Ticks!

June 6, 2018

I took this picture this morning as a reminder of how small adult deer ticks are, which is part of what makes them so sneaky!  The nymphs (immature ticks) are even smaller.

I walked my dogs Squash and Aspen in a Minneapolis park today and between the two of them found one attached and six unattached deer ticks. The only way I found any at all is because their coats are very short and very light in color. Usually I think there is a speck of mud on them and only realize it is a tick when I try to brush it off.

This is why it is so important to remember to give your monthly flea and tick preventatives, which should kill ticks before they can feed long enough pass on diseases such as Lyme, Anaplasmosis, and Erlichiosis. For dogs at higher risk of tick exposure, there is also a vaccine available for Lyme disease.

Remember your preventative, remember to do a tick check after every walk, and you can discuss whether the Lyme vaccine is an appropriate choice for your dog with one of our doctors.

Karen Christopherson DVM