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Ticks in the Blue Ridge are active from March to November, and most of them are smaller than a sesame seed. A five-minute check after every hike catches them before they matter.
Ticks climb up from grass and wait in warm, thin-skinned places. Run your fingers slowly over your dog, feeling for a small bump, and part the fur wherever you feel one.
Check between the toes, inside the ears, under the collar and harness, in the armpits and around the tail. These five places hide most of the ticks we remove at the clinic.
Use a tick hook or fine tweezers. Grip the tick as close to the skin as you can, then twist slowly or pull straight up with steady pressure. Do not squeeze the body, burn it or cover it in oil.
Long grass at the trail edge is where most ticks wait.
Clean the spot and wash your hands. A small red bump for a day or two is normal. A ring of redness, limping or a fever over the next weeks is a reason to call.
"Prevention does the heavy lifting. The check after a hike catches what slips through."
Dr. Ana Ruiz
Keep your dog on monthly tick prevention from March to November.
Do the five-minute check before your dog gets back in the car.
Save any tick in a sealed bag with the date, in case your dog becomes unwell.
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Parasite prevention
From $24
Monthly tick, flea and heartworm cover, dosed to your pet's weight.
