Protecting Your Pet During Tick Season: What Every Owner Needs to Know

August 14, 2026

Tick season can bring added concerns for dogs, cats, and their owners throughout Western New York. Ticks can carry diseases that affect pets, and because these parasites can be difficult to spot, prevention and routine veterinary care are especially important during the warmer months.

At Transit Animal Hospital, we help pet owners in West Seneca, Lancaster, Williamsville, Clarence, Cheektowaga, Depew, and Orchard Park, NY take proactive steps to protect their animals. From a routine pet check up and animal vaccinations to preventive recommendations and allergy testing for pets, our veterinary clinic is here to support your pet’s health throughout tick season and beyond.

Why Tick Prevention Is Important for Your Pet

Ticks often live in wooded areas, tall grass, brush, and leaf litter, but pets can encounter them in backyards, parks, and other outdoor spaces as well. Once attached, a tick feeds on its host and may transmit illnesses that can cause significant health problems.

As a trusted animal hospital, we encourage owners to make tick prevention part of their pet’s regular healthcare routine. Preventive products can vary depending on a pet’s species, age, lifestyle, and health history, so it is important to speak with our veterinary team before deciding which option is appropriate.

An online pet pharmacy can also make it more convenient to keep up with veterinarian-recommended preventives throughout tick season. Consistency matters, especially for pets that regularly spend time outdoors.

Check Your Pet for Ticks After Spending Time Outdoors

Even when your pet uses a preventive product, regular tick checks are a good habit. Carefully examine your dog or cat after walks, hikes, trips to the park, or time spent in grassy or wooded areas.

Pay particular attention to:

Around and inside the ears
Under the collar and around the neck
Between the toes and around the paws
Under the front and back legs
Around the tail and groin
Near the eyelids and face

If you find an attached tick and are unsure how to remove it safely, contact our animal clinic for guidance. Improper removal can leave parts of the tick embedded in the skin.

Know the Signs That May Require Veterinary Attention

Finding a tick does not necessarily mean that your pet will become sick. However, owners should monitor their animals for unusual symptoms following a known or suspected tick bite.

Contact our pet hospital if you notice concerns such as:

Unusual tiredness or reduced activity
Loss of appetite
Fever or signs of discomfort
Swollen or painful joints
Limping or difficulty moving
Unexplained changes in behavior

Because symptoms can vary, a pet check up is often the best way to determine whether further testing or treatment is necessary. Some skin irritation can also resemble allergic reactions, which is why allergy testing for pets or other diagnostic services may sometimes be recommended to determine the underlying cause.

Make Tick Protection Part of Your Pet’s Overall Wellness Plan

Tick prevention works best as one part of comprehensive primary veterinary care. Regular wellness visits give us an opportunity to assess your pet’s overall health, discuss parasite prevention, and recommend care based on age, lifestyle, and individual risk factors.

These visits are also a good time to stay current with pet vaccinations and other preventive services. Depending on your pet’s needs, our veterinary team can discuss animal vaccinations, pet dental care, spaying and neutering, nutrition, parasite prevention, and other aspects of long-term wellness.

Maintaining an ongoing relationship with a veterinary clinic also gives us a better understanding of your pet’s health history. If something changes, we can evaluate those changes in the context of previous visits and provide more personalized recommendations.

Prepare Your Pet for Tick Season With Transit Animal Hospital

Tick prevention should be a routine part of protecting pets that enjoy the outdoors in Western New York. Checking your pet regularly, using appropriate preventives, and knowing when to seek veterinary care can help reduce the risks associated with ticks.

At Transit Animal Hospital, we provide primary veterinary care for pets throughout West Seneca, NY; Lancaster, NY; Williamsville, NY; Clarence, NY; Cheektowaga, NY; Depew, NY; and Orchard Park, NY. Whether your pet needs a routine examination, pet vaccinations, pet dental care, spaying and neutering, or another veterinary service, we are here to help you stay proactive about their health.