Pests ticking off pets

Ticks and fleas ever bring your dog down?  Some local veterinarians say they’re becoming bigger pests each year.

One pet owner, Rob Flynn, says his Springer Spaniel, husky and cat have never had so many fleas as they have had this fall.

“It came on fast!,” Flynn said.

He blames the dry, warm weather. Doctor Sarah Ziemba of Suburban Animal Hospital in Rochester says that’s a strong possibility. In recent years, she’s noticed an increase in pesky parasites like fleas and ticks.

“Until we really have that first frost you're going to have a problem,” she said.

And since that has yet to happen in the Rochester-area, Ziemba says pet owners need to keep a big eye open for the tiny pests.

“It's definitely a big deal,” she said. “A lot of dogs are going to be out there hunting and so we want to get them protected. "

Doctors say you should periodically check your pets for ticks, especially if you live in a rural area. If you find one and don't know how to remove it properly, it might be time to head to the vet.

But it doesn’t have to get to that point. Owners should keep their pets on preventative flea and tick medication between March and November, but that could be changing.

“There's kind of a big push now to get people to do year round preventatives,” she said.

Flynn and his Spaniel are still hoping for a little assistance from Mother Nature in the battle on fleas and ticks.

“Now that the rains are here and the cooler weather's coming, maybe that'll help.”