Ticks are blood sucking parasites that carry deadly pathogens. When these pathogens enter the bloodstream they attack red blood cells, and if the disease isn’t treated quickly, it can be fatal.

The best way to protect yourself and your pets from this disease is through preventative measures, such as the following:

• Check yourself and your pets after walking in areas with long grass or with reportedly high populations of ticks.
• Give your pet a monthly (Revolution, Nexgard, Simparica) or 3 month (Bravecto) treatment that stays in their bloodstream and kills parasites.
• Put a tick and flea collar on your pet (Seresto lasts 8 months, but can’t be used in conjunction with the above treatments)

By taking these preventative measures you could save your pets life.

If you have ever heard of the term “tick season” you may think that you only need to take preventative measures during a certain time of the year. However, this is not true.

In South Africa, it doesn’t get cold or hot enough to eradicate the entire tick population. There may be fewer ticks around but they are definitely still a big threat and should not be taken lightly. Every year thousands of animals die due to Biliary (the diseases that ticks carry pathogens of), but you can ensure that it never happens to your pet.