Tick and Flea Prevention should Start March 1st

A reminder that your pet should be started on Tick and Flea prevention starting March 1, 2019, unless given alternative Tick and Flea prevention instructions in the last 2 months. These recommendations are advised to help keep Ticks and tick related diseases at bay.

If your feline companion goes outside, ticks are common in woodland, grassland and heath areas, but can also be found in your garden if you live in an area with  wildlife like deer or sheep, birds, hedgehogs, squirrels or rabbits. Ticks are very good at passing on infections from one animal to another. Ticks transmit microbes that cause diseases,in rare occasions, such as Lyme disease and babesiosis to cats.

For your canine companion, Lyme disease has increased in prevalence in our region and is a risk to both people and their pets. Lyme disease is transmitted by the deer tick or black-legged tick and can be found in every Canadian province and U.S. state. Dogs are 50% more likely than people to contract Lyme disease.

We have seen cases of tick infestation as early as February of last year with temperatures as low as 4°C. With the forecast of February and March of this year being unpredictable and seemingly to be changing everyday, we highly recommend a tick and flea preventative starting early in the year.

The prevalence of ticks has increased exponentially in York Region and surrounding areas.

Please call us, for help in choosing the best prevention and book an appointment if you suspect a tick has been found on your pet.

Abbotsford Animal Hospital - Caring for Pets for People in York Region, Aurora, Newmarket, King City, Richmond Hill and the GTA.