If it feels like you are pulling more ticks off your dog this year, you are not imagining it. The CDC has reported tick bites running above normal across much of the country in 2026, with emergency room visits for tick bites reaching their highest levels in years. Roughly 31 million people in the United States are bitten by a tick annually, and Lyme disease alone accounts for about 476,000 treatments a year.
Your pets are on the front line. They move through exactly the tall grass, leaf litter, and brush where ticks wait — and they can carry those ticks straight back into your home, where the ticks can later attach to a person.
Here is what actually works.
Why 2026 Has Been a Heavy Tick Year
Tick season started earlier and moved faster than usual this year, and tick populations have continued to expand into areas that historically did not deal with them. The practical takeaway for pet owners is that the old “spring and summer” mental model no longer holds up. Ticks are active any time temperatures sit above freezing, which in most of the country means a much longer risk window than people assume.
Where Pets Actually Pick Up Ticks
One myth worth clearing up first: ticks do not jump, fly, or drop out of trees. They quest. A tick climbs to the tip of a grass blade or a low branch, holds its front legs out, and waits to grab whatever brushes past. That behavior tells you exactly where to look:
- Tall grass and the unmown edges of your yard
- Leaf litter, especially in shade and along fence lines
- Wood piles and stone walls
- Trails, brush, and wooded areas
- The transition zone where lawn meets woods — usually the highest-risk strip on any property
Check Your Pet Every Single Day
This is the highest-value habit in this entire article. A tick generally needs to stay attached for 24 to 48 hours before it can transmit Lyme disease. That delay is your advantage: a daily check catches most ticks before transmission ever happens.
Run your fingers slowly through your pet’s coat, against the grain, pressing lightly. You are feeling for a small bump more than looking for one — on dark or thick coats, your hands will beat your eyes every time. Pay extra attention to:
- In and around the ears
- Under the collar
- Around the eyelids and muzzle
- Under the front legs, in the “armpit”
- Between the toes and pads
- Around the tail and groin
Make it part of coming back inside, the same way you would wipe muddy paws. Two minutes.
How to Remove a Tick Safely
If you find one attached, remove it promptly. Waiting increases risk. The CDC-recommended method is simple and does not require a special tool beyond decent tweezers:
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible using clean, fine-tipped tweezers. Get the head, not the body — squeezing the body is what you are trying to avoid.
- Pull straight up with steady, even pressure. Do not twist, jerk, or wiggle. Slow and firm.
- Clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or hand sanitizer.
- Dispose of the tick without crushing it in your fingers.
- Write down the date. If symptoms show up weeks later, your vet will want that timeline.
What Not to Do
Do not use petroleum jelly, heat, a lit match, or nail polish to try to make the tick back out on its own. These methods agitate the tick and can force infected fluid from the tick into the bite — the exact outcome you are trying to prevent.
If a piece of the mouthparts stays behind in the skin, that is common. Leave it and let the skin push it out naturally, or ask your vet to take a look. Digging at it causes more irritation than the fragment does.
Warning Signs to Watch For
Symptoms of tick-borne illness often do not appear for days or even weeks after a bite. Call your veterinarian if you notice:
- Lethargy or unusual reluctance to move
- Limping that shifts from one leg to another
- Fever or loss of appetite
- Swollen joints or lymph nodes
Cats tend to show tick-borne illness more subtly than dogs, so changes in appetite, hiding behavior, or grooming habits are worth taking seriously. This is not a wait-and-see situation — tick-borne disease responds far better to early treatment.
Make Your Yard Less Hospitable
You will never make a yard tick-proof, but you can make it considerably less attractive:
- Mow regularly and keep grass short
- Clear leaf litter and brush, especially along fence lines and property edges
- Lay a barrier of wood chips or gravel between the lawn and any wooded area
- Move wood piles off the ground and into the sun — ticks want damp and shaded
- Discourage the deer and rodents that carry ticks onto the property in the first place
If outdoor pressure is your main problem, our outdoor pest control range is built for yard and perimeter treatment rather than on-animal use.
Do Not Forget the Bedding
Pet beds, blankets, and the throw your dog sleeps on are all part of the problem, and they are the part people skip. Wash them hot and wash them often. A laundry additive takes the guesswork out of whether a normal wash cycle was enough.
Build a Routine, Not a Reaction
The owners who have the least trouble with ticks are not the ones with a single silver-bullet product. They layer three things:
- A year-round preventive plan worked out with your veterinarian
- A daily tick check after outdoor time
- A topical applied before exposure — walks, hikes, yard time, camping
Where Premo Guard Fits
Premo Guard Pet Protector is a plant-based spray made from natural essential oils, formulated for owners who want an alternative to pills, chemical collars, and harsh synthetics on their animals. It is made to be applied directly to your dog or cat’s coat before outdoor exposure, and it comes in 16 oz, 32 oz, and a 128 oz refill size for multi-pet households. Follow the label directions for application and reapplication.
You can browse the full Protect Your Pets collection, or see everything we make for fleas, ticks, and lice.
One thing worth saying plainly: no topical product is a substitute for daily tick checks or for your veterinarian’s guidance. Talk to your vet about the right overall prevention plan for your animal, particularly if you live in a region with high Lyme disease rates.
Common Questions
Can indoor cats get ticks?
Yes. Ticks ride indoors on dogs, on clothing, and on shoes. An indoor-only cat is lower risk, not no risk.
Do ticks die off in winter?
No. Adult ticks stay active any time the temperature is above freezing, and some species are most active in the colder months.
Is it too late in the season to bother?
No. Fall brings a second peak of adult tick activity across much of the country. September through November is an important stretch, not a wind-down.
How long does a tick have to be attached to transmit disease?
Generally 24 to 48 hours for Lyme disease. That is precisely why a daily check is so effective.
Related Reading
- Are Bird Mites Dangerous to Humans? When to Be Concerned
- Can Humans Get Chicken Mites From Backyard Chickens?
- Where Do Dust Mites Come From and Why They Spread
This article is general information for pet owners and is not veterinary advice. Talk to your veterinarian about the tick prevention plan that fits your pet, your region, and your pet’s health history.
