Fall is quickly on it’s way

I love the colors and crisp air as cooler weather sets in.
As a pet owner, I also know that fall brings it’s own challenges to be aware of on your walks, such as fox tails, and of course, ticks.

Ticks!

Ick! One of the most despised insects. At least by me. I hate having to pull those things out and worry if I got the whole thing, whether it had Lyme Disease, or if my dog will have a terrible reaction.

I am much more dilegent about checking for and preventing ticks altogether than most might be. My late Rot-Sheppard Mix couldn’t tolerate a tick bite. He got bit by a tick and became very sick. He did get better with the help of the vet, but years later, after a second tick bite, he had kidney failure and died. The vet told us one of his kidneys probably failed after that first bite and with only one kidney left, he couldn’t survive the second time. Cowboy was my baby. The first dog my now husband and I rescued together. I still miss him like it was yesterday.

Needless to say, I’m ultra careful when it comes to ticks. I always make sure my dog has flea and tick preventative medicine. I used to buy that sticky topical stuff for flea and tick prevention as that was the best I could find at the time. Now there are more options. I never wanted to find out if Max, my dog now, is also allergic to ticks!

You may have dealt with ticks and know you don’t have to worry to that extreme, but ticks can carry some pretty serious diseases. Not something you want to find out after the fact! I strongly advocate you do everything you can to prevent tick bites. If you’re not sure you should worry or just not sure the best way to go about tick prevention, here are some questions to ask your trusted veterinarian.

Questions for Your Vet about Ticks:

• Are ticks common in my area?
• What type of ticks live here?
• What are the most common places and seasons to worry about ticks?
• What reaction can my dog get from a tick bite?
• Should I be concerned for my dog?
• How do I safely remove a tick if my dog does get a tick on him?
• What is the best way to prevent ticks on my dog?

These are some great starting points to get the conversation going and learn about the ticks in your area, what area to avoid and at what times of the year. Also you want information specific to your dog, so it’s best to ask your vet for his or her recommendations on flea and tick prevention.

This post is sponsored by BRAVECTO® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about BRAVECTO. But we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. Neither Intervet Inc., nor Merck & Co Inc., are responsible for the content of this article and have not written, reviewed, or edited it in any fashion. For more information about BRAVECTO please click here.

When I learned about BRAVECTO®, I was thrilled there’s a chewable flea and tick medication!

I was tired of dealing with the topical dog meds that no longer seemed to be working for Max to prevent fleas and needed to be reapplied so often. BRAVECTO comes in a small, soft chewable that tastes great, at least it does for Max most of the time. He didn’t want to take it once, so I had to improvise, but usually he devours it like it’s a delicious treat!

Watch this short video:

Please ignore the mess, I had piles of stuff ready to be donated by my door the day I took this video. This is where Max likes to take all his treats to enjoy them in peace. On the stairs! I wish he’d stay off the carpet with his food.

With BRAVECTO lasting up to 12 weeks* (BRAVECTO kills fleas, prevents flea infestations, and kills ticks (black-legged tick, American dog tick, and brown dog tick) for 12 weeks. BRAVECTO also kills lone star ticks for 8 weeks.) I can rest easy knowing Max is safe. It is also fast acting and begins working within 2 hours.

But, what if I don’t hike in the woods?

Dogs are at risk of getting ticks even if you only walk them to the local park.

When you actively prevent ticks, you’re not only protecting your dog, you’re protecting  yourself as well. Ticks carry diseases that can be harmful to you and your pet. If you can’t get to the vet to ask, see what kind of ticks are in your area and what diseases your dog might be exposed to here: Tick Identifier and select your state.

You should always check your dogs for ticks after a walk. Ruff up their fur to have a good look. Ticks can be very small! Don’t forget to check your dog’s ears and between their toes. If you do find a tick that has attached itself, visit How to Remove a Tick from Your Dog for instructions to safely remove a tick and more information.

Again, talking to a veterinarian about ticks is your best bet to find the right solution for your pet. Try out some of the questions above and find the right flea and tick prevention for your dog.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information published. However, it remains the responsibility of the readers to familiarize themselves with the product information contained on the USA product label or package. More product information is available here: https://intervetus.naccvp.com/product/view/1047512?e=d97b22ed63e734e84c1a5910a9c8f531z1688

Have you ever found a tick on your dog? Share your unusual or top tips for tick removal in the comments.