Discovering ticks on your pet after a fun day out in the woods can be worrisome. Since tick-borne illnesses can be dangerous, it’s essential to inspect your furry friend after spending time outdoors and keep a preventative tick treatment in your kit of pet supplies. Use the following tips to find these pesky arachnids.

3 Tips for Finding Ticks on Your Pet

1. Learn What They Look Like

It’s common to confuse ticks with fleas, but these pests are far from identical. Fleas are wingless insects that can jump between pets and surfaces, while ticks are related to spiders.

Fleas will infest spaces like your home, while ticks live in the woods and latch onto pets that they come into contact with. Familiarize yourself with the appearance of ticks so that you can quickly identify them, and keep the right pet supplies on hand to remove and treat them. 

2. Focus on the Right Spots

Ticks can latch onto any part of your pet’s body, but you’ll commonly find them on the lower back and tail areas. They also like to nestle in warm, dark, and moist areas, like inside ears or beneath a collar.

Use a comb to inspect your pet’s fur and skin. When ticks attach themselves to the skin, they’re small and hard to spot, but they grow larger with time. It’s wise to remove ticks as soon as you spot them. 

3. Use a Tick Comb

Ticks are hard to spot at first glance, so it’s important not to rely on sight alone. Specialty pet supplies like tick combs help root out visible and hidden pests.

These combs have dozens of metal teeth that prevent tiny pests from attaching to your pet’s fur. If your furry friend regularly plays in tick-infested areas, buy a grooming rake with multiple rows of teeth for adequate coverage.

If you need to shop for tick treatments, visit Clifton Feed and Service Center in Bosque County, TX. This farm supply store carries all sorts of necessities for household pets, along with specialty farming and livestock supplies. Learn about their products and services online, or speak to a representative by calling (254) 675-3416.