Ticks plague a playful bulldog

#Middlebury #Ticks

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I don’t get it. My bulldog, Chester, was out in the yard with me on a cool morning while I raked the first leaves of fall. When he came in, he had four ticks around his neck! They were hungry, too. I pulled the ticks off, but every time he goes outside now, he has one or more ticks burrowing into his fur. I thought cool weather causes ticks and fleas to die off. What’s happening? – Burt G., Manchester, Vermont

DEAR BURT: Believe it or not, tick (and flea) activity can increase in early fall. Temperatures are still warm enough for these pests to thrive, especially under fallen leaves and in high grass. And they’re always hungry, so they’ll latch onto a warm body as soon as they get the opportunity.

You’re doing exactly the right thing to combat ticks. As soon as Chester comes inside, you’re checking his coat for ticks and removing them as soon as you see them. And you’re raking the leaves in the yard regularly so that they don’t build up.

Here’s a few more things you can do that may reduce the number of ticks in your yard:

• Keep the grass mowed right up until the first hard frost.
• Cut back tall grasses and underbrush on your property.
• Move woodpiles away from the house.
• Don’t let Chester roll in the leaf piles, and block his access to untamed areas of brush or tall grasses.
• Use a flea-and-tick- prevention collar or treatment on Chester. Talk to his veterinarian about the best product to use.
• If heavy tick infestation doesn’t abate, consider treating your yard with a flea-and-tick spray made for this purpose.

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