Tick season—the time of year when your pup’s outdoor adventures may come with a side of anxiety. If you’re already wondering about this year’s tick forecast, you’re not alone. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back (and your dog’s back, belly, and ears). Here’s your guide to surviving tick season 2025 with tips to help you and your dog enjoy the upcoming months.
Know Your Enemy: Ticks 101
Ticks are tiny, bloodsucking freeloaders that lurk in tall grass, wooded areas, and even your own backyard. They’re not just gross—they can carry diseases like Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. In short, they’re nature’s worst party crashers, and we’re here to make sure they don’t get an invite.
Tick-Proofing Your Dog
- Choose a Tick Prevention Plan: Flea and tick preventatives come in many forms—topical treatments, vaccines, oral medications, collars, and even natural alternatives. Consult your vet to find the best fit for you and your pup.
- Grooming and Inspection: After every outdoor adventure, run your hands through your dog’s fur like you’re giving them a little spa massage. Check hot spots like ears, armpits, belly, and under the collar. If you find a tick, remove it with fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool. Time to summon your inner action hero - steady hands, deep breaths, and swift removal (see What to Do if Your Find a Tick).
- Keep Your Yard Tick-Free: Mow your lawn, trim tall grass, and clear out leaf litter. If your backyard looks like a jungle, ticks will have a field day. You can also create a tick barrier by adding wood chips or gravel between grassy areas and your pup’s favorite hangout spots.
- Dress for the Occasion: If you’re hiking or walking through tick-heavy areas, consider a tick-repellent dog vest or bandana, and/or a tick repellent spray.
- Clean Bedding: Fleas, ticks and other nasties can live and grow on your dog’s bed. Wash your dog’s bed often, especially the day after a hike in the woods. Use a washable dog bed cover, like PawSheets®, to make this tip super easy.
What to Do If You Find a Tick
Despite precautions, the occasional tick might still try to hitch a ride. Here’s how to evict the little vampire:
- Use a Tick Removal Tool: If you have a tick removal tool (we like Tick Patrol®), slide the notch under the tick and lift gently, applying even pressure. Avoid jerking or twisting.
- Use fine-tipped tweezers: Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull straight out—no twisting, squeezing, or yanking
- Clean the area with antiseptic and reward your dog with a treat (and maybe yourself, too—you earned it!).
- Dispose of the tick by flushing it down the toilet or seal it in a plastic bag. Do not crush it with your fingers
- Monitor your dog for any unusual symptoms like lethargy, fever, or lameness, and contact your vet if anything seems off.
Tick Talk: Myths vs. Facts
Myth: Ticks fall from trees like tiny bloodsucking paratroopers. Fact: Ticks hang out in grass, leaves and shrubs, waiting to latch onto passing animals (or humans).
Myth: If you smother a tick with petroleum jelly, it will back out on its own. Fact: Nope. This can actually cause the tick to burrow deeper. Stick to tweezers/tools for safe removal.
Myth: Only dogs who go hiking get ticks. Fact: Even suburban pups who stick to sidewalks can pick up ticks from grass patches, dog parks, or other dogs.
Here's to a Safe, Fun and Tick-free 2025
Sometimes you won't even find a tick. One summer, we noticed our lab going up the stairs one step at a time, not racing up as usual. Turned out, he had Lyme.
Tick season doesn’t have to limit outdoor fun. With a little prep, regular checks, and the right prevention plan, you and your dog can enjoy the season without worry. So gear up, stay vigilant, and remember—the only thing your dog should be bringing home from their adventures is a happy face and maybe a few muddy paw prints.
Keep in mind that even if your dog has had been vaccinated for Lyme, most vets still recommend using a tick preventative. As always, best to check with your vet.
Free Tick Removal Tool with PawSheets Purchase of $25 - pawsheets.com for details.
This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. Always consult your veterinarian for any treatments or health issues.