With summer around the corner, insects are coming out of hiding. You may have noticed that ticks are becoming a bigger and bigger problem every year, even in areas where they used to be fairly rare. These tiny parasites can pose a huge danger to both you and your pet! A local Cherry Hill, NJ vet discusses ticks below.
Local Ticks
There certainly are many reasons to be concerned about ticks. They can carry dangerous diseases, such as Lyme disease, which can afflict both pets and people. New Jersey has traditionally had three ticks that transmit diseases: the Deer tick, the Lone Star tick and the American Dog tick. These have recently been joined by the Asian Longhorned tick.
Parasite Control
Fortunately, there are ways to protect both yourself and your pet from ticks. First and foremost, keep up with your furry pal’s parasite control. However, don’t just rely on this alone. Ticks can still latch on, especially as it nears the time for your pet’s next dose. Get into the habit of checking your dog or cat regularly. Look between their toes and under their collar. You’ll also want to check yourself, especially after being in fields or wooded areas. If you find a tick, don’t panic. Use tweezers or a tick popper to remove it. Be sure to remove the entire thing! You may want to take photos of it, in case symptoms develop. If you know or suspect that the tick has been in place over 24 hours, call your vet or doctor.
Landscaping
There are also a few landscaping tricks and tactics that can help. Keeping your lawn neatly mowed can be very effective. Ticks love to lurk in long grasses, awaiting their next victim! You’ll also want to keep debris piles, dead branches, and litter off your property. Also, keep shrubs and hedges trimmed, so they don’t touch your house. If you have gardens, berry bushes, and/or fruit trees, pick up fallen produce immediately. Otherwise, it may attract wild animals that carry ticks. Keep in mind that many wild animals, such as opossums, eat ticks. If you find a critter on your property, try to let it be. If you do need to remove it, use humane methods, such as trap/release.
Do you need to get your pet started on parasite control? Call us, your Cherry Hill, NJ vet clinic, today!
