Tick Prevention 101: What to Know (and Where Ticks Hide)

Ticks are tiny, but with a little know-how they're very manageable. This guide covers where ticks live, how to protect your dog, where to check after a walk, and what to do if you find one. No panic needed, just a simple routine.

Ticks in Colorado: What to Know

It's easy to assume ticks are an East Coast problem, but Colorado has 27 known tick species. The Rocky Mountain wood tick is the species most commonly found on people and pets in the state.

• Peak season in Colorado is spring and early summer, Some species, particularly brown dog ticks in indoor environments, can remain active year-round.
• Altitude isn't a safeguard. Ticks can live at elevations up to about 10,000 feet.
• Foothills and rural areas tend to carry more risk, though a tidy suburban yard isn't automatically tick-free.

A helpful rule of thumb from Colorado State University's veterinary team: pets can act as "sentinels." If your dog is picking up ticks, there are likely ticks in your environment, too.

Which Illnesses Should Dog Owners Know About?

Ticks can carry bacteria, viruses, and parasites, but most bites don't lead to illness. In Colorado, the tick-borne diseases to know about for dogs are:

• Anaplasmosis
• Ehrlichiosis
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever (not very common in Colorado)
• Lyme disease — not considered endemic in Colorado, although dogs that travel to or previously lived in endemic areas can be exposed.

Symptoms to watch for include low energy, fever, limping or joint pain, loss of appetite, and swollen lymph nodes. One thing worth knowing: dogs don't always show symptoms right away, and some infections are "silent" at first. If you find a tick on your dog, ask your vet when follow-up testing makes sense.

Ticks Around the Country

Not in Colorado? Tick species and the illnesses they carry vary by region, so here's a quick snapshot:

• Northeast and upper Midwest: Blacklegged ticks (often called deer ticks) are common here and are the main carriers of Lyme disease and anaplasmosis.
• Southeast and south-central states: Lone star ticks are widespread and are important vectors of ehrlichiosis. American dog ticks are also common in many areas and can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
• West Coast: Western blacklegged ticks are the main player, and can carry Lyme disease and anaplasmosis.
• Nationwide: Brown dog ticks turn up across the country and can even set up shop indoors.

Tick ranges keep shifting, so the best way to know your local risk is to ask your vet. The Companion Animal Parasite Council also shows local parasite trends by state and county.

Where Ticks Live

Ticks don't jump or fly. They climb to the tips of grasses and shrubs, then wait for a warm, breathing host to walk by. They can sense body heat, carbon dioxide, odor, and vibration. Common spots include:

• Tall grass and brushy fields
• Forest edges and trails
• Leaf litter
• Wood piles, rock walls, and garden borders

Step 1: Talk to Your Vet About Prevention

This is your best defense. Options include oral chewables, topical treatments, and tick collars. Your vet can help you choose based on your dog's age, weight, health, and lifestyle.

A few good-to-knows about how these products work:

• Many tick products don't repel ticks. The tick usually has to bite first, then the product kills it quickly, ideally before it can pass anything along. So you may still occasionally find a tick on a protected dog, and that's normal.
• Modern tick collars (like flumethrin/imidacloprid-based ones) are highly effective for several months.
• Tick shampoos only kill ticks that are on your dog at bath time. They don't offer lasting protection.
• Year-round prevention: The Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends year-round tick control for dogs because different tick species are active at different times of year and brown dog ticks can persist indoors year-round.

A note for cat households: never use a dog tick product on a cat. Many are toxic to cats. Indoor-only cats are at very low risk, but if your cat ever goes outside, ask your vet about a cat-safe option.

A Word of Caution About Over-the-Counter Tick Products

Not all tick products work the same way, and the right choice depends on your pet. Some flea and tick products are regulated by the EPA, while others are regulated by the FDA. Effectiveness, ingredients, duration of protection, and safety considerations can vary, so it’s important to choose a product that’s appropriate for your dog and use it exactly as directed.

• Match the product to your pet. Dog products can be dangerous for cats, and weight and age ranges matter. Always follow the label exactly.
• Check the active ingredients, and ask your vet if you're unsure what they mean.
• Be wary of "natural" claims and of products that promise more than they can prove.
• Choose vet-recommended products when you can. Your vet knows your dog's health history and local tick risks.
• Report problems. If your dog has a bad reaction, call your vet right away and report it to the manufacturer. The product label will tell you whether adverse events should also be reported to the EPA or FDA.

Step 2: Do a Tick Check After Walks

Prevention helps, but a quick check is your best backup. Use the "feel method" rather than relying on sight alone: run your hands slowly over your dog's whole body, feeling for small bumps or pea-sized lumps. Ticks can be tiny, especially young ones, and often go unnoticed until they've fed and grown.

Where ticks hide:

• Inside and behind the ears
• Around the eyes and lips
• Neck and under the collar or harness
• Armpits and groin
• Between the toes
• Base of the tail
• Skin folds on wrinkly breeds

On long or thick coats, part the fur all the way down to the skin. Good lighting helps, and so does a fine-toothed comb.

Step 3: Make Your Yard Less Tick-Friendly

• Mow regularly and trim tall grass
• Clear brush, leaf litter, and trash
• Keep woodpiles tidy and away from the house
• Add a gravel or wood-chip border between lawn and wooded areas

How to Remove a Tick Safely

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool (inexpensive and very effective).
2. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
3. Pull straight out with slow, steady pressure. Don't twist or squeeze.
4. Clean the area with soap and water or an antiseptic, and wash your hands.

What to skip: petroleum jelly, oils, nail polish, and flames. These don't work, and oils may even increase the risk of disease transmission. If part of the tick's mouthparts remain in the skin, don't dig aggressively at the area. If you can't remove them easily or the area becomes irritated or swollen, contact your vet..

Tip: pop the tick in a sealed container with the date, in case your vet wants to see it.

Quick Tick Prevention Checklist

• Use a vet-recommended preventive, year-round if your vet advises
• Check your dog after every walk, especially after wooded or grassy trails
• Remove ticks promptly and properly
• Keep your yard trimmed and tidy
• Watch for changes in energy, appetite, or movement in the weeks after a bite
• Keep dog-only products away from cats

The Bottom Line

Ticks are a fact of life almost everywhere, but they shouldn't keep you and your dog off the trails. A good preventive, a quick hands-on check, and fast removal cover most of what you need. When in doubt, your vet is your best resource.