r/hikingwithdogs

Snow’s not done with us yet.

Ticks are insanely bad this year and they’re not just a spring problem anymore. They can carry diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and some dogs can even develop tick paralysis, which can become life-threatening fast.

Please make sure your dogs are on a good flea/tick preventative and do daily tick checks, even if they only go into the backyard.

Common places ticks hide:

• Inside/behind ears

• Between toes and paw pads

• Under collars

• Groin/armpit area

• Under the tail

If you find one:

• Use fine-tipped tweezers

• Grab as close to the skin as possible

• Pull straight upward slowly and steadily

• Clean the area afterward

• Don’t crush the tick with your fingers

Watch for symptoms afterward like:

• Lethargy

• Fever

• Limping

• Weak or wobbly back legs

• Trouble breathing

• Rash or swelling near the bite

Also keep your grass cut short and clear brush piles if possible since ticks love overgrown areas.

Just wanted to post this because I pulled hundreds of ticks off my boy last night.

Got into hiking last year but mostly did flat terrain, nothing too complicated. This year we finally ventured out for something more challenging, safe to say he enjoyed and is also enjoying his nap now 😂 3 mile hike with approximately 700ft of elevation completed