A veterinarian says the risk of ticks is on the rise for pets in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Dr. Maggie Brown-Bury says they are seeing ticks on dogs and cats who have not left the province, something which indicates that they are coming into the province through people who are travelling or migrating birds.
She says it doesn’t have to be very warm for pets to be at risk.
(Photo courtesy Veterinary Specialty Centre of Newfoundland and Labrador)
If it is over four degrees Celsius and your animal is spending time in tall grass or the woods they have the chance of picking up the “hitchhikers,” which could spread Lyme disease.
Brown-Bury says owners can go to a vet to have them removed. If they choose to do it at home, she says it is important to make sure the whole head is removed because they can bite very deep into the skin. She also encourages people to put the tick in a plastic bag and bring it to a vet to have it identified so that people can know if their pet is at risk for any diseases.
