Early tick season expected in Toronto. Here's how to protect yourself — and your pets

Mild winter weather in Toronto this year could signal an early tick season, with experts advising people to take precautionary measures to protect themselves and their pets from tick-borne illnesses. 

Ticks are able to survive more northern climates as climate change brings warmer temperatures, said Anna Banerji, a pediatric infectious disease and tropical disease specialist at the University of Toronto. 

"The usual range that a tick was in before has now expanded," she said.

This winter has been Toronto's warmest on record, according to Environment Canada, with one senior climatologist describing it as "absolutely tropical." On Wednesday,  temperatures in the city climbed to 20 C, near record-breaking levels. 

Animal migratory patterns have also shifted due to climate change, Banerji said, meaning a tick can now feed on birds that may be flying further north than usual. 

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in Canada, she said, noting that only about 20 per cent of ticks have lyme disease. 

"People tend to panic when they find a tick on them but most ticks don't have lyme," she said. 

Once a tick bites a person, she said it takes 24 to 48 hours for the tick to embed and transmit lyme disease. 

"It can be very serious, but it's also very easy to prevent if you're thinking about it," Banerji said. 

How to prevent lyme disease

If you find a tick "running around" on your arm or leg, Banerji said there is little cause for concern. If the tick is embedded, however, she said you need to remove the tick through the head and pull it out. 

After removing the tick, Banerji advised watching out for symptoms of lyme disease, including fevers, body aches and a rash.  More serious symptoms of lyme disease include facial palsy and cardiac symptoms. 

Lyme disease can typically be treated with common antibiotics, she said. 

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To prevent ticks, Banerji advised avoiding shrubbed areas when going for a walk. She also suggested wearing long-sleeved, light coloured shirts, so that ticks can be visible, as well as tucking long pants into your socks and shoes. 

People should also wear insecticide and check their skin on a regular basis for ticks after going for a walk, she said. 

"If you remove any ticks early, you can really prevent the transmission of lyme disease," she said. 

Treat dogs preventatively year round: vet 

A Toronto veterinarian says its recommended that dog owners treat their dogs with tick preventative medication throughout the year. 

Ticks become active and start looking for a host once the temperature rises above 0 C, said Scott Bainbridge, co-owner of Dundas West Animal Hospital. 

"If you're looking at the kind of winter we've had this year, we've had multiple days over 0 C," he said. 

Over the past five years, Bainbridge said about 120 animals have tested positive for Lyme disease at his animal hospital. 

Although cases initially were often linked to eastern Ontario, he said that trend has changed.

"We're seeing dogs that have never left Toronto, maybe only gone to High Park or been in the Rouge Valley, and they're also testing positive as well," he said.  

Topical and chewable prevention medications can be used on a monthly or bimonthly basis, Bainbridge said. 

If your dog is not on preventative medication, Bainbridge said it's very important to test them for Lyme disease at least once a year. 

Pet owners can annually complete a 4DX test, a blood test that checks dogs for Lyme disease and other tick-related illnesses, he said. 

"I think prevention is key," he said. 

It is also possible that a dog will test positive for Lyme disease but not necessarily get Lyme disease, Bainbridge said.

Dog owners starting tick medication early 

Selena Bonsignore said she started tick medication earlier this year for her dog, Harry. She said her veterinarians advised her to continue the medication throughout the year. 

"We definitely started earlier this year and maybe we'll just continue to do it all year round," she said. 

After a friend spotted a tick on his dog earlier this month, Sam Lynch said he "busted out the tick medication early" to protect his own dog. 

"Usually, you know you run the risk (if) you take them on a hike or something like that, but it's not a good sign when its down by the water in downtown Toronto," Lynch said. 

Jayde Tynes says she frequently pets her dog, Rosalia, to detect ticks.

"The more you pet your dog, the more you'll know whether there's something fishy going on," she said. 

Tynes said ticks are a huge problem in her home of Nova Scotia. Since she's been in Toronto, however, she said she hasn't had any tick-related issues. 

After taking Rosalia for a walk, Tynes does not make a point to check her for ticks unless they've been in tall grass or an area with a high concentration of ticks.  

"If we're out walking and we come home, I'm going to pet her eventually, and I'll feel it," she said.