Have you ever found ticks on your pets or yourself? If so, you aren't alone! Tick bites are a major concern for veterinarians and health care professionals throughout the United States (and throughout the world).

Tick 101

For those of you who aren't familiar with the tick, it is a common name for a group of small parasites which live by feeding on blood. There are several different species of tick in the USA (American Dog Tick, Lone Star Tick and Deer Tick). However, they all have virtually the same behaviour. When not feeding, ticks hide in long grasses, on tree branches and even under the ground, waiting for a suitable meal to pass their way. When your dog, or you, brush by, they hop on and use specially adapted mouth-pieces to pierce the skin. Not only can tick bites cause localized irritation and skin complaints, but they can also be the source of transmission for very serious conditions including Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Fever.

Tick Season

Ticks are at their most active during the warmer months of spring and summer. Those in the know call this tick season because it is the time when you are most likely to come into contact with one of these unpleasant little creatures. It is interesting to note that climatic conditions have a strong connection with how long tick season lasts and how severe it will be. The mild autumn weather and warmer winters of recent years have seen a corresponding increase in tick bite cases during these seasons, particularly in the Midwest and East Coast regions. This is partly because better weather means that we are more likely to spend time outdoors in tick habitats.

How Often Should You Check Your Dog?

During tick season, it is essential for dog owners to perform regular checks to make sure that no ticks have succeeded in getting onto their pets. This means that you need to carefully work your way over your dog's body, especially in areas where the hair is thinner such as around the ears and under the legs. Pet care experts recommend that you check your dog daily throughout tick season to minimize the risk of disease transmission.

Frontline Plus Is Your Best Defense Against Ticks

Along with checking your pets for ticks, you should also plan to use tick control pet meds . One of the best products available for this purpose is Frontline Plus. Designed to work against both ticks and fleas, Frontline Plus is applied directly to your pet's skin and provides a protective action for one month. Because it is impossible to predict when and where your dog could come in contact with ticks, it is sensible to use Frontline Plus throughout the year, and not only during tick season.