Ticks in Winter? Yes, They're Still a Threat!

It's winter, so no bugs to worry about, right? If only that were true! Many pet owners stop using flea and tick prevention for their pets during the colder months, assuming that freezing temperatures mean the end of tick season. Unfortunately, this common misconception can leave both you and your pets vulnerable to dangerous tick-borne diseases even in the middle of winter.

The reality is that ticks are remarkably resilient creatures, and several species remain active during winter months, especially in our moderate mid-Atlantic climate here in Virginia. Understanding when and why ticks are active during winter is crucial for protecting your family and pets year-round.

Not All Ticks Hibernate

While it's true that many tick species do become dormant during winter, they don't necessarily stay that way. Tick activity is closely tied to temperature, and different species have different thresholds for becoming active.

Temperature-dependent ticks: Many tick species, including the Lone Star Tick and American Dog Tick, go into a dormant state during the coldest winter months. However, they can emerge from hibernation whenever soil temperatures reach 45 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. In Virginia, we regularly experience winter days, and even extended periods where temperatures climb well above this threshold. A sunny winter afternoon, a mild spell, or an unseasonably warm week can bring ticks out of dormancy and put them right back on the hunt for a blood meal.

Year-round active ticks: The adult Blacklegged Tick, also known as the Deer Tick, is the primary carrier of Lyme disease in our region. These ticks remain active whenever temperatures are above freezing (32°F). Since Virginia winters frequently see daytime temperatures in the 40s, 50s, and even 60s, adult Blacklegged Ticks can be active throughout much of the winter season. They don't require warm spring weather to pose a threat—they just need temperatures above freezing.

Why Our Climate Matters

Virginia's moderate mid-Atlantic climate creates ideal conditions for winter tick activity. Unlike northern states where sustained freezing temperatures keep ticks dormant for months at a time, our winters are characterized by fluctuating temperatures, periodic warm spells, and many days where ticks can remain active.

This means that you and your pets can be exposed to ticks and serious tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease all winter long. A winter hike in the woods, a walk through tall grass, or even just time spent in your own backyard can result in tick exposure during any month of the year.

The Case for Year-Round Tick Prevention

Given the reality of winter tick activity in Virginia, the best protection for your pet is to maintain tick prevention throughout the entire year, not just during the traditional "tick season" of spring through fall.

Year-round prevention offers several important benefits:

• Consistent protection: Ticks don't follow a calendar. By maintaining prevention year-round, you ensure there are no gaps in protection during unexpected warm spells or mild winters.

• Disease prevention: Many tick-borne diseases are serious and can cause long-term health problems for your pet. Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, and other tick-borne illnesses can lead to joint pain, organ damage, neurological issues, and chronic illness. Prevention is far easier and less costly than treatment.

• Protection for your family: When you protect your pets from ticks, you're also protecting your human family members. Pets can bring ticks into your home, where those ticks can then bite people. Many tick-borne diseases affect both animals and humans.

• Peace of mind: You won't have to worry about remembering to restart prevention in the spring or wonder whether it's too early or too late to begin protection.

Choosing the Right Tick Prevention Product

The good news is that there are many excellent tick prevention products available, and there's an option suitable for virtually every pet's lifestyle and your preferences as a pet owner.

Oral medications: Monthly chewable tablets are popular because they're easy to administer (most dogs think they're treats!), can't be washed off, and don't leave residue on your pet's fur. These work systemically when a tick bites your pet, the medication kills the tick before it can transmit disease. Options include products that prevent both fleas and ticks, as well as some that also prevent heartworms and intestinal parasites.

Topical treatments: These liquid medications are applied directly to your pet's skin, usually between the shoulder blades. They spread across the skin's surface and kill ticks on contact or shortly after they bite. Topical treatments are a good option for pets who are picky eaters or have difficulty taking oral medications. They typically provide month-long protection.

Seresto Collar: This long-lasting collar slowly releases active ingredients that repel and kill fleas and ticks for up to 8 months. It's a convenient option for pet owners who don't want to remember monthly applications, though the collar must remain on your pet to be effective. It's water-resistant and works well for both dogs and cats.

Combination products: Many modern tick preventatives also protect against fleas, heartworms, and various intestinal parasites, allowing you to protect your pet against multiple threats with a single product.

Every pet is different, and factors like your pet's size, health status, lifestyle, and any sensitivities or allergies can influence which product is best. Let us help you determine the most appropriate and effective tick prevention for your individual dog or cat. We'll consider your pet's specific needs and your household circumstances to recommend the best option.

