Saskatoon veterinarian offers tips for tick season

Thanks to the warmer weather,pet ownersare getting achance to spend moretime outdoors with theirfour-legged friends.

The ticks are out but they'renot as active as they might have been.- Dr. Brian Gibbs

But they're not the only ones enjoying the heatit's also a time when ticks start prowling for a meal.

"They can become active if the sun is shining at -4degrees,"Dr.BrianGibbstoldCBC'sSaskatoon Morning.Heworks atCentral Animal Hospital in Saskatoon.

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Cooler weather

Gibbs said, so far this year, he's seen fewer ticks than he was expecting after Saskatoon's mildwinter.

"I think these last couple weeks, the weather's quite a bit colder, so the ticks are out but they'renot as active as they might have been."

He said as soon as temperatures rise,so dochances of finding a tick settling intoyour furry friend.

Gibbs explained thatthe little pests are more prone to be found in long grass and low bushes.

"Anywhere where there's a lot of bush," he said."Along the riverbanks, in low ravines, any creeksplaces like that."

Spread illness

Gibbs said ticks are a concern because they can transmit Lyme disease and other illnesses.

"I know of three cases I've looked after that were positive for Lyme [disease]," he said."Dogsthat have never left Saskatoon."

Headvised pet owners tocheckfor ticks after any trip outdoors and said prevention is alsoan option. There are collars, pills and externally applied products available if your dog is heading into a tick infested area.

And according to Gibbs, cats seem to farepretty well against ticks.

"We don't know for sure whether ticks don't like cats as much as dogs,or whether cats groom so much they actuallyget ticks off."