Ticks aren’t just in the woods anymore. Here’s how vets protect their dogs

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You can’t completely prevent your dog from encountering ticks — populations are growing, causing the blood-suckers to show up in backyards and parks, not just deeply wooded areas. However, you can take steps to protect your pet and reduce the likelihood that they’ll get a potentially dangerous illness like Lyme disease, which is more common than you might think. In fact, about one out of every 30 dogs has tested positive this year, according to the Companion Animal Parasite Council. Read on to learn about the best tick preventatives for dogs according to veterinarians, and other steps you can take to stop the parasites from hitching a ride on your pet.

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There’s a handful of ways to protect your dog from ticks, but routinely checking them for the parasites and putting them on a year-round preventative are the most important. It’s also crucial to get them vaccinated against Lyme disease, which is the most common tick-borne disease and the only one…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health

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