Ticks Are Out in Full Force—How to Keep Your Pup Protected
It’s shaping up to be a very bad tick season in Ohio, and pet parents should stay vigilant. Ticks can carry dangerous diseases like Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, and more—even if your pet is on a preventative. That’s why we encourage a layered approach to tick protection, using both traditional and holistic options to keep your dog safe.
Why it matters:
Ticks can live in tall grass, wooded trails, leaf piles, and even your own backyard. They latch onto animals (or people!) as they pass by, and can transmit diseases quickly. Symptoms of tickborne illness in pets include fatigue, fever, joint pain, vomiting, muscle aches, and more.
What Puptown is Doing
At Puptown Lounge, your dog’s health and safety are always our top priority. To help reduce the risk of tick exposure while your pup is with us, we’re taking several proactive steps:
Regular perimeter checks and maintenance – We consistently monitor and trim back any tall grass, weeds, or overgrowth along our fence lines and play yards where ticks might thrive.
Natural outdoor pest control – We apply Outdoor Pest Control Spray, a plant-powered solution made with essential oils that is safe to use around pets and kids. This helps repel mosquitoes, ants, and ticks around the exterior of our facilities. Also we placed a barrier of wood chips between our wooded areas and the playgroups to restrict tick migration.
Our team is also trained to recognize the signs of ticks and will perform visual checks during play and grooming. If we ever notice anything unusual, we’ll let you know right away.
What Puptown Recommends:
We always suggest chatting with your vet about the best tick prevention plan for your dog, but here are some popular options:
Conventional Preventatives:
Frontline, Advantix, NexGard, or Seresto collars
Ask your vet if the Lyme vaccine is available and right for your dog
Daily tick checks—especially around ears, paws, tail, and under collars
Holistic Options
(Inspired by @girlsgonerawpethealth):
These natural tools help prevent bites without exposing your pet to harsh pesticides:
Wildly Blended Bug Off Herbal Supplement – Makes your pet less appealing to bugs when added to food
Wonderside Natural Bug Spray – A pet-safe essential oil spray for dogs and people
Tick Less USA Ultrasonic Tag – Chemical-free, wearable tick repellant
Benesafe Solutions Yard Spray – Hose-on formula to protect your outdoor spaces
@tickkeyinternationalinc Tick Remover – Safely removes ticks without crushing or leaving mouthparts behind
You can explore all these products and tips from the amazing @girlsgonerawpethealth on Instagram.
Quick Tick Safety Checklist:
Perform tick checks after every outdoor adventure
Use repellent sprays or supplements
Keep a tick remover tool on hand
Remove ticks properly (no crushing!)
Clean bite areas and monitor for symptoms
Stay informed and proactive!
Together, we can help keep every tail wagging safely all season long, full of fun—not bites!
For more information on Ticks, check out this brochure from the Ohio Department of Health.
A Note from Sirius Lee
Sirius, who attends Puptown Lounge with his Mom, Elizabeth C (Marketing Manager) daily, has been living with asymptomatic Lyme Disease for the last four years. Even though he looks healthy, he undergoes yearly blood and urine tests to monitor kidney function and ensure he stays symptom-free. It’s a reminder that even with preventatives, no method is foolproof. Early detection and monitoring are key! Sirius says "Ticks Suck!!"
