Out of all the common summertime pests, ticks pose a big threat. These parasitic insects are infamous for transmitting the most common vector-borne disease in the United States: Lyme disease. In Albuquerque summertime, the warm weather brings about all types of insects, ticks included. And because people spend more time outdoors this time of year, the probability of having a tick problem at some point is high. Due to the danger associated with these pests, it’s extremely important to learn how to protect your pets and family from ticks this summer. The team at Pest Defense Solutions is here to provide expert tick prevention tips. Keep reading to learn more!

How Dangerous Are Ticks?

The main concern with ticks is that they can transmit Lyme disease to not just you, but your pets as well. Cats don’t normally deal with ticks as much as dogs do, but they can still latch onto their skin. Ticks can latch onto pets for anywhere from a few hours to a few days. If your dog begins to show odd symptoms after noticing a tick on their skin, the tick could have transmitted disease. Some of the most concerning symptoms to look for include depression, fever, shortness of breath, lameness, loss of appetite, or swollen nymph nodes and joints. If you notice any of these, immediately take your pet to the vet.

6 Ways You Can Keep Ticks Away

Your pets can easily pick up ticks when they are outdoors. Even worse, they can bring them into your home! To keep your pets and family safe from ticks, there are 6 main things to do:

Clean your yard on a regular basis. By mowing your lawn regularly, you can make your yard less attractive to ticks. Cover your trash cans to discourage rodents that could carry ticks.
Rodent-proof your home. Rats and mice commonly carry ticks into residential yards and areas.
Get tick prevention for pets. Talk to your veterinarian about prevention or treatment options, including heartworm protection and more.
Inspect your pets daily. Focus on areas under the legs and around the neck and ears. In addition, look out for excessive scratching, licking, or grooming behavior.
When outdoors, avoid areas with high brush. Ticks are known to be in areas with high grass, be careful to stay on trails when hiking or walking.
Conduct inspections for your entire family. During the summer, regularly check yourself and family members for ticks after being outdoors. They may pass to your pets.

Long-Term Tick Protection

Ticks are common in the summers here in Albuquerque, and many people or pets get them when they spend time outdoors hiking and walking. In general, it’s important to always be on the lookout for ticks. If you need more information on tick prevention, contact our team for more information today!