Protect Your Pets Against Lyme Disease

Connecticut is known as "ground zero" for Lyme Disease and the same blacklegged ticks that bite people can also bite pets. The good news: with the right prevention plan, you can greatly reduce the risk of tick bites and tick-borne illness for your dog or cat.

If you find a tick on your pet: Remove it promptly, save it if you’d like, and monitor your pet for illness.

Call your veterinarian if your pet develops fever, low energy, limping, joint swelling, decreased appetite, or other unusual symptoms.

Why tick prevention matters in Connecticut

Ticks are active for much of the year

In Connecticut, blacklegged ticks can be active any time temperatures are above freezing. Pets can pick up ticks in backyards, parks, trails, leaf litter, brushy edges, and wooded areas—even during the “shoulder seasons” of spring and fall.

Pets bring ticks into the home

Ticks can hitch a ride indoors on pets, then crawl to other areas of the home. Consistent prevention protects your pet and lowers the chance of ticks being carried inside.

Your pet’s tick prevention plan

1) Use a veterinarian-recommended tick preventive

Talk to your veterinarian about the best tick prevention option for your pet. Products vary by species, age, weight, and health conditions, and some dog products can be harmful to cats.

  • Use prevention consistently as directed (often monthly or for a set period).
  • Choose the right product for the right pet (dog vs. cat matters).
  • Avoid “one-size-fits-all” guessing—ask your veterinarian.

2) Do a daily tick check

Check pets after being outdoors—especially after walks in grassy or wooded areas.

  • Look between toes, around the head and ears, under the collar, and in the armpits/groin.
  • Run your hands over the coat to feel for small bumps.
  • Brush pets after outdoor time to help find ticks.

3) Make your yard less tick-friendly

  • Keep grass mowed and remove leaf litter and brush.
  • Create a 3-foot barrier of gravel or wood chips between lawn and wooded edges.
  • Place play areas, patios, and pet zones away from shrubs, tall grass, and forest edges.
  • Discourage deer and rodents where possible (they help ticks thrive).

4) Consider the Lyme vaccine for dogs

A Lyme vaccine is available for dogs (not cats). Ask your veterinarian whether it is appropriate for your dog based on exposure risk and medical history. Vaccination is an additional layer of protection and does not replace tick prevention.

How to remove a tick from your pet

  1. Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool.
  2. Grasp the tick close to the skin (near the head/mouthparts).
  3. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not twist or jerk.
  4. Clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water or alcohol.
  5. Dispose of the tick by placing it in alcohol, sealing it in a bag/container, or flushing it.

Avoid: petroleum jelly, nail polish, matches, or heat to “make the tick back out.” These methods can irritate the tick and increase risk of exposure.

Signs of illness to watch for

Pets can develop symptoms days to weeks after a tick bite. Contact your veterinarian if your pet has:

  • Fever
  • Fatigue or decreased activity
  • Lameness/limping that shifts from one leg to another
  • Joint swelling or pain
  • Decreased appetite
  • Unusual sensitivity to touch or generalized discomfort

Protect your whole household

After outdoor time

  • Do a quick tick check on pets and people.
  • Change clothes and consider a shower after yardwork or hiking.
  • Tumble-dry clothes on high heat to help kill ticks.

Remember: The best protection is a combination of pet prevention, daily tick checks, and yard steps—especially in Connecticut.

Tick-borne Diseases (CT DPH) Lyme Disease (CDC)

Content is for general education and is not a substitute for veterinary medical advice. If your pet is sick or you have urgent concerns, contact a veterinarian.

 

 

 

Last updated 2/18/2026