Ticks are well-known for causing Lyme disease, but this isn’t the only malady to worry about when it comes to the crawly creatures. As we prepare for a warm, sticky summer in Ontario, here’s what the team at Glenridge Animal Hospital wants pet parents to know about tick prevention in Canada.
Beyond Lyme Disease: Other Tick-Borne Diseases to Watch For
Don’t get us wrong: Lyme disease, which causes fever, lethargy, and joint pain in dogs, is still something you don’t want your pup to get. But the same ticks that cause Lyme disease—blacklegged ticks—are becoming more widespread in Canada, including in Ontario.
And unfortunately, blacklegged ticks can also cause anaplasmosis and babesiosis in Ontario’s pets.
Anaplasmosis is a bacterial disease that causes fever, fatigue, appetite loss, and joint pain in pets. Infection isn’t always readily apparent: some pets only show mild versions of these symptoms—so mild that you don’t really notice them until they get more severe.
Babesiosis is a parasitic, tick-transmitted disease that can cause weakness, anemia, lethargy, fever, discolored urine, and an enlarged spleen or lymph nodes. Left untreated, babesiosis can even cause organ damage in pets.
The good news for both of these illnesses is that they are treatable, especially when they’re caught early on. With appropriate medications and care from a veterinary team, many pets recover well.
But prevention is the gold standard in treating emerging pet diseases, and veterinary teams have many tools at their fingertips for preventing tick-related diseases in the first place.
Tick Prevention for Pets in Canada
The number-one, best way to prevent tick-borne diseases in pets is to give your pet a veterinarian-approved preventive medication. These products help kill any ticks your pet comes into contact with before they can transmit disease.
Your vet may recommend:
- Oral tick preventive tablets your pet can chew (with the help of a pill pocket!)
- Topical flea and tick treatments that are applied to your pet’s skin
- Long-lasting flea and tick collars
It’s important to use these products exactly as instructed for maximum protection from ticks. Also, make it a habit to start checking your pet for ticks after enjoying time outdoors in Ontario. Ticks like to hide around pets’ ears, under their collars, between their adorable little toes, and around their tail area.
Removing ticks right away significantly lowers the chance of infection. Combine this strategy with tick preventive medication, and your pet can enjoy a healthy, tick-free existence.
Reach out to your local St. Catharine’s vet team at Glenridge Animal Hospital to get your pup on a preventive today. Call us at (905) 688-1996 to schedule an appointment!