The Great British Tick Hunt: Keeping Pets Safe on Every Walk
A walk through the countryside can be one of the best parts of owning a dog. There are muddy paws, exciting smells, unexpected puddles and, occasionally, a dog that believes every hedge deserves a thorough investigation. Unfortunately, some of those adventures can bring home an unwelcome passenger: a tick. These tiny parasites can attach themselves to animals as they brush past vegetation. They are particularly common in woodland, grassland and areas with dense vegetation. In the UK, tick activity tends to peak between March and October, although pets can encounter ticks throughout the year. That makes prevention a sensible part of everyday pet care rather than a task reserved for summer holidays. Why ticks deserve your attention Ticks are arachnids, meaning they belong to the same broad group as spiders and mites. Unlike fleas, they do not jump from one animal to another. Instead, they wait on vegetation and attach themselves when a suitable host passes by. Once attached, a tick...