As the warm months arrive, bringing sunshine and outdoor adventures, many dog owners rejoice in taking their furry friends to parks, trails, and backyard play areas. However, alongside these joys comes a less welcome reality: tick season. Ticks are pesky parasites that pose significant health risks to dogs, making it essential for pet owners to understand how to protect their pets and manage the threat effectively. Whether you’re visiting a doggie daycare or taking your dog for daily walks, especially in areas like Bartlett, Elgin, St. Charles, Hoffman Estates, or Schaumburg, IL, it’s important to stay informed about seasonal risks. Our reputable dog trainers can offer advice and canine enrichment activities that also support your dog’s overall well-being during tick season.
Our Dog and Puppy Trainers Share What Ticks Are and Why They Are a Threat
Ticks are small arachnids related to spiders and mites. They are ectoparasites, meaning they live on the outside of their host— in this case, dogs — and feed on their blood. Ticks are particularly active during warmer months but can be found year-round in some climates.
The danger of ticks extends beyond mere annoyance. They can transmit a variety of diseases that can severely impact a dog’s health. Some of the most common tick-borne illnesses include:
- Lyme Disease: Caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, this disease can lead to fever, lameness, joint swelling, and, if untreated, more severe health issues such as kidney damage.
- Erlichiosis: Resulting from Ehrlichia bacteria, it can cause fever, lethargy, bleeding issues, and weight loss.
- Anaplasmosis: Often presents with symptoms similar to Lyme, including joint pain and fever.
- Babesiosis: A parasitic infection causing anemia, fever, and weakness.
Prevention and early detection are key to safeguarding dogs from these infections, so please ask our dog and puppy trainers what you should do if your dog gets a tick.
The Tick Season Timeline
Understanding when tick season peaks can help pet owners prepare. In most regions, including Bartlett, Elgin, St. Charles, Hoffman Estates, and Schaumburg, IL, tick activity begins in early spring and continues through the fall. The highest risk typically occurs between late spring and early summer. However, in warmer climates, ticks can remain active year-round, making consistent prevention efforts essential.
Factors influencing tick activity include temperature, humidity, and the presence of hosts like deer, rodents, and birds. Wet, humid conditions tend to favor tick proliferation, making spring and early summer particularly critical periods for vigilance.
How Ticks Attach and Feed
Ticks wait on tall grass, shrubs, or leaf litter, recognizing passing hosts through body heat, movement, and carbon dioxide. Once they latch onto a host, they crawl to intended attachment sites such as ears, neck, armpits, or between toes. They insert their mouthparts into the skin and begin to feed slowly.
During feeding, ticks can transmit pathogens from previous hosts or infections they carry themselves. The entire process can last from a few hours to several days. The longer a tick remains attached, the higher the risk of disease transmission.
Recognizing the Signs of Ticks on Dogs
Our team recommends regularly inspecting your dog after outdoor activities is crucial, especially during peak tick season. Look for:
- Visible ticks are attached to the skin, often feeling like a small bump.
- Skin irritation, redness, or swelling.
- Itching or scratching.
- Lethargy, fever, or loss of appetite (these are signs of possible infection).
Some ticks are easily visible to the naked eye, but their small size often makes them hard to spot, especially on thick or dark fur.
Prevention Strategies
Our dog and puppy trainers all agree that prevention is the cornerstone of protecting your dog from ticks. Several options are available:
1. Topical Spot-On Treatments: These are applied monthly and create a protective barrier that repels and kills ticks on contact. Products containing permethrin, fipronil, or afoxolaner are popular choices.
2. Oral Medications: Chewable tablets or pills taken monthly or every few months can kill ticks that latch onto your dog. Some of the common active ingredients include Seresto, fluralaner, and lotilaner.
3. Tick Collars: These collars continuously release insecticides that deter ticks. They can be effective for several months but require a proper fit and regular checking for skin irritation.
4. Environmental Control: Keeping your yard tidy, removing leaf litter, tall grass, and brush, minimizes tick habitats. Creating a barrier of wood chips or gravel between wooded areas and lawns can also help reduce exposure. You can bring your dog to our doggie daycare, where our dedicated staff maintains a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for your pup to play, learn, and thrive.
5. Checking and Grooming: After outdoor excursions, thoroughly inspect your dog, especially around ears, neck, collar line, and paws. Regular grooming can help detect ticks early.
What to Do If You Find a Tick on Your Dog
If you spot a tick attached to your dog:
- Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool.
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward steadily without twisting.
- Do not jerk or squash the tick.
- Clean the bite area and your hands with alcohol or soap and water.
- Dispose of the tick by submerging it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed container, or flushing it.
Note: Do not apply petroleum jelly, heat, or other folk remedies, as these can cause the tick to burrow deeper or regurgitate.
Even though it’s summer and ticks are out in full force, it’s important to remember that your dog still needs regular exercise and outdoor time. Don’t let these pesky pests keep you indoors—just take the right precautions and stay informed. And if you have any questions, our knowledgeable team of dog and puppy trainers is here to help!