When the hottest days of summer begin to fade, it is easy to assume bugs and parasites are fading with them.
Unfortunately, ticks do not always follow that schedule.
Fall can still bring meaningful tick exposure for dogs and cats, especially pets that spend time in wooded areas, tall grass, brush, leaf litter, parks, trails, or even their own backyard. Some tick species remain active well into the fall, which means September is not the time to stop paying attention to prevention.
For pet owners, the most helpful approach is simple: continue appropriate tick prevention, know where to check your pet, and contact your veterinarian if you find a tick or notice a change in your pet’s health.
Ticks Do Not Disappear When Summer Ends
We often associate ticks with spring and summer because those are the months when people and pets tend to spend more time outdoors.
But tick activity varies by species and life stage.
Adult blacklegged ticks, which are associated with Lyme disease, can be active during the fall and may even search for hosts on warmer winter days. Other ticks may also remain active into late fall.
That means a crisp September afternoon or cool October hike is not automatically tick-free.
If your dog enjoys trails, wooded areas, hunting, camping, or simply exploring along the edge of the yard, tick checks should remain part of the routine.
Where Pets Pick Up Ticks
Ticks do not fly or jump onto pets.
Instead, they wait on vegetation or in areas such as grass, brush, and leaf litter and attach when an animal passes close enough.
A pet does not need to spend hours deep in the woods to encounter one.
Ticks can be found around:
- wooded and brushy areas
- tall grass
- piles of leaves or leaf litter
- edges where lawns meet wooded areas
- hiking and walking trails
- yards visited by wildlife
Pets can also carry ticks back into the home, so checking your dog or cat after outdoor activity is beneficial for both the pet and the rest of the household.
Know Where to Check Your Pet
Ticks can be difficult to spot, especially on pets with thick or dark coats.
After spending time outdoors, slowly run your hands over your pet and look closely at areas where ticks commonly hide.
Pay particular attention:
- in and around the ears
- around the eyelids
- under the collar
- under the front legs
- between the back legs
- around the tail
- between the toes
Do not forget less obvious areas such as beneath harnesses or around the neck.
A small bump you feel while petting your dog may be worth a closer look.
Why Tick Prevention Matters
Tick bites are more than a nuisance.
Ticks can transmit diseases to pets, including Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. The diseases present in a particular area can vary, which is one reason prevention recommendations should be based on your individual pet, lifestyle, and local exposure.
Dogs that spend significant time outdoors may have obvious risk, but even pets with relatively ordinary routines can encounter ticks.
A neighborhood walk, backyard playtime, or weekend trip may be enough.
Consistent prevention can help reduce that risk. Your veterinarian can recommend a product appropriate for your pet rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
Never use a tick product intended for another species without veterinary guidance. Products made for dogs are not automatically safe for cats.
What If You Find a Tick?
If you find an attached tick, it should be removed promptly and carefully.
Using fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward using steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting, crushing, burning, or covering an attached tick with substances intended to make it detach.
If you are uncomfortable removing it, cannot remove the entire tick, or are unsure what you are looking at, contact your veterinary team.
It can also be helpful to note when you found the tick and where your pet may have been exposed.
Finding a tick does not automatically mean your pet will become sick. It does mean you should continue watching them and speak with your veterinarian if you have concerns.
Watch for Changes After a Tick Bite
Tick-borne illnesses do not always cause immediate or obvious symptoms.
Signs can also overlap with many other health conditions, so symptoms alone cannot tell you whether a pet has a tick-borne disease.
Contact your veterinarian if you notice concerning changes such as:
- decreased appetite
- unusual tiredness
- fever
- stiffness or discomfort
- limping or changes in mobility
- swollen joints
- other changes from your pet’s normal behavior
If you recently removed a tick, be sure to mention that when you call.
Depending on your pet’s symptoms, history, and risk factors, your veterinarian can help determine whether an examination or diagnostic testing is appropriate.
Keep Prevention Going Into Fall
One of the easiest mistakes pet owners can make is stopping parasite prevention because cooler weather has arrived.
Tick activity does not disappear on the first day of fall.
Continuing veterinarian-recommended prevention, checking your pet after time outdoors, and keeping an eye on changes in their health are practical ways to reduce risk throughout the season.
At Evergreen Veterinary Hospital, preventive care is about helping you understand your pet’s individual needs and giving you clear information to make decisions about their health.
If you have questions about tick prevention, have found a tick on your pet, or want to make sure your pet’s preventive care is up to date, contact our team to discuss the next best step.