5 Simple Ways to Reduce the Risk
1. Check Your Pets
After outdoor activity, inspect your dog or cat carefully. Regular checks can help catch ticks before they have an opportunity to spread through the home.
2. Wash or Dry Outdoor Clothing
The CDC recommends putting dry clothing in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes after coming indoors. If clothing is damp, additional drying time may be necessary.
3. Keep the Yard Less Tick-Friendly
Keep grass and weeds trimmed, reduce leaf piles, and keep wood piles neat. Creating a separation between lawns and wooded areas can also help reduce exposure.
4. Protect Your Pets
Talk with your veterinarian about appropriate flea and tick prevention. If you use a commercial product, follow the label carefully and never use a dog-only product on a cat unless the label specifically permits it. Some ingredients can be dangerous to cats.
5. Check Yourself After Being Outdoors
Don’t forget about yourself. Examine your clothing and body after spending time in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. The CDC also recommends showering within two hours of coming indoors, which can help wash away unattached ticks and provides an opportunity to check your skin.
When Should You Take It More Seriously?
One isolated tick isn’t necessarily a reason to call an exterminator. But repeatedly finding ticks indoors, especially multiple ticks or ticks associated with a pet, may indicate an ongoing problem.
