September marks the beginning of crisp and clear fall weather made for hiking, camping and many other outdoor activities. But it’s also peak season for cat and dog ticks. So if you are going to be outside with your best friends, always check for pet ticks. These critters have a way of burrowing and burying deep into your pets’ fur and can cause serious harm to your pets. What you need to know about ticks Ticks are parasitic arachnids, and for our intents and purposes, this means they have eight legs and that they live on the blood and tissue of their host animal. They live in wooded and grassy areas and hang out on the edge of leaves, twigs and grasses, so that they can drop on a potential host as it passes by. (Deer trails and human hiking trails are favorite stalking grounds for common dog tick species.) They do not jump or fly. Once a tick lands on its potential host, it will try to travel to a warm, dark crevice — armpits, ears and belly folds — to attach and feed. A tick attaches to its host via its mandibles (jaw) and inserts a feeding tube directly into the superficial capillaries. Because they attach with their head and jaw, they tend to burrow slightly beneath the skin, making it more difficult to remove them. The dangers of common American deer and dog ticks Beyond being a parasite, a tick has many other bad-news qualities. Namely, these bugs carry diseases that can cause serious illness and sometimes death for any kind of host, humans included. One of the big disease threats to your dog or cat is Lyme disease. Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria carried by the American deer tick. Bacteria are transferred to the host during the bite and work their way through the host’s system. Not all American deer ticks carry the particular bacteria responsible for Lyme disease. However, if your dog or cat has been bitten by ticks, you should keep a close eye on your pet for symptoms of disease. Watch for fever, lethargy, loss of appetite and joint pain. If you notice your dog or cat has been exhibiting these signs, take him to the veterinarian immediately. The sooner your pet starts antibiotic treatment, the better his odds are of overcoming the disease with the least amount of complications. Another dangerous tick disease is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. It is carried by the American dog tick and is a serious danger to dogs and humans. Keep a close eye on your dog after you have removed a tick from his body and watch out for the same symptoms associated with Lyme disease. Do not hesitate to get your sick pooch to the vet if you suspect a tick-borne infection. Checking your PET for ticks There is a similar protocol for checking both your cat and dog for ticks, but cats can be a little more challenging. To get started, pet your cat to get her comfortable and relaxed. This way, she’ll release her muscles and you can better manipulate her limbs to check in sensitive places, like armpits, where ticks love to hang out. For cats and dogs: • Put on a pair of latex gloves. Humans are susceptible to infection from tick diseases, and taking this precaution helps protect you from illness. • Feel for small bumps and ridges all over your pet’s coat. Typically, you will first recognize a tick through touch. They are small, round, and smooth and most species have a hard exterior. • Examine the crevices between skin folds, especially under the arms and legs of your pet. Ticks love a warm, dark place to hide out and are likely to burrow into these places on your pet’s body. Don’t forget the area in and around their ears! • Pull back the fur around a suspicious area to inspect. Depending on length and thickness, you may have to go to more trouble to part the hair so you can see your pet’s skin. Shorthair dogs and cats are often the easiest pets to check. How to remove a pet tick from your dog or cat Take a deep breath and stay calm — steady hands are essential. You’ll need a pair of latex gloves, tweezers, some disinfectant and a small jar with an airtight lid to store the tick after you’ve removed it. • Pull all of the fur back and away from the area where the tick has burrowed. • Use the tweezers and firmly and evenly grasp the tick body. Do not squeeze the tick at this point, you can easily crush the body and make it very difficult to remove the head. • Pull the tick out in a single vertical motion. Do not try to loosen the tick’s body or lift up at an angle. • Seal the tick in the airtight jar. • Swab the bite area with disinfectant. • Flush the tick down the toilet. • Disinfect the jar, tweezers and gloves. Throw the gloves away after you have disinfected them. Make sure you remove all of the bug’s body from your pet’s skin. If the tick is crushed or bisected, use the tweezers to draw out the head and legs, too. Remember that you are not trained to do this, and if removing the tick starts to feel precarious, call your vet. He or she will be able to tell you whether you need assistance. The same holds true for when your dog or cat has multiple ticks. Your vet can also inform you about the best tick repellants and medications for your pets. Protecting yourself from pet ticks The diseases that ticks carry are contagious and infectious to humans, and we can’t stress enough the importance of proper sanitation while you remove a tick from your cat or dog. Both Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are devastating to humans and can be transmitted through contact with a tick that is carrying the disease. Even though not every tick is a carrier, you’ll best serve yourself and your household by exercising a high level of caution and sanitation.