Ticks can live in almost any outdoor environment, but they especially love tall grasses and shrubs. Those areas are great for hitching a ride with your dog or cat. They come in many different shapes and sizes.

You should also check your pet often for ticks. They’re sneaky little buggers who love to hide in warm, hard to reach areas – like inside and around the ears, under the chin and neck…honestly anywhere on the head is fair game. Also between toes, under folds of skin, and in armpits and the groin area.

If you do find one of the eight-legged creatures latched on to your pet, it’s important to remove it soon. Use tweezers to take hold at the head of the tick, and pull slowly and steadily. Once removed, the area should heal on its own. Since we’re in an area where Lyme disease is so prevalent, your vet also recommends having your pet vaccinated for Lyme Disease.

At Chantilly Animal Hospital we care about your pet’s health. If you have any concerns about your pet and ticks, please request an appointment with us today.