Dog Owners, Beware: Ticks in Feeding Frenzy After Mild Winter
Vets warn pet owners that ticks are already thriving—and thirsty—after a warmer Illinois winter. Some docs are seeing a spike in canine patients with tick-borne illnesses. Is your pooch protected?
A particular, pesky arachnid is popping up and latching on earlier than ever this spring, and some veterinarians are ticked off. After a mild winter, ticks are back in full force, preying on area canines. One local vet said he has seen more tick-infested dogs this spring than he has in 10 years of practice in the area. "For the most part, ticks had been ignored," said Dr. Benjamin Welbourne, of Oak Forest Animal Clinic. "This season, we're already pulling a lot of ticks out of dogs." Ticks are most prominent in spring and summer, and Welbourne said most years, ticks would drop out of sight by fall. But warmer temperatures kept them lingering and looking for a blood meal into December 2011. This April, after a few months off, the ticks are…
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christine
1:26 pm on Thursday, May 9, 2013
It is surprising to me that as much time as we spend in the forest, we have yet to bring a tick home from there this season. HOWEVER, I have removed two ticks from my son after playing in the backyard (OF). My neighbors have removed 11 ticks from their dog, who was also only in their backyard. Between my son and their dogs, we're at ~20 ticks in a 3 week span! Can OF do anything to curb this … more ›