Pet Tick Control And Treatment

Key Takeaways

• Tick control and treatment is a core service at Medivet clinics, providing parasite prevention products, treatments, and advice for dogs, cats, and rabbits.
• Ticks are arachnids that feed on animal blood and can carry diseases such as Lyme disease, which is one of the most common tick-transmitted illnesses in pets.
• Ticks range from 1mm to 1cm in size, appearing sesame-seed sized before feeding and coffee-bean sized once full with blood.
• Ticks are most common in wooded, grassy, and heathland areas between spring and autumn, but remain active all year round.
• Ticks do not jump or fly; they climb or drop onto pets and attach using their mouthparts before feeding for several days.
• Owners should check their pet for ticks after outdoor walks by running hands over the body, paying close attention to the head, neck, ears, and feet.
• Regular grooming sessions give owners a useful opportunity to spot ticks, which feel like small bumps on a pet's skin.
• Pet owners can register with Medivet to access routine preventative tick treatments and tailored veterinary advice from the clinical team.

What Is A Tick?

Ticks are members of the arachnid family (related to spiders and scorpions) that feed off the blood of other animals. They can vary in length from 1mm to 1cm and have an egg-shaped body that becomes larger and darker as it fills with blood. Before feeding, they’re about the size of a sesame seed; after feeding they can grow as big as a coffee bean.

These parasites are most commonly found in wooded, grassy and heathland areas between spring and autumn, although they remain active throughout the year. Ticks don’t fly or jump; instead, they climb or drop on to animals and attach themselves using their mouth before feeding. They will usually feed on their host for a few days before dropping off once they’ve had enough.