Think Tick Season Is Over? Connecticut Pet Owners Should Think Again

Summer may be winding down, but tick season in Connecticut definitely is not.

As temperatures cool and dogs spend more time hiking, walking through fallen leaves, playing in the backyard, or joining their families for fall adventures, Connecticut pet owners may assume the worst of tick season has passed. Unfortunately, ticks don't follow the same calendar.

In Connecticut, blacklegged ticks can remain active whenever temperatures are above freezing, meaning dogs—and even cats that venture outdoors—can encounter ticks well into fall and during surprisingly mild winter days.

For pet owners, September is a good time to check that tick prevention hasn't quietly fallen off the to-do list.

Connecticut Remains Prime Tick Country

Connecticut has a long history with Lyme disease, and the blacklegged tick, also called the deer tick, is well established throughout the region.

This summer, UConn experts reported that Connecticut was seeing elevated tick activity, with increased numbers of ticks being submitted for testing earlier in the season. Warm, wet weather can create favorable conditions for ticks and the animals that help sustain their populations.

More recently, the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory at UConn encouraged pet owners and veterinarians to continue submitting ticks for testing. The laboratory examined 391 submitted ticks in 2025, including deer ticks, dog ticks and lone star ticks. Approximately one in four deer ticks tested positive for the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease. Some individual ticks carried more than one pathogen.

That doesn't mean every tick bite will make a pet sick. It does mean prevention remains important.

Your Backyard Can Be Enough

Your dog doesn't have to hike deep into the Connecticut woods to encounter a tick.

Ticks may be found in tall grass, leaf litter, wooded edges, brush, parks and ordinary residential yards. Dogs investigating bushes, running along fences or rolling near piles of leaves may provide ticks with exactly the opportunity they're waiting for.

Pets can also carry unattached ticks into the house, potentially exposing other pets or people.

That's one reason the Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends year-round tick control for dogs rather than stopping prevention when summer ends.

Check Your Dog After Fall Adventures

Even dogs receiving tick prevention should be checked after spending time outside.

Run your hands slowly over your dog's body and pay particular attention to the ears, around the eyes, underneath the collar, between the legs, around the tail and between the toes. These are among the areas where ticks commonly attach.

Long-haired and dark-coated dogs deserve an especially careful inspection because small ticks can be surprisingly difficult to see.

If you find an attached tick, remove it promptly using fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with steady pressure.

Skip home remedies involving petroleum jelly, nail polish, matches or heat. Connecticut health officials specifically advise against these approaches.

Know the Signs of Tick-Borne Illness

Many dogs exposed to Lyme disease never develop obvious illness. When clinical signs do occur, they can appear days to weeks after a tick bite.

Pet owners should contact their veterinarian if a dog develops unexplained lethargy, fever, decreased appetite, painful or swollen joints, or lameness—particularly limping that seems to move from one leg to another.

Lyme disease isn't the only concern. Connecticut ticks may carry other pathogens capable of causing illness, which is another reason finding and preventing ticks matters even in dogs vaccinated against Lyme disease.

What About the Lyme Vaccine?

For dogs living in Connecticut, Lyme vaccination may be worth discussing.

The Lyme vaccine provides an additional layer of protection for dogs at risk of exposure. However, it doesn't replace an effective tick preventive because ticks can carry diseases for which vaccines aren't available.

Your veterinarian can help determine whether Lyme vaccination makes sense based on your dog's lifestyle, travel history, health and exposure to tick habitat.

Cats Need Tick Protection Too—But Be Careful

Cats aren't simply small dogs when it comes to parasite prevention.

Outdoor and indoor-outdoor cats can encounter ticks and may carry them into the home. However, some ingredients used safely in dogs can be dangerous to cats.

Never use a flea or tick product intended for dogs on a cat unless your veterinarian has specifically confirmed that it is safe for that cat. The CDC advises cat owners to speak with their veterinarian before using a tick-control product because cats can be extremely sensitive to certain chemicals.

Clinical Lyme disease in naturally infected cats is also much less clearly understood than it is in dogs, but preventing ticks remains important because cats can still be exposed to ticks and other tick-associated pathogens.

Don't Pack Away the Tick Prevention With the Beach Towels

Fall in Connecticut is one of the best times of year to get outside with your dog. Changing leaves, cooler walks and weekend hikes shouldn't be avoided because of ticks.

They just require a little preparation.

Keep your pet on veterinarian-recommended tick prevention, perform regular tick checks and talk with your veterinarian about your dog's individual Lyme disease risk.

And don't assume September means tick season is finished. In Connecticut, tick prevention is something pet owners should be thinking about throughout the year.

Pet Candy Veterinary Clinic in Avon, Connecticut can help you develop a simple parasite-prevention plan based on your pet's lifestyle and risk. If your dog is due for a wellness visit, heartworm test, Lyme vaccination or parasite prevention, contact us to schedule an appointment.