Ticks are vicious parasites that feed on the blood of you and your pets. Besides the thought of ticks being "gross," these insects can transmit disease, and even cause paralysis, anemia, or death in pets.  As a lawn care company, Weed Pro often sees ticks in lawns, and we have put together this article to educate you on what you should know as a pet owner.

Waiting... In Your Lawn

Ticks are slow moving insects that do not travel well.  Often ticks hang out in your lawn on grass blades, just waiting to cling onto you or your pet when walking by.  Very few things can be done to prevent this, however lawn care companies such as Weed Pro have Flea & Tick Prevention sprays that can keep the ticks out of your lawn.

Removing Ticks - The Proper Way

A lot of myths exist when it comes to tick removal.  Some methods such as burning and cutting are not only mid evil, but are dangerous and can lead to infections.  If you find a tick on yourself or your pet, do not panic. Carefully remove the tick, including its mouth parts, from your skin using a set of tweezers. It's important that you monitor your or your pets health in the days to come. It may take several days for symptoms of illness to arise.  

• Lethargy
• Weakness
• Joint Swelling
• Anemia
• Difficulty Walking

If you notice any of these symptoms, please get your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Preventing Ticks

The best defense is a good offense.  Or that's at least what Browns fans have been saying for the past ten years.  However, with ticks, a good offensive strategy is what you need to stop ticks, before they become a problem.

Here are some ways you can prevent ticks:

• Keep Grass Mowed! Ticks love long grass to hang out on.  Keep your lawn mowed at a height of 3 1/2 to 4 inches.
• Apply Flea & Tick Treatment. Keep fido and kitty well defended with a flea and tick treatment applied to their skins.  This helps keep ticks off and them healthy!
• Contact a Lawn Care Company for a Flea & Tick Spray.  Weed Pro and other lawn care companies can apply a special flea and tick spray that will keep ticks out of your lawn and off of your pet.  

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