Calgary dogs at higher risk of catching ticks in warm weather

Warm weather in Calgary has created ideal conditions for ticks and vets are urging dogowners to take extra precaution,especially those heading out of the city tograssy or mountainous areas.

Ticks carry diseases harmful to both dogs and people, such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichia and Lyme disease.

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"In Calgary, where we used to see maybe five pets with ticks on them in a year, now we are in the hundredsof pets that we'll see with ticks," said CalgaryveterinarianDannyJoffe.

He says recent warm weather in the city is one of the factors leading to the jump in cases.

"At four degrees celsius, [ticks]will awake and they will go to the top of high grass or a bush and start waving their little arms looking for a creature to latch onto," said Joffe.

"With the weather that we've had this year it's not hard to see why we're seeing more than we're seeing in previous years."

He says tickscontinue to be an issue in other provinces like B.C. and Ontario, and travelling dogowners are at greater risk there.

But he expects the problem in Alberta to get worse.

MaureenJordan takes herlittle dog "Bruce" for frequent check ups and watches out for pests after a previous case of fleas.

"We visit Nova Scotia regularly and they have ticks down there, so I know what they look like and then yes, we'd go and get some preventative medicine if necessary."

Joffe says there is no reason to panic about dogs catching ticks in Calgaryas urban areas tend to be at lowerrisk, and there is now effective preventative medication available to keep dogs safe.

He says anyone with concerns should contact their vet.