Tick and Flea Infestation Prevention from Richview Animal Hospital in Etobicoke

With the weather getting warmer, Ticks are present with temperatures of 4 degrees Celsius or greater. Our Etobicoke veterinarians at Richview Animal Hospital would like to remind you to order your Tick and Flea prevention today, which can help your dog stay happy, healthy and comfortable all spring and summer long.

Types of Ticks and Fleas in Etobicoke

When your pets go outside in Etobicoke, they could pick up several different types of ticks, including the American Dog Tick, Lone Star Tick, Brown Dog Tick and Western Black Legged Tick. All of these ticks carry bacteria that could make your dog or cat sick.  

Adult stage deer ticks become active every year after the first frost. They're not killed by freezing temperatures.  Deer ticks will be active any winter day that the ground is not snow-covered or frozen.  The temperature only need be above 4 degrees for these parasites to become fully active again!

Ticks don't jump, fly, or drop from trees onto your head and back. They do something called “questing” That means they sit on tall grass or branches and wait for a host to come by so they can crawl onto them. On their normal hosts, ticks also usually crawl up; they prefer to blood feed around the head, neck, and ears of their host, where the skin is thinner and hosts have more trouble grooming.

It takes a tick about 24 hours to transmit disease to the host. This is why we need to do daily checks and most importantly prevention for our pets

• American Dog Tick

The American Dog Tick can be found in grassy areas and along trails and walking paths. They primarily transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Tularemia. These ticks are most active from April to August with the larva active until September.

• Brown Dog Tick

Brown Dog Ticks can be found during all seasons. Their primary hunting grounds include dog kennels, cities and towns. Their primary food source is dogs, and they have the capability to survive indoors. They primarily transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

• Lone Star Tick

The Lone Star Tick gets its name from the white dot in the middle of the female's back. They are highly aggressive and tend to live in extremely wooded areas and areas with a lot of brush. They readily transmit Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis and Tularemia. It is believed that they may also carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and individuals that get bit by the Lone Star Tick often develop symptoms of Lyme disease. Though, the exact cause of the Lyme Disease symptoms is not known.

• Western Black Legged Tick

The Western Black Legged Tick transmits Anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever as well as Lyme Disease to dogs, cats and humans. These ticks are extremely small and may be hard to find when examining your pets for ticks.

• Fleas

Fleas can carry tape worm eggs and cause allergic reactions. To prevent tapeworms in your pet and excessive itching as well as allergic reactions from flea saliva, we recommend preventative medications.

Preventing and Treating Flea and Tick Infestations

Here at Richview Animal Hospital, we recommend BRAVECTO for dogs, which is a chewable oral tablet that can prevent fleas and ticks on your dog for up to 12 weeks with a single dose. By ordering Bravecto today you will eliminate the need to give your dog a pill every month or apply topical solutions every 30 days. We also offer a variety of flea and tick preventive medications for cats.

Order Bravecto Today ! and call to schedule an appointment at our animal hospital for the prevention of ticks and fleas, call us (416) 245-8805. We are located at 250 Wincott Drive. We accept walk-ins.

Order Bravecto today:

Fill out this form today and we will order it for you.  As soon as your order comes in, we will contact you to pick it up.