Tick Talk
A Pet Owners Guide to Ticks and How to Keep your Furry Friend Safe from these Tiny Troublemakers
Ticks are parasitic arachnids (AKA spiders) that survive by feeding on the blood of animals including dogs, cats and humans. Ticks range in size depending on their life stage maturity and gender. An adult female may be as large as half a cm, whereas a baby tick might be as small as a poppy seed.
Topics Covered
1. The Blacklegged Tick, aka the Deer Tick (Ixodes scapularis)
2. The American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis)
Where can Ticks be found?
Ticks prefer to live in wooded areas in tall grasses and under leaf litter. However, with the increased prevalence of ticks in Toronto, ticks can also routinely be found in urban areas like city parks and other green spaces.
When can we expect to find Ticks?
Ticks start to look for a meal anytime the temperature is above freezing (0°C). This means that ticks are most active in our area in the spring and fall weather. But with warmer winters increasingly more common, there the risk for ticks persists even in our winter months. For this reason, our most aggressive tick prevention strategies should be performed from March through to November, but should be considered year-round.
Protecting Your Pet in a Changing Climate
Ticks are no longer a rare threat in Toronto—they’re a year-round reality. In just over a decade, black-legged ticks in the GTA have surged from 1 found in 2013 to 57 in 2024, with nearly half carrying dangerous illnesses like Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, or babesiosis. Warmer winters (with more days above 0°C) mean ticks are now active even in colder months, when most pets aren’t protected.
Disease Transmission
As if the idea of a blood thirsty spider isn’t enough of a reason to avoid ticks, these little vampires also transmit serious diseases to both humans and pets. In our area the most prevalent disease transmitted by ticks is Lyme disease.
What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium called Borrellia burgdorferi. Unlike humans, most dogs that contract Lyme disease will not show any signs of illness or get sick. When dogs do get sick it usually manifests as mild joint pain or low-grade fever. This usually develops 2-6 months after a bite. A small percentage of dogs will develop life-threatening kidney infection. For this reason, if you do find a tick on your dog your veterinarian will likely recommend testing for Lyme disease 2 months after potential exposure and screen your dog for kidney disease if positive.
Why Year-Round Prevention Matters
Parasite prevention isn’t just for your pet—it safeguards your human family too. Many tick-borne diseases (including Lyme, anaplasma, and babesia) are zoonotic, meaning they can spread to people. Consistent prevention minimizes risks like:
• Lyme disease (the most common threat).
• Painful bacterial infections (e.g., anaplasmosis).
Even indoor pets need protection! Ticks and fleas hitchhike indoors on clothing or other pets, and mosquitoes (which transmit heartworm) can slip inside easily.
How to Avoid Ticks
By helping to identify and avoid ticks in our pets, we can also help keep ourselves healthy.
1. Check your pet for ticks whenever they have been outside
Starting at your pet’s head run your fingers like a comb run your hands over your pets full body. You are feeling for lumps/skin tags. Another helpful way to pick up ticks that are still crawling around trying to find a place to feed is to run a lint roller over the entire surface of your dogs Ticks that have latched on to an animal will look like a black or grey skin tag. Tick hot spots include under your pet’s colour, groin area, under font legs, and around the ears.
2. Remove any attached ticks within 24hrs of attachment.
It typically takes 24 to 48hrs before a tick can successfully transmit disease to your pet. By identifying and removing ticks in a timely fashion you can prevent Lyme disease.
3. Keep your pet on an approved parasiticide licenced for tick prevention whenever your pet could be exposed to ticks.
The class of parasiticides known as Isooxazolines are safe and incredibly effective at killing ticks. Isooxazolines are included in products like Simparica, Bravecto and Nexgard. Any pet that goes outside should be on tick prevention. It is most important that pets be on tick prevention from March to November, and as temperatures rise and our winters get warmer consideration is given to year-round protection. Remember ticks look for a meal as soon as the temperature is above freezing.
Bonus, these medications are also excellent at controlling other yucky parasites like fleas and mange!
Keeping your pet on tick prevention year-round also helps kill ticks which means one less tick in the world that might transmit Lyme disease to you or your family.
