Flea and tick season in Alberta typically begins in the early spring. These pests can cause health issues for dogs and cats, so it’s important to know what you can do to protect your pets. We recommend that pet caregivers consider the following to help ensure everyone can safely enjoy the warmer Alberta seasons.
Talk Tick and Flea Prevention with your Veterinarian
Taking a proactive approach to pest-control can be one of the best ways to protect your pets in the warmer months. There are safe and effective products available to prevent parasites, including ticks and fleas. Speak with your veterinarian to determine the most appropriate product for your pet. Your veterinarian can help you understand the options and choose a solution that offers effective protection based on your pet’s needs and the parasites most common in your area or in places you frequently visit.
Ticks
Ticks are small spider-like arachnids that can bite and attach to the skin of humans, other mammals, birds and reptiles. Once attached, a tick will feed on the blood of its host. While tick bites on their own do not usually cause health problems, certain species of ticks can transmit diseases, including Lyme disease. Unfortunately, ticks are more common in Alberta than many people realize. According to the Government of Alberta website, over 1,200 ticks found on companion animals were submitted to Alberta Health for testing in 2023 alone.
Lyme Disease in Pets
Dogs can acquire Lyme disease from infected ticks. One of the first signs that caregivers may notice is a large, round, red rash around the bite mark. According to the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association, if untreated, infections of the skin, joints, muscles, heart, and nervous system can follow. Fortunately, only three percent of ticks found on companion animals and submitted to Alberta Health tested positive for Lyme Disease in 2023. Cats can also get Lyme disease, but it much less frequent than in dogs.
Tick Removal
If you find a tick on your pet, it is important to remove them as soon as possible. It often takes 36 to 48 hours for the Lyme disease bacterium to be transferred from tick to host, therefore, removing a tick within 24 hours of a bite greatly reduces your pet’s risk of tick-borne illnesses.
If a tick is attached to your pet’s skin, the Alberta Health advises it can be safely removed using the following steps:
- Using tweezers, gently grasp the tick’s head and mouth parts as close to your pet’s skin as possible.
- Without squeezing the tick, slowly pull the tick straight up off the skin – do not jerk or twist it.
- Do not apply matches, cigarettes or petroleum jelly to the tick.
- Once the tick has been removed, clean the bite area with soap and water and disinfect the area with an antiseptic. Wash hands with soap and water.
- Save the tick in a clean, empty container. Do not add any ventilation holes to the container. You can put more than one tick in the container if they are found on the same animal or in the same general area in the environment.
- Add a small piece of tissue or cotton ball, lightly moistened with water, into the container to prevent the tick(s) from drying out.
- Take a photo of the tick and submit it for identification and testing as soon as possible.
How to submit a tick to Alberta Health:
www.alberta.ca/lyme-disease-tick-surveillance.aspx
Tick Prevention
Alberta Health lists the following recommendations to reduce the risk of tick bites:
- Walk on cleared trails whenever possible and avoid walking in tall grass or wooded areas.
- Wear light-coloured clothing and cover up as much skin as possible, for example, a hat, long-sleeved shirt, long pants with the legs tucked into socks or boots.
- Use a bug spray on yourself that contains the chemical DEET or icaridin to repel ticks and reapply as frequently as directed.
- Check yourself and your pet for ticks after leaving a grassy or wooded area where ticks may live.
- Check your pets for ticks after they have been outside. You cannot get Lyme disease from your pet, but your pet can bring infected ticks inside. These ticks can fall off your pet and attach themselves to you.
Fleas
Fleas are tiny insects, about the size of a pinhead, that typically spread from one animal to another. They’re visible to the naked eye and tend to hide in fur, especially around the belly and upper legs.
Excessive itching is the most obvious sign that a pet has fleas. However, severe flea infestations can lead to excessive blood loss or even death if left untreated.
Flea Treatment
Fleas can be treated using pet-safe pesticide products designed specifically for flea and tick issues. As per Health Canada, it important to:
- Only use products labeled for your pet’s species and weight.
- Follow directions on the packaging closely. Misuse can cause skin irritation, tremors, gastrointestinal issues and vomiting.
- Only use products approved by Health Canada, identified by either a Drug Identification Number (DIN) or Pest Control Product (PCP) number.
- When in doubt, consult your veterinarian for advice.