TOLEDO, Ohio — As the weather warms up and nature awakens from the winter chill, so does an unwelcome guest: the tick.
These tiny creatures might seem insignificant, but ticks can pack quite a punch when it comes to transmitting diseases and causing your pets to get sick. Understanding the risks and precautions of tick season is essential for outdoor activities and anyone venturing into green spaces as spring and summer get underway.
Springtime brings a wave of outdoor enthusiasts to parks and trails. But amidst the beauty of nature, there is that hidden threat in the form of ticks, ready to ruin your quality time outdoors and with your pets.
"Anywhere that there is tall grass, you’re going to find a lot of ticks. That’s where they like to hang out. They will be attracted to your warmth, to your scent," Anna Brogan with Lucas County Canine Care & Control said. "They want to suck your blood."
Not just your blood either. Ticks will also go after your pets, too.
"In the summer months, it’s important to keep track of your dog's behavioral cues," Brogan said.
If they are acting differently, such as being lethargic, not wanting to play with their usual toys, or not wanting to go out or eat anything, it could be a sign that they are not feeling well.
Brogan said if you see any of those cues, you should consult your veterinarian.
"We recommend that all pets have a flea and tick medication," Brogan said. Those medications can be purchased through your vet or during one of LC4's monthly low-cost vaccine clinics.
Ticks will drink until they are satisfied and then fall and wait for their next victim, so it is very important to have tick preventative in order insect to stop making a home on your pets.
"If they are bitten by a tick, it helps prevent transmission of those bloodborne diseases that the ticks are famous for," Brogan said.
Tick populations could surge with the rising temperatures, increasing the risk of tick-borne illnesses, so it is a timely reminder to stay vigilant against the tiny yet potent threat of ticks.
Remember to take precautions when venturing outdoors in tall grass this spring and summer.