Deer Ticks

Small deer ticks are ectoparasites that can easily hide within the coat of your pet and feed on the blood of the host. They may hitch a ride from the pet as they walk through grassy and woody areas.  Infected ticks may transmit diseases like Lyme’s disease to your pet during the blood meal. Prevention is the best treatment for ticks. Many tick preventives are available commercially that require frequent applications. If you find a tick on your pet, use tweezers or disposable gloves to handle the tick. You should avoid contacting them without any protective shield as infectious agents may be contracted through the breaks in the skin. Pets should be watched for tick-borne illness which includes symptoms like lethargy, fever, joint pain, and loss of appetite.