How to Remove a Tick Safely
If you find a tick on your pet it is important to remove them promptly and safely. Remember it takes at least 24hrs before a tick can transmit disease, which means prompt and safe removal can help keep you pet safe from disease. When removing a tick it is important to remove the whole thing. If parts of the tick is left behind it can cause inflammation and infection. Because ticks have evolved highly specialized mouthparts removing a tick in its entirety can be easier said than done. Here are some options:
1. Using tweezers grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out without squeezing the body.
2. Use a Tick twister: Hook the tick twister around the ticks’ body until it is held securely between the two prongs with the base of the prongs lying flat along the skin near the point of attachment. Lift the hook very lightly and turn it. The tick usually detaches itself after 2-3 rotations.
From Tick Twister® by O’TOM. 1. Select a tick twister sized appropriately for the size of tick being removed. 2. Hook the tick twister around the ticks’ body until it is held securely between the two prongs with the base of the prongs lying flat along the skin near the point of attachment. 3. Lift the hook very lightly and turn it.
3. Call your vet – we can help!
Congratulations, pet parent! You’re now equipped with the know-how to safeguard both you and your furry family member from ticks. Make it a habit to check for ticks regularly and ensure your pet stays on prevention whenever temperatures rise above freezing. Have more questions? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch – we’re here to help you navigate the world of pet health with confidence and care.
– The Yonge Sheppard Animal Hospital Team 🐾💚
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the right parasite prevention for my pet?
The best prevention plan depends on your pet’s unique needs, including their:
• Lifestyle (indoor vs. outdoor, hiking/swimming habits).
• Species (some prevention options for dogs can be extremely toxic to cats, and should be avoided in shared households due to the acute toxicity risk)
• Breed (Herding breeds like Collies and Australian Shepherds often carry the MDR1 gene mutation, which increases sensitivity to certain active ingredients)
• Age/weight (puppies/kittens vs. seniors, dosing accuracy).
• Regional risks (local tick/flea/mosquito activity).
• Medical history: some prevention options should be avoided in pets with history of neurological disorders.
Always consult your veterinarian! They’ll review your pet’s history, current medications, lifestyle, and genetic risks to design a tailored, safe prevention plan.
Why year-round parasite prevention?
Year-round prevention protects both your pet and your human family. Many tick-borne diseases (e.g., Lyme disease, anaplasma, ehrlichia, and babesia) are zoonotic, meaning they can spread from pets to people. Consistent prevention minimizes the risk of:
• Lyme disease (the most common threat).
• Other bacterial infections transmitted by ticks or fleas.
What should I do if I miss a dose of prevention?
1. Restart prevention immediately – Don’t “double dose”; just resume the schedule.
2. Schedule exposure testing – Missed doses increase infection risk, and testing ensures no silent infections developed.
3. Monitor for symptoms (e.g., lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea) and contact us if concerns arise.
Why regular exposure testing?
We strongly recommend annual testing (e.g., Accuplex, Idexx 4DX) for all pets, even those on prevention, because:
1. Prevention Gaps Can Happen
• Prevention with ingredients like Imidacloprid or Permethrin (topical only): Bathing, swimming, or rain within 48 hours of application can wash away protective barriers.
• Prevention with Isoxazolines (topical or oral): Weight fluctuations may reduce dose effectiveness.
2. Early Detection Saves Lives
• Testing identifies “silent” infections early, allowing treatment before complications arise.
3. Pre-Testing is Critical
• Always test before starting prevention to confirm your pet is free of heartworm or tick-borne illnesses. Starting prevention with an existing infection may worsen the condition.
• Test if doses are skipped, as lapses increase infection risk.
Note: If a pet tests positive for heartworm or tick-borne illness while on prevention, the manufacturer may cover treatment costs—but only if prior testing confirmed they were infection-free.
Can indoor pets skip prevention?
No – indoor pets still need protection! Here’s why:
• Ticks/Fleas: Hitchhike indoors on clothing, shoes, or other pets.
• Mosquitoes: Can enter homes and transmit heartworm with a single bite.
• Unexpected escapes: Even brief outdoor exposure (e.g., a balcony or catio) poses risks.
Preventing parasites is safer and more affordable than treating advanced infections. Year-round prevention ensures your pet stays protected, no matter their lifestyle.