Tick risk across Canada: how to keep your dog safe, wherever you live

Pet parents know that as the weather begins to warm up, it’s time to start thinking about flea and tick prevention.

What they might not know is that tick season in many parts of Canada is changing. Spring is arriving earlier and fall is lasting longer these days, extending the time that ticks are active. Additionally, some species of ticks are increasing in numbers, while other species are arriving in Canada from warmer climates and discovering that our weather suits them just fine.

“Even 15 to 20 years ago,” says Dr. Donald Benoit, a veterinarian with Elanco (makers of popular preventatives K9 Advantix® II and Advantage® II), “we didn't ask dog owners if they wanted to provide tick protection for their dog. It depended on the lifestyle of the animal. If they travelled to the U.S., then we would say, ‘Well, maybe you should consider tick protection.’ Now it's a normal thing. You come in in the spring and we say, ‘Okay, let's begin flea and tick protection.’ They're so prevalent.”

Ticks aren’t new to Canada, says Dr. Benoit, but their heightened presence in both rural and urban areas is. “We've always had ticks in Canada, there's actually over 40 different tick species, however, not every single one of those species will affect our pets,” he explains. “But certain species have been on the rise and new tick species have been introduced to Canada because of climate change.”

Prevention is hands down the best way to protect your dog from ticks and preventative medications are available in both topical and oral formulations, providing pet parents with options for their 4-legged bestie. Here’s what you need to know about keeping your dog tick-free, according to your lifestyle and where you live.

Tick season

As Dr. Benoit mentioned, tick season is getting longer in most parts of Canada.

Ticks survive all through the winter, regardless of their lifecycle stage. When the temperature is below zero degrees, they bury themselves in leaf litter to wait out the cold. Once the thermometer rises, they become slightly more active. Then once the temperature is 4 degrees Celsius or higher they become a bigger problem for pets and pet parents.

“As soon as it's four degrees Celsius,” says Dr. Benoit, “it means that the tick now is well-coordinated and can climb up vegetation and put itself in what we call a questing position. It will extend its front legs, which can sense a host coming by. An adult tick can sense a deer coming by or a dog coming by through carbon dioxide emission and vibration. This doesn't mean that at one degree celsius they can't do it, just that they're less coordinated.”

As traditional weather patterns change, pet parents need to be prepared for a week of warm weather… even in the middle of January.

“There's this saying that you don't need tick protection 365 days a year, but you need tick protection 12 months out of the year,” Dr. Benoit says. “Because you can have a week when it's below four degrees and right after, have a few days when it's above four degrees. You want your dog to be protected.”

Ticks from coast to coast

Where you and your pup live will play a part in how cautious you need to be about ticks. Ticks exist throughout Canada and all dogs should receive tick treatments. Some pet parents, however, should be extra aware if they live in an area where ticks are concentrated.

“When we look at the distribution of ticks within Canada,” says Dr. Benoit, “the prevalence is not the same. If you look at Atlantic Canada and Nova Scotia, they've had issues with ticks for a long, long time. In Southern Quebec and Southern Ontario, there are areas where tick populations are very high. Many of these ticks carry what we call tick-borne disease, specifically Lyme disease. In some of those areas veterinarians will recommend year-round prevention.”

Canadians living in drier areas in the western prairies might have it a bit easier in terms of ticks but the west coast can be a hotbed for these parasites.

As a general rule, ticks are increasing in numbers and migrating north from the U.S. as temperatures rise. Dr. Benoit recommends that pet parents do their research about the prevalence of ticks in their area. Your vet should be able to advise you on how many months out of the year your dog should be protected based on your region and your lifestyle.

The best medicine for your pup is prevention

If you think your dog has been bitten by a tick, it’s best to see your vet to ensure that the tick has been properly and fully removed.

However, keeping your pup protected from ticks (and fleas, too!) is much easier. A preventative monthly medication like K9 Advantix® II, a topical formulation that safeguards your dog as soon as they come into contact with a flea or tick, kills these parasites before they even have time to bite.