Did you know that ticks are out in the winter too? That’s right! On any day that temperatures reach 33*F, ticks come crawling up out of the grass looking for a food source… and that source could be your dog or cat!
Many people wonder if their dogs and cats can transmit tick-borne diseases to their family members. It’s true that a tick could directly transmit infectious agents to dogs, cats, or humans. However, infected pets cannot transmit an infectious agent to a human. If your dog or cat was bitten by a tick, you do not need to worry about your family members becoming infected, unless they have also been bitten. Remember, dogs and cats can bring ticks into the house, where those ticks could subsequently bite you or other members of your household. Frontline and Nexgard help prevent pets from bringing ticks into the home, thereby reducing the chance that a pet or a human will be bitten.
Always check your pets for ticks before they come into the home, especially if they have been in or near a tick habitat (high grass, brush, woods, etc.). Make sure to contact your vet if a pet has been exposed to ticks and they can discuss signs and symptoms of tick-borne disease, and suggest some ways to reduce your pet’s risk of tick bites.
These are just a few reasons why House Paws generally recommends that all pets with exposure to the outdoors remain on prescription flea/tick preventatives throughout the year. Some pets have higher exposures to ticks than others. If you have questions about ticks and preventatives, or if you are unsure how often you should give your pets their monthly Frontline or Nexgard, please reach out to our office. We would be happy to discuss your pet’s environment and risk of exposure, and come up with a plan that meets your pet’s individualized needs.
Stay tuned! We’ll be sharing more information next month about Frontline and Nexgard and how they specifically protect pets from ticks and fleas!
Many people wonder if their dogs and cats can transmit tick-borne diseases to their family members. It’s true that a tick could directly transmit infectious agents to dogs, cats, or humans. However, infected pets cannot transmit an infectious agent to a human. If your dog or cat was bitten by a tick, you do not need to worry about your family members becoming infected, unless they have also been bitten. Remember, dogs and cats can bring ticks into the house, where those ticks could subsequently bite you or other members of your household. Frontline and Nexgard help prevent pets from bringing ticks into the home, thereby reducing the chance that a pet or a human will be bitten.
Always check your pets for ticks before they come into the home, especially if they have been in or near a tick habitat (high grass, brush, woods, etc.). Make sure to contact your vet if a pet has been exposed to ticks and they can discuss signs and symptoms of tick-borne disease, and suggest some ways to reduce your pet’s risk of tick bites.
These are just a few reasons why House Paws generally recommends that all pets with exposure to the outdoors remain on prescription flea/tick preventatives throughout the year. Some pets have higher exposures to ticks than others. If you have questions about ticks and preventatives, or if you are unsure how often you should give your pets their monthly Frontline or Nexgard, please reach out to our office. We would be happy to discuss your pet’s environment and risk of exposure, and come up with a plan that meets your pet’s individualized needs.
Stay tuned! We’ll be sharing more information next month about Frontline and Nexgard and how they specifically protect pets from ticks and fleas!
