I love summer, but the unfortunate reality is that we have to deal with ticks here in Saskatchewan.
This wasn’t always the case; it was probably only about 4-5 years ago that they became a problem around here.
I am not going to post any pictures of those ugly buggers here! If you don’t know what they look like and need to find out, Google will give you a hand.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I absolutely HATE ticks! YUCK!
So the question is; how do you deal with ticks during this time of the year?
They tend to be the worst in the spring as the weather starts getting warmer, less of a bother mid-summer, and relatively bad again in the fall.
Lets start with puppies… They are just as likely to get a tick on them in the grass or under the trees as an older dog, however your options are far more limited in tick treatment because of their young age.
Many tick treatments are not recommend for puppies younger than 6 months, however your vet carries a line approved for the under-6-month age group.
If you choose to use a tick treatment, be sure to do your research on which brand you go with so you are familiar with any risks that may be associated.
Liquid tick treatment (like the one pictured below) is easy to apply, lasts about a month, and does not require the tick to bite your dog in order to be effective.
Some folks choose to use tick collars, instead.
I personally find them ineffective and rather smelly.
Flea & tick shampoo is also a popular product; it primarily kills ticks that are already on your dog through contact.
Once again, be sure to read up on the line you choose to make sure it is approved for your dog’s age and weight.
And of course, there is the old-school way of manually removing ticks from your dog.
If this is the method you choose to go with, you’ll have to be diligent to inspect your pup on a regular basis – and have a strong tolerance for dealing with bugs!
If you are unsure which option you should go with, give your vet a call! They are dedicated to making sure your dog is healthy and happy.
Prevention
There are a few things you can do to help reduce the number of ticks your dog encounters.
I typically like to keep my dogs trimmed quite short during the summer months so there is less fluff for ticks to hide in.
Frequent baths and combing are essential to make sure you catch any ticks early and can get rid of the little buggers.
Keeping your yard well groomed will also help; ticks like to hide in tall grass, bushes, and shrubs.
On that note, not allowing your dog to wander through tall grass when you’re out for a walk at the cabin will help, too.
Did you find this helpful? Drop a comment below!
Ellie's Mini Schnauzers 