Know Your Enemy: Common Ticks in Virginia

Understanding which ticks are present in our area and what diseases they carry can help you appreciate the importance of prevention. Here are the three most common ticks in Virginia and the diseases they can transmit to both pets and people:

Blacklegged Tick (Deer Tick):

• Appearance: Small, reddish-brown body with dark legs

• Peak activity: Fall, winter, and early spring (adults); spring and summer (nymphs)

• Diseases transmitted: Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Babesiosis

• Why it matters: This is the primary carrier of Lyme disease in Virginia. Adult Blacklegged Ticks are most active during the cooler months, making them the main winter tick concern.

Lone Star Tick:

• Appearance: Reddish-brown with a distinctive white dot or "lone star" on the female's back

• Peak activity: Spring through fall, but can be active during mild winter days

• Diseases transmitted: Ehrlichiosis, Tularemia, and Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI)

• Why it matters: This is one of the most aggressive tick species and will actively pursue hosts. It's very common in Virginia.

American Dog Tick:

• Appearance: Brown with white or gray markings

• Peak activity: Spring and summer, but can emerge during winter warm spells

• Diseases transmitted: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (though uncommon in Virginia) and Tularemia

• Why it matters: Despite its name, this tick will feed on many different hosts, including dogs, cats, and humans.

For a helpful visual guide, check out the Virginia Department of Health website, which provides a handy tick identification chart with size comparisons, detailed information about tick-borne diseases in people, prevention strategies, and proper tick removal techniques.

Fascinating (and Slightly Creepy) Tick Facts

Ticks are remarkable creatures; in the most unsettling ways. Here are some facts that highlight just how well-adapted these parasites are for survival:

• Ticks are arachnids, not insects: They're more closely related to spiders and scorpions than to flies or mosquitoes. Like spiders, adult ticks have eight legs (though larval ticks have only six).

• Ticks are nature's vampires: They survive exclusively by consuming blood from their hosts. A single tick can feed for several days, engorging itself to many times its original size.

• Ticks don't jump or fly: Unlike fleas, ticks can't jump. Instead, they practice a behavior called "questing," where they climb to the tip of grass or low vegetation and wait with their front legs extended, ready to grab onto any passing host. They detect potential hosts through body heat, carbon dioxide, and vibrations.

• Ticks are incredibly long-lived: A tick can live for 2-3 years, going through multiple life stages and potentially feeding on several different hosts during its lifetime. They can also survive for extended periods without feeding, sometimes months or even over a year, waiting patiently for their next meal.

• Ticks are surprisingly aquatic survivors: Ticks can survive underwater for extended periods. In some cases, longer than you could hold your breath! Simply trying to drown a tick in water won't kill it quickly. This is why proper tick removal and disposal is important.

Protecting Yourself and Your Family

In addition to keeping your pets on year-round tick prevention, take these steps to reduce tick exposure for everyone in your household:

• Avoid tick habitats when possible: Ticks are most commonly found in wooded areas, tall grass, brush, and leaf litter. Stay on cleared trails when hiking.

• Wear protective clothing: When in tick-prone areas, wear long pants tucked into socks, long sleeves, and light-colored clothing (which makes ticks easier to spot).

• Use tick repellent: Apply EPA-approved tick repellents to exposed skin and clothing.

• Perform tick checks: After spending time outdoors, thoroughly check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks. Pay special attention to warm, hidden areas like behind ears, in armpits, behind knees, and along the hairline.

• Shower after outdoor activities: Showering within two hours of coming indoors can help wash off unattached ticks and gives you an opportunity to do a tick check.

• Maintain your yard: Keep grass mowed short, remove leaf litter and brush, and create a barrier of wood chips or gravel between wooded areas and your lawn.

Proper Tick Removal

If you find a tick attached to your pet (or yourself), proper removal is important to reduce the risk of disease transmission:

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers or a specialized tick removal tool

2. Grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible

3. Pull upward with steady, even pressure; don't twist or jerk

4. Clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water

5. Dispose of the tick by placing it in alcohol, sealing it in a bag, or flushing it down the toilet

6. Monitor the bite site for signs of infection or rash

Never attempt to remove a tick by burning it, smothering it with petroleum jelly, or using other folk remedies. These methods don't work and may actually increase the risk of disease transmission.

We're Here to Help

At Middle River Veterinary Hospital, we're committed to keeping your pets healthy and protected year-round. If you have questions about tick prevention, need help selecting the right product for your pet, or want to discuss any concerns about tick-borne diseases, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Don't let winter's chill give you a false sense of security. Ticks are out there, even in cold weather, and year-round prevention is the best way to protect your beloved pets and your family from these disease-carrying parasites.

Stay vigilant, stay protected, and enjoy the outdoors safely all year long!