Warm weather beckons us outdoors.
It also brings out the bugs. Both of them together can be a dangerous combination.
Especially if it's blood-sucking deer ticks that latch themselves onto your skin and can cause a painful and debilitating disease.
The mild winter is cause for extra precautions to keep these insects, normally a threat in summer months, at bay.
"Because of the lack of snow cover, the ticks will be worse this year, as well as the fleas," said Debbie Zaktansky, assistant manager at Warrior Run Petcare Center, Watsontown, Pennsylvania.
"We see dogs coming in with ticks all winter long," Zaktansky said, "when there's no snow cover on the ground."
Once ticks hatch out of the eggs in old leaf beddings or grass, they grow into larva and then crawl up to a spot where they can jump onto a warm-blooded creature, such as a deer or human. It takes 24 to 48 hours before they burrow in and attach themselves, she said.
The pet care center keeps lots of tick medication and prevention in stock. Zaktansky said spot-on treatments used in conjunction with tick collars is highly effective.
Zatkansky also said pets can get ticks by going out on the lawn. Check over your dogs fur and skin thoroughly and regularly, she said.
