How Kingston-area dog owners can spot the signs of Lyme disease, test for it, and prevent tick bites through the region's extended tick season.
Kingston sits right in one of the highest-risk zones in Ontario for tick-borne disease. If your dog spends any time in long grass, wooded trails, or along the waterfront, tick exposure is not a matter of if but when. Here's what pet owners in Kingston need to know about ticks, Lyme disease, and how to keep pets protected.
Why Kingston Is a Tick Hot Spot
Ticks that carry Lyme disease have become established across Eastern Ontario, and Kingston and the surrounding Frontenac and Lennox & Addington areas are considered endemic. Warmer winters and longer falls have extended the active tick season: ticks can be active any time the temperature rises above roughly 4°C, which in this region can mean exposure from early spring through late November.
Popular local spots for dog walking, such as Lemoine Point, Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area, and trails around the Rideau Trail system, all fall within tick habitat: long grass, brush, leaf litter, and the edges of wooded areas.
How Dogs Get Infected
Ticks attach while a dog walks through vegetation and typically need to be attached for 24 to 48 hours before they can transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. This is why daily tick checks matter, even if your dog is on a preventive product: catching and removing a tick early can prevent transmission even if a bite has already happened.
Signs of Lyme Disease in Dogs
Lyme disease can be difficult to catch early because symptoms are often subtle or delayed, sometimes appearing weeks after the initial bite. Signs to watch for include:
Shifting or intermittent lameness, often moving from leg to leg
Swollen, painful joints
Fever and reduced energy
Decreased appetite
Swollen lymph nodes
In more advanced or untreated cases, Lyme disease can affect the kidneys, which is why early detection and treatment matter.
Testing and Diagnosis
At Eastside Veterinary Services, we can run in-clinic blood screening (commonly the 4Dx test) that checks for Lyme disease alongside other tick-borne and mosquito-borne illnesses, such as heartworm, from a small blood sample. Annual screening is recommended for dogs in this region, even if they haven't shown symptoms, since exposure is common and early-stage infection isn't always visible.
Prevention: What Actually Works
A layered approach gives pets the best protection:
1. Veterinary-prescribed tick preventives. Monthly oral or topical products, or longer-acting options, are far more reliable than over-the-counter alternatives. Your veterinarian can recommend the right product based on your pet's lifestyle, health history, and risk level.
2. Lyme vaccination. A vaccine is available for dogs and is worth discussing if your dog frequently visits high-risk areas like trails, tall grass, or wooded conservation land.
3. Daily tick checks. After walks, run your hands over your dog's coat, checking areas ticks favour: ears, neck, armpits, groin, and between toes. Since transmission usually takes 24 to 48 hours, prompt removal significantly lowers risk.
4. Yard and habitat management. Keeping grass trimmed and clearing brush around the yard reduces the tick population close to home.
What to Do If You Find a Tick
Remove it promptly with fine-tipped tweezers, grasping as close to the skin as possible and pulling straight out without twisting. Avoid folk remedies like petroleum jelly or a lit match, which can cause the tick to release more saliva into the bite. If you're not confident removing it yourself, or if the bite site becomes red or swollen afterward, bring your pet in so we can take a look.
Protecting Your Pet Starts With a Conversation
Every dog's risk level is different depending on where they walk, how much time they spend outdoors, and their overall health. If your pet isn't currently on a tick preventive, or it's been a while since their last tick-borne disease screening, now is a good time to book a visit.
Call Eastside Veterinary Services at 613-531-5830 to schedule a parasite prevention consultation or annual wellness exam, and let's make sure your pet is protected through the whole tick season.
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