Running in the field is so much fun, but can put you and your pet at risk for TICKS! These steps will help if you find a tick on you or your pet:
- Resist the urge to dry to brush it off you. Many times, they are small in their infancy and grow while gorging on your blood. They will embed their legs into you, so CAREFULLY use tweezers to remove the tick. Don’t squeeze it as blood from a tick can potentially transmit the infection to you (or your dog, depending on who the tick has chosen as its victim.
- Identify the tick – below is a photo of a deer tick. Small and black. Some ticks transmit disease. Lyme’s disease is caused by deer ticks.
- Put it in a container if you need it for use later on (if you wind up feeling sick or your dog becomes ill),
- Monitor your dog/yourself for any changes in behavior (lethargy) and in the area around the bite (skin irritation, infection, rash).
- Call your Doctor or Vet if you or your pet is infected. Tick bites are very serious, so use every precaution to make sure you use tick prevention on your pets. Wear long sleeves and tuck your pants into your socks. Avoid high grass areas. Make sure your dog is on year-round tick prevention, avoids brush and tall grass, and that you check him for ticks daily. You can speak with your vet about products specific to your area and can discuss giving your dog the Lyme Vaccination.
Be sure to wear long sleeves, socks and put tick prevention spray on you and tick prevention meds on your pets.
Learn more at West Hartford Pet Sitters.
