Tick Season Guide
This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.
Complete tick guide for pet owners. Prevention products, safe removal techniques, tick-borne diseases, and seasonal risk by region.
Key Information
What You Need to Know
Practical Recommendations
Expert Tips
- Stick to a consistent feeding schedule — pets thrive on routine, and irregular meals can trigger anxiety and digestive issues.
Understanding the Research
Budgeting for Pet Care
Related Guides
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Where can I learn more?
The Companion Animal Parasite Council maps where ticks are active, and it updates those maps by region. The 2018 ACVIM consensus statement covers what to do with a positive Lyme test: it does not recommend treating every healthy seropositive dog, and it screens those dogs for protein in the urine.
How often should I take my pet to the vet?
Tick products are used through the season the veterinarian describes for the local area, often the whole year, and puppies and kittens start them on the clinic's timing at visits every 3 to 4 weeks until about 16 weeks. Adult dogs and cats need about one exam a year, and shifting-leg lameness, fever, or a dog who is suddenly sick after ticks should be seen promptly. The 2018 ACVIM Lyme guidance is an exam-and-test decision. A collar does not diagnose Lyme nephritis. Many senior dogs from about 7 years, giant breeds earlier, and senior cats from about 10 are seen every six months.
How can I save money on pet care?
Tick prevention used for the season your veterinarian describes, often the whole year, is the repeating purchase. A dog with shifting-leg lameness or Lyme nephritis is a workup. The 2018 ACVIM Lyme statement does not put every healthy seropositive dog on medication, so do not buy an extra course of antibiotic on your own. Use one product labeled for that pet, at the clinic's direction. Stacking two is waste and can be harmful.