Hiking and Ticks

How to Tackle Ticks Safely When Hiking with Your Pet

Nothing sends the creepy-crawlies up your spine more than spotting a tick prowling across your pet’s skin. When taking advantage of the beautiful summer weather to go hiking with your pet, help them stay safe from ticks and tick-borne illnesses by following these tips.

hiking and ticks

1: Administer year-round tick prevention to your pet

Nothing is more effective at keeping hungry ticks at bay than tick prevention. Whether you
administer a topical solution to your pet’s skin or give them a flavored chew, you’re creating a
shield against ticks and the diseases they carry.

2: Keep your pet out of prime tick habitat when hiking

Contrary to popular belief, ticks do not fall from trees or jump great distances to latch onto you
or your pet. Instead, they “quest” for their prey, meaning they climb up the stalks of tall grasses,
weeds, and shrubs and stick their front legs out, waiting for a warm body to wander by and become a host. So, although your pooch would love to sniff around in the tall brush, keep them
to closely trimmed trails or paved paths.

tall grass

3: Know how to remove ticks properly from your pet

If a tick latches onto your pet, know how to properly remove it to minimize infection
transmission. Squeezing the tick’s body can cause it to “inject” disease pathogens into your pet, so use a pair of tweezers to gently grasp the tick’s head as close to your pet’s skin as possible,
then pull straight back with steady pressure. Avoid twisting when pulling since this can cause
the head to detach and remain in your pet’s skin. Monitor the area for inflammation and
infection. If you feel you will be unable to completely remove the tick from your pet, you can also bring them in and have your veterinarian remove it.

4: Protect your pet from Lyme disease with appropriate vaccination

In addition to protecting your pet from ticks with tick prevention, you also can safeguard them with a Lyme disease vaccine. By vaccinating your pet—dogs only—against Lyme disease, you can greatly decrease their chances of contracting this tick-borne illness and reduce the severity of signs if infection occurs.

woman carrying dog while standing in the middle of the forest

Before hitting the trail, protect your pet from the threat of Lyme disease with tick prevention and vaccination. Contact our team to schedule an appointment.

Published by Hill & Harbour Veterinary Center

Hill & Harbour Veterinary Center provides medical care to small animal and exotic patients. We are devoted to providing a unique client and patient experience centered on our commitment to excellence. Patients can expect to receive cutting-edge, yet compassionate, medical care at our modern facility. Furthermore, our team is focused on education and has exceeded the traditional standard of veterinary training. Our goal is to share this knowledge with our pet owners, so you can make informed decisions about your pet’s health and wellness. Indeed, we are “more than just great medicine.” Hill & Harbour Veterinary Center is devoted to creating an exceptional experience for our clients and pets by focusing on education, building personal relationships, outstanding customer service, and peace of mind.

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