Ticks! At Baildon Vets, we will be happy to see the back of winter but, unfortunately , once the warmer weather finally arrives, this will be the time we start to see more ticks!

They cannot jump but will climb to the top of long grass and wait for a host to pass by. Ticks are very small initially, becoming more apparent when filled with a blood meal. Please check your pets regularly especially around their ears as this is a favourite place for them to attach (see picture). The lovely moorland, woodland, sheep and wildlife around us makes Baildon a high risk area for ticks. We can advise on products that kill ticks (as well as fleas) and have tick hooks to safely remove any ticks from your pet. If removed incorrectly, the head parts can be left in and this can cause infection.

Ticks can pass on Lyme disease to humans so it is very important to remove them quickly. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. It’s usually easier to treat if it’s diagnosed early.