What To Do When You Find One
Ticks 101
- • Even if your dog/cat is on a monthly tick preventative, if you happen to find an engorged tick on your pet, feel free to remove it
- • The safest way to remove a tick is with a “tick twister”. If you happen to use tweezers, there is a risk that the tick’s mouth parts could break and remain inside your pet.
- • If you don’t already have a tick twister, next time you are in the clinic, ask for a complimentary one!
- • To use a tick twister, spread your pets fur to visualize the tick, then slide the V shape of the twister through the tick. Begin to turn the twister in circles in a slow steady motion, and the tick will detach. Once removed, you should always check to make sure the tick’s head didn’t break off.
So Now What Do You Do?
- • We have an in clinic snap 4Dx test that tests for 3 different tick borne diseases, including lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis. Since this is an antibody test, we need to wait 4-6 weeks after the bite in order to determine if there is a positive response.
- • In the meantime, please monitor your pet for any signs of illness, including sore joints, lameness, lethargy, decreased appetite, fever, and/or swollen lymph nodes. If you notice anything unusual, please schedule your pet in for an exam right away!
- • We have the ability to identify the tick species in the clinic, should you happen to save it and bring it with your pet to your appointment.
- • If YOU happen to get bitten by a tick, the removal steps are the same. Please save the tick, and contact your family doctor or pharmacist with next steps.
For more information on ticks and tick borne diseases, please visit:
Why Does Timing of
Rabies Vaccination Matter?
- • Rabies is considered a reportable disease in Canada, one that is both fatal and zoonotic
- • All dogs and cats (regardless of whether they go outdoors) need to keep an up to date rabies vaccine
- • Bats are a common carrier of rabies, and cases have been reported in Ottawa
- • For cats, we use a 1 year rabies vaccine product, regardless if it is their dose as a kitten or as an adult
- • For puppies, the rabies vaccine they receive is labelled for 1 year, but when it is boostered at a year of age, it is labelled for 3 years as long as the vaccine has not lapsed
- • For dogs, if the rabies vaccine has lapsed by even a day at any point in the animals life, then we need to restart the series
- • Because of public health risks, we must follow these strict guidelines
- • Delays in vaccination can jeopardize travel requirements and/or lead to quarantine periods if they bite someone
For more information on rabies, please visit Public Health Ontario
Resources on