Summer Tick Prevention For Pets
With the heat in Santa Fe summers, insects can be a common problem this time of year. One of the pests people need to be actively aware of in the summertime is the tick. These parasitic insects are infamous for transmitting Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease in the states. They commonly latch onto people or pets outdoors in the warm weather. They’re often found in areas with tall grass or brush, and can travel inside your home before hopping onto other family members. Because these insects can pose a threat to your family and pets, it’s important to learn about tick prevention methods. The team at New Mexico Pest Control is here to help with expert info on keeping them away.
Ways to Prevent Ticks in Your Pets
Dogs can often get ticks in the summer months when they spend time outdoors. There are a few things you can do to lessen the risk:
- Regularly tidy-up and trim your yard. By mowing your lawn regularly, you can make your yard less attractive to ticks. Cover your trash cans to discourage rodents that could carry ticks.
- Invest in tick prevention for your pets. Talk to your veterinarian about prevention or treatment options, including heartworm protection.
- Conduct daily inspections on your pets for ticks. Focus on areas under the legs and around the neck and ears. In addition, look out for excessive scratching, licking, or grooming behavior.
- Avoid areas with tall grass on hikes. Ticks are known to be in areas with high grass, be careful to stay on trails when hiking or walking.
- Check your entire family for ticks. During the summer, regularly check yourself and family members for ticks after being outdoors. They can easily hop from you to your pets!
Do Ticks Endanger Pets?
Ticks can endanger pets just as they can endanger people. These blood-suckers can latch onto their victim and feed for anywhere from a few hours to a few days. They also can hop off of one family member and onto the next one. Cats rarely get ticks, but could easily carry them into your home where they can infest other members and pets in the family. When an infected tick attaches to a dog, it’s possible for them to transmit Lyme disease. As soon as you notice the signs of your pets showing symptoms of depression, loss of appetite, fever, lameness, or swollen lymph nodes or joints, get your pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
What to Do When You Have Ticks
Ticks are dangerous for your health, bottom line. Unfortunately, many dogs get them when spending time outdoors in the summer here in New Mexico. It’s important to stay wary of tick activity in the summertime and to frequently check your family members, pets, and property. For more information on tick prevention for pets and your family, reach out to the pest control experts at New Mexico Pest Control.
