Winter doesn't necessarily mean pet owners are out of the woods when it comes to ticks.

A recent Facebook post made by Cochrane Animal Clinic showed a tick that was found in a home after it had hitched a ride in on their real Christmas tree.

Dr. Kaitlyn Brown, Veterinarian at Foothills Animal Hospital, says while they're not common over the winter, chinooks and our up and down temperatures can cause them to reappear.

"Ticks do hibernate or go dormant when it's below zero. Most will die off but eggs can hatch as soon as it gets above zero so we can see ticks this time of year. It's not very common but we did see that one come in on a Christmas tree, so more wooded areas obviously would be the more risky places," she explains. "So, if you are cutting down your own trees that is definitely a risk, or if you're getting firewood yourself from the forest that's also a risk."

Brown says concerned pet owners can still take precautions to protect their animals.

"An easy thing to do is still tick prevention this time of year if you're of that lifestyle, if you're hiking this time of year. Talk to your veterinarian and get some tick preventative. It's a really easy once-off pill or topical and it works really well to prevent any tick related diseases that we worry about."

To learn about the Alberta Tick Surveillance Program click here.

 

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