Pet owners beware, ticks are once again active. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Ronald Quaroni

Bug season

Ticks make their spring return

May 9, 2019 | 12:05 PM

The Prince Albert SPCA and Gateway Veterinary Services clinic in Melfort are reporting furry friends are starting to pick up some unwanted critters.

Tick season is here.

“In the last couple of weeks here we’ve started to see dogs especially starting to come in with ticks,” Victor Kernaleguen, veterinarian with Gateway Veterinary Service said. ”We’ve been getting reports for the last month that people have been finding ticks on their animals fairly frequently, especially if they haven’t been treating their animals.”

Ashlee Bober, the animal control officer with the Prince Albert SPCA, said they are also seeing pets come through with ticks attached.

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“Definitely. As it’s warming up right now and the ground is thawing, they’re starting to come out of hibernation,” Bober said. “Now is the time; they’re extremely hungry and looking for food, which is why they attach themselves to animals and people.”

Although discomforting, Bober said the best way to remove a tick is to grasp it close to the head with a pair of tweezers or your fingers and pull it straight off.

When checking a pet for ticks look behind the ears, around their bellies and armpits.

Kernaleguen said the best way to deal with ticks on your pets is prevention.

“At the vet clinics we do have some prescription products that we recommend. We use a monthly chew and with that, basically once a tick gets on the animal, it bites and it dies,” Kernaleguen said. “We do have products that you can pour on their back that can help repel ticks. We’ve got a couple different ways of getting at the ticks.”

He added there are no products for humans to repel the blood suckers.

“After you’ve enjoyed the outdoors, make sure you check yourself,” Kernaleguen said.

Ticks can transmit infection such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

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Ron.quaroni@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @RonaldQuaroni