How to Keep Your Pet Safe from Ticks

Living in New England not only means amazing sunsets and some of the best seafood in the country, but it also means living with tick season. From spring to winter being outside near brush, tall grass, or woodpiles poses a risk of coming home with unwanted pests attached to you or your clothing. In the past, ticks were a bit of a nuisance but in recent years they have increasingly become a source of disease causing illness and even death in pets and people.

Pest Pros in Pocasset are experts when it comes to ticks prevention. They’ve been serving Cape Cod and the South Coast since 1999. From assessing yards to staying up to date with treatments to rid your property from ticks and prevent them from entering. 70% of us are pet owners and rightfully concerned about the health and safety of our furry friends. Pest Pros see that reflected in calls they receive especially with the recent invasion of Lone Star Ticks and Deer Ticks on Cape Cod. “We definitely get a lot more calls about spraying for ticks. Part of the reason is how effective the treatment is. They know it will work. But mainly it’s health. We see people more concerned about diseases now. It is a real health concern,” said Kenny Hermenegildo, General Manager of Pest Pros. In fact, cases of Lyme disease have tripled in the US since the late 1990s. Staying safe is more important than ever.

With ticks, it is no longer just Lyme disease. Experts warn of the increase in tick-borne Powassan virus, which was found in Eastern Connecticut this past November, when a previously healthy male infant of just 5 months developed fever and vomiting. This potentially life-threatening virus is carried and transmitted by three types of ticks, including the deer tick that transmits Lyme disease.

Prevention

If you know you’re going to be in a wooded area or an area with tall grass, it’s important to do what you can to prevent tick bites. Wear long trousers and closed toed shoes. By reducing the amount of skin available you’ll reduce the chances of a tick finding its way onto you. Ensure that your pet has a tick repellent such as a collar, drops, or medication.

Check Yourself

“I always stress check your yourself, check your clothes, and check your pet before you even come in the door. Make sure you didn’t pick up anything while you were out,” said Hermenegildo. One South Coast woman took her dog for a walk and before coming in found 10 ticks on the dog after less than an hour outside. “The threat is real and we can’t stress enough you have to be mindful of them,” said Hermenegildo.

Make Your Yard Unattractive

There are certain conditions that are condusive to ticks. You can do your part to ensure that your pet has a home that is not a tick friendly zone. “We always recommend that customers make their yard as unattractive as possible. Remove litter, clear tall grass, mow the lawn frequently, remove clutter of any kind such as trash, wood piles, and yard debris, discourage unwelcome animals such as skunks, deer, etc, and finally place a 3 foot barrier of wood chips or gravel around the perimeter,” said Hermenegildo.

Treat your yard for Ticks Pest Pros are leaders in treating yards for ticks and mosquitos. Treating a yard for ticks involves spraying a fine particle treatment into the tall grass and brush around the edges of the lawn. This creates a barrier that will stop ticks from entering your lawn. This makes it a very popular service at Pest Pros. “The number one reason people call us for tick treatment is concern for health. It’s no longer just a nuisance issue. There’s a real desire to keep yourself and your pets safe,” said Hermenegildo. The treatment is fast and pet friendly. Your pet will be able to be outside as soon as it’s dry usually within an hour.

If you’re part of the 70% who own a pet, it’s more important than ever to keep your pet safe from what could be a deadly tick bite. Spraying your yard is easy and effective. Contact Pest Pros today for an absolutely free home visit and inspection. They are more than happy to access your yard and help keep your pet safe from ticks this summer.

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About Rebecca Romo

Rebecca Romo hosts Feel Good Mornings weekday mornings from 6-10 am on 99.9 The Q. Originally from New Orleans, she moved to Cape to be with her husband a second generation Cape Codder.



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