Tick Alert: Pet Owners Urged to Check Animals After Outdoor Time This Bank Holiday Weekend
Vets are urging pet owners to check for ticks after outdoor time this Bank Holiday weekend, as the risk continues well beyond Lyme Disease Awareness Month.
With many families across Cork expected to spend extra time outdoors with their pets this Bank Holiday weekend, vets are urging dog and cat owners to make tick checks part of their post-walk routine.
The reminder comes as Lyme Disease Awareness Month draws to a close, though experts are clear that the risk does not end in May. According to the HSE, up to 400 cases of Lyme disease occur in Ireland each year, with ticks most active from April onwards.
Ticks are found across Ireland in both urban and rural settings, including parks, woodland, heathland, and grassy areas. Pets can pick them up not only on countryside walks but also in gardens and local green spaces closer to home.
Seán Coffey, MVB, Mulcair Vets, Newport, Co Tipperary, said:
"Bank Holiday weekends are made for getting outdoors – longer walks on the wonderful bogs and hills around Ireland, garden time, and family days out. That is great news for pets, but it can also mean more chances for dogs and cats to pick up ticks along the way. The message is not to avoid the outdoors. It is simply to make tick checks part of the going-home routine, just like wiping muddy paws or topping up the water bowl. A quick check after a walk can make a real difference, especially around the ears, head, neck, paws, underbelly and beneath the collar or harness.
Ticks are small and easy to miss, so it is worth slowing down and checking properly. If an owner finds a tick and is unsure how to remove it safely, they should contact their vet for advice. Tick awareness is often spoken about during May, but ticks remain an issue year-round, well beyond Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Regular checks and appropriate parasite treatments can protect your pet's wellbeing and help owners enjoy the outdoors more confidently."
Vets advise paying particular attention to the ears, head, neck, paws, underbelly, armpits, and beneath collars or harnesses, where ticks are most easily missed. If a tick is found, owners are advised not to squeeze or pull it off with their fingers, as incorrect removal can leave parts of the tick behind. A proper tick-removal tool should be used where possible, or a vet consulted for guidance.
Because pets can bring ticks indoors after outdoor time, owners are also encouraged to check their own clothing, skin, and children after time spent in grassy or wooded areas.
Vets recommend speaking to your vet about year-round parasite prevention options, including monthly tablets, quarterly chews, or a 12-month injection.
