Tick season is underway in Prince Albert. (Submitted Photo/Government of Saskatchewan)

By Rob Mahon

Tick Season Begins

Time ticks away: SPCA encounters season’s first pests

May 18, 2022 | 4:00 PM

The on-again off-again end of winter has delayed the arrival of several pests we normally see this time of year. The first of those have started to rear their heads, however.

Tick season is upon us, and local pet owners may soon find their furry friends coming home with passengers. Over at the SPCA, they’ve already seen the first ticks of the new season.

“It was last week that we saw our first animal come in with ticks,” said Ashlee Bober, shelter manager of the Prince Albert SPCA. “We’ve since seen a handful, specifically of dogs, coming in with ticks. So we’ve seen a number of them coming in. Ticks are definitely out.”

At minimum, ticks can be painful and irritating for pets, so that alone is reason for most pet owners to want to keep them off. They can also carry diseases, however, making them much more than just a potential nuisance.

“They can carry different bacteria, which can cause issues for the animal as well,” Bober said. “They’re not fun, not entertaining for the dogs and cats. When there are things you can do to prevent your pets from getting them, you definitely take that advantage and do that.”

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One thing you can do to prevent your pet from picking up any passengers is pick up a medical treatment for ticks. Your local veterinarian will likely have some such products. It can also be a simple case of avoiding places where ticks are plentiful.

“Ticks mostly are found in tall grass,” Bober said. “If you’re going out for a walk, it might be an idea to keep your dogs away from areas that have long, tall grass where ticks will likely be found.”

Ticks are not exclusive to long grass, however, and despite your best efforts you may still find one on your pet even if you keep them out of long grass. If a tick bites in, you have to make sure to remove not just the body but the head as well.

“There are tick keys that you can get at most pet stores here in town to help you get them off,” said Bober. “Of course, you can also go to a veterinarian and get help with that as well.”

Bober added once you have a tick removed from the animal, the simplest way to dispose of it is drop it in a small container of bleach. She also said ticks are resilient creatures, so dropping them in water won’t solve the problem.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP