Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and ticks are a huge source of annoyance to your dog. While seasons will affect their activity, it is possible with our warm temperatures year-round for them to pick up fleas and ticks throughout most of the year.

How can I tell if my dog has fleas or ticks?

Constant biting, scratching, chewing or licking is a sure sign that there may be some pesky little insects making your dog’s life miserable. Depending on the length and colour of your dog’s coat, you may even be able to see the tiny reddish-brown bugs that can jump like they are using a trampoline. Ticks are a bit easier to spot on your dog. They grow bigger as they feed off of your dog’s blood and kind of look like the seed inside of a sunflower – just puffy.

How can I prevent fleas and ticks on my dog?

Prevention of fleas and ticks are the easiest part of this annoying little problem. We have different types of products to choose from, and they come in multiple forms — topical liquid, chewable tablets, and treats.

What are the treatment options for dogs who have ticks?

Ticks can be easily removed by pulling the tick (by the head) straight upwards and off but if you are unsure about removing the tick yourself, your veterinarian can easily take care of this for you. Your pet’s ticks can be brought into our office, and we will submit them to the Alberta Government- Tick Surveillance Program. The ticks will be identified and then depending on what the species of tick it may be; the tick may be tested to determine if it might be a carrier of Lyme disease. This service is provided free by the Alberta Government. We encourage our clients to submit ticks from your cats and dogs to our office.