should do this even if you don’t think your pup has been exposed to any tick-prone locations such as wooded areas or tall grasses. Use gloves and tweezers when checking the fur, ears and tail for signs of ticks. If you find any, gently remove them; then put them in a sealed plastic bag and dispose of them. Check for signs of irritation or lesions around the bite site and monitor your pup for symptoms such as fever or lethargy which can indicate infection.
Keep Your Dog Away From Areas Known for High Tick Populations
One way to prevent your dog from getting ticks is to keep them away from areas known for high tick populations. Ticks love damp and shaded areas, like long grass and woods. Areas near wetlands or where deer frequent are also likely places for ticks. Thoroughly inspect yourself and your pet before getting back in the car after a walk or visit in one of these areas.
It’s also important to check your pet regularly for ticks, especially after any outdoor activity in an area known to have higher populations of ticks. Look through their fur carefully, paying particular attention around the ears, neck, belly, groin and between legs and toes. This should be done more often during the summer months when tick activity is highest. If you find any ticks on your pet, use tweezers to remove them safely by grabbing the tick close to the head without squishing its body.
To summarise
It is important to be vigilant in checking your pet for ticks and using tick prevention products regularly in order to avoid any potential issues due to their presence.
