Ticks: A Growing Threat to Dogs – and Humans Too
As the climate continues to warm and wildlife, particularly deer, become more common in areas we share with our pets, the danger posed by ticks is on the rise. Ticks are more than just a nuisance; they’re blood-sucking parasites that can transmit serious diseases — and they’re now active for much more of the year than ever before.
🕷️ What Are Ticks?
Ticks are small, spider-like parasites that feed on the blood of animals and humans. They thrive in grassy, wooded, and bushy areas — exactly the kind of places we often take our dogs for walks. Once a tick latches on to your dog (or you), it can remain attached for several days, increasing the risk of disease transmission.
You may not always spot them straight away. Ticks are tiny — especially in the nymph stage — and can easily go unnoticed until they’ve grown in size while feeding.
🐾 Why Ticks Are a Danger to Dogs
Ticks can transmit several diseases to dogs, the most well-known being Lyme disease. This bacterial infection can cause symptoms including:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Swollen joints
- Lameness
- Loss of appetite
Left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to more serious complications like kidney damage.
🧍♀️ Ticks and Human Health
It’s not just our dogs who are at risk. Humans can also be bitten by ticks and develop Lyme disease or other infections. According to the UK Health Security Agency, tick-borne diseases are an increasing concern in Britain — particularly in areas with growing deer populations.
Symptoms of Lyme disease in people can include:
- A bull’s-eye shaped rash (though not always)
- Flu-like symptoms
- Muscle and joint pain
- Fatigue
Early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics are important, but prevention is key.
🦌 The Role of Deer in Tick Proliferation
Many people don’t realise that deer are a primary host for adult ticks. They help maintain and spread tick populations by providing a blood meal and transporting ticks across wide areas.
With deer populations rising in the UK — and becoming increasingly bold and accustomed to human presence — ticks are now showing up in places they previously didn’t. We’ve even seen young deer playing in fields full of people and dogs, showing no signs of concern. Unfortunately, this means those same fields may now also be hotspots for tick activity.
✅ How to Protect Your Dog (and Yourself)
- Check your dog regularly – After every walk, especially in rural or grassy areas, do a thorough tick check. Look around the ears, under the collar, between the toes, and along the belly and legs.
- Use a tick preventative – Speak to your vet about the most suitable tick treatment for your dog. Options include spot-on treatments, collars, and oral medications.
- Avoid known tick areas – Stick to the centre of paths, avoid walking through dense grass or undergrowth, and keep your dog on lead if necessary.
- Wear protection – For yourself, wear long sleeves and trousers in tick-prone areas, and consider using insect repellent.
- Know how to remove ticks properly – Use a tick removal tool or fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out with steady pressure. Clean the area afterwards and keep an eye on it.
🔍 Learn More: The UK Tick Surveillance Scheme
The UK Government runs a Tick Surveillance Scheme in partnership with the UK Health Security Agency. It collects data on where and when ticks are found across the country to help monitor changing patterns in tick activity.
📌 You can report tick sightings or learn more here:
👉 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tick-surveillance-scheme
🌿 Stay Safe, Stay Aware
As we spend more time outdoors enjoying the countryside with our dogs, it’s vital to stay aware of the risks ticks pose. With warmer winters and rising deer numbers, tick season is now longer — and potentially more dangerous — than ever before.
A little knowledge and a few simple precautions can go a long way toward keeping both your pets and your family safe.
