Calgary dogs at higher risk of catching ticks in warm weather
Ticks typically aren't a concern until late April or early May
Warm weather in Calgary has created ideal conditions for ticks and vets are urging dog owners to take extra precaution, especially those heading out of the city to grassy or mountainous areas.
Ticks carry diseases harmful to both dogs and people, such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichia and Lyme disease.
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"In Calgary, where we used to see maybe five pets with ticks on them in a year, now we are in the hundreds of pets that we'll see with ticks," said Calgary veterinarian Danny Joffe.
He says recent warm weather in the city is one of the factors leading to the jump in cases.
"At four degrees celsius, [ticks] will awake and they will go to the top of high grass or a bush and start waving their little arms looking for a creature to latch onto," said Joffe.
"With the weather that we've had this year it's not hard to see why we're seeing more than we're seeing in previous years."
He says ticks continue to be an issue in other provinces like B.C. and Ontario, and travelling dog owners are at greater risk there.
But he expects the problem in Alberta to get worse.
Maureen Jordan takes her little dog "Bruce" for frequent check ups and watches out for pests after a previous case of fleas.
"We visit Nova Scotia regularly and they have ticks down there, so I know what they look like and then yes, we'd go and get some preventative medicine if necessary."
Joffe says there is no reason to panic about dogs catching ticks in Calgary — as urban areas tend to be at lower risk, and there is now effective preventative medication available to keep dogs safe.
He says anyone with concerns should contact their vet.