Ticks & Dogs: The Rising Threat on Long Island & How to Protect Your Pet!
As the cold grip of winter loosens, Long Island’s parks, trails, and backyards become active playgrounds for both people and pets. However, warmer temperatures also signal the return of ticks—tiny but dangerous parasites that thrive in our region.
For dog owners, tick season is more than just a nuisance. It’s a serious health risk. Ticks aren’t just hitchhikers; they are carriers of dangerous diseases that can cause lifelong health complications or even be fatal if left untreated. Understanding the tick-borne threats specific to Long Island can help pet owners take the right preventative measures and reduce risks before ticks strike.
Why Are Ticks Such a Problem on Long Island?
Long Island’s humid climate, dense woodlands, and suburban landscapes create the perfect environment for ticks to thrive. The region is home to several tick species, but the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) are the biggest culprits when it comes to spreading diseases to dogs.
Experts from the Suffolk County Health Department and Nassau County Health Department confirm that ticks become active as soon as temperatures rise above 40°F—meaning early spring through late fall is prime tick season (Suffolk County Tick Prevention). Companies such as Mosquito Brothers, Mosquito Squad, and East End Tick Control begin their season based on these temperature trends.
Unfortunately, ticks don’t just stay in the woods. They thrive in tall grasses, leaf litter, and even urban parks, making it impossible to avoid exposure entirely.
But which diseases should dog owners on Long Island be most concerned about? Let’s take a closer look.
Three Dangerous Tick-Borne Diseases Affecting Dogs in the Northeast
1. Lyme Disease 🐾
✔ Cause: Bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi
✔ Transmitted by: Black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis)
✔ Symptoms: Fever, lethargy, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, and lameness
💀 Can Lyme Disease Be Fatal in Dogs?
While Lyme disease isn’t usually fatal, untreated cases can lead to Lyme nephritis, a deadly kidney condition that causes organ failure (Global Lyme Alliance).📍 Common Areas on Long Island: Dense wooded areas, backyard brush, parks, and hiking trails—especially in Suffolk County, where Lyme disease cases are more prevalent.
2. Anaplasmosis 🐾
✔ Cause: Bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum
✔ Transmitted by: Black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis)
✔ Symptoms: Fever, lethargy, joint pain, loss of appetite, and in severe cases, neurological issues
💀 Can Anaplasmosis Be Fatal in Dogs?
Anaplasmosis is rarely fatal, but severe cases can cause blood clotting disorders and respiratory distress, which may become life-threatening if not treated in time (VCA Animal Hospitals).📍 Common Areas on Long Island: Wooded trails, grassy parks, and coastal marshes where ticks thrive.
3. Babesiosis 🐾
✔ Cause: Protozoa of the genus Babesia
✔ Transmitted by: Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)
✔ Symptoms: Anemia, pale gums, weakness, lethargy, and jaundice
💀 Can Babesiosis Be Fatal in Dogs?
Yes. Severe cases of babesiosis can lead to organ failure, shock, and death, particularly in immunocompromised dogs or those left untreated (Wikipedia).📍 Common Areas on Long Island: Urban and suburban neighborhoods—brown dog ticks thrive in homes, kennels, and yards, making them a serious year-round threat.
How to Protect Your Dog from Ticks in Suffolk & Nassau Counties
Tick prevention is essential, but keeping your dog safe requires a multi-layered approach. While standard tick preventatives help, a more effective approach combines at-home measures with professional tick control services.
✔ Standard Tick Prevention Measures that should be considered:
🐶 Use veterinarian-recommended tick preventatives (oral medications, tick collars, or topical treatments).
🐶 Perform daily tick checks after outdoor activities, even in your backyard.
🐶 Keep your lawn trimmed and remove leaf litter where ticks hide and lay eggs.
🐶 Be extra cautious in high-risk areas such as parks, wooded trails, and coastal marshes in Suffolk and Nassau Counties.
🚨The Most Effective Tick Prevention: Mosquito Brothers’ Targeted Mist Application
While at-home measures help, the best defense against ticks is to stop them where they live, breed, and feed—before they reach your pet.
Mosquito Brothers offers a targeted mist application designed specifically for tick control. This professional-grade service eliminates ticks at the source, creating a protective barrier around your home.
👉 Targets tick habitats (brush, tall grass, shaded areas)
👉 Reduces tick populations before they attach to pets or humans
👉 Ongoing treatments provide season-long protection
Ticks don’t wait to strike—so don’t wait to protect your four-legged family members!
Final Thoughts: Stay Proactive & Stay Protected
Tick season on Long Island, NY, is a real threat, but you have the power to protect your pets. By combining daily tick checks, preventive treatments, and targeted mist applications from Mosquito Brothers, you can reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases and keep your furry friend safe all year long.
🐶 Ready to take the fight to the ticks? Contact Mosquito Brothers today and safeguard your property before tick season peaks! https://mosquitobrothers.com/contact-us/