Ticks are small parasites which suck blood from other animals. They have 8 legs like a spider with an egg-shaped body. This becomes larger and darker when filled with blood. Unlike fleas, ticks can’t fly or jump. Instead, they climb or drop onto animal’s coats when they brush past whatever the tick is sitting on.

The most common place to find ticks is in woodland and glass land. They can be found throughout the year but are most active during spring and autumn.

Lyme Disease

A serious bacterial infection called Lyme disease is passed on by ticks. Dogs, humans and cats can all get the disease although it is uncommon in cats.

Signs of Lyme disease are:

Lethargic

Lameness

Swollen and painful joints

Swollen lymph nodes

Fever

Loss of appetite

Depression

If caught early, Lyme disease can eb treated with antibiotics. You will need to contact your vet if you think your dog/cat has contracted Lyme disease. They will run tests and start treatments.

Tick Prevention

Ticks will bite and feed on a dog or cat for up to a few days then drop off. During this time, it’s possible for the tick to give your pet a disease.

You can stop ticks biting your pet by using a tick treatment that either kills or repels if they attach. There are different types of treatment such as:

Tablets

Spot-On

Never use a tick treatment designed for a dog on a cat or vice versa. Some dog tick treatments contain chemicals which are toxic to cats and can even be fatal.

We have some tick treatments available here.