Ticks in Winter: Are Dogs and Cats Still at Risk?
Quick answer
Yes, the risk does not stop in winter. Writing in Vet Times, parasitologist Ian Wright says tick activity now extends from early spring to late autumn and exposure can happen at any time of year, so tick prevention should be considered all year based on your pet's lifestyle. The University of Bristol's Big Tick Project found ticks on 31% of dogs checked. Ticks can carry Lyme disease and babesiosis.
From Vet Times and the University of Bristol. Not veterinary or financial advice. Worried about your pet now?
On this page (6 sections)
Why winter is not tick-free
Ticks were historically seasonal and stopped being active below about 4°C. Ian Wright writes that surveillance now shows activity from early spring to late autumn, that a warmer, wetter climate is blurring the old pattern, and that exposure can occur at any time of year. Source: Vet Times, Ian Wright, Getting the year-round parasites message across (14 Sep 2022).
How common they are
The Big Tick Project (University of Bristol, 2016) found ticks on 31% of randomly checked dogs, in towns as well as the countryside, with the highest risk in the South West, Scotland and East Anglia. Of dogs that had recently travelled abroad, 76% carried ticks. Ticks can carry Lyme disease and canine babesiosis, which can be fatal; babesiosis was found in UK dogs that had never travelled. Source: University of Bristol, Results of the Big Tick Project (2016).
Checking and removal
Wright advises checking higher-risk pets at least every 24 hours, because no preventive is 100% effective. Ticks are most often found around the head, face, legs and belly. Remove them with a tick removal tool, not your fingers. Higher-risk walks include pasture shared with deer or livestock, tall grass and bracken. Source: Vet Times, Ian Wright, Getting the year-round parasites message across (14 Sep 2022).
Prevention, and a warning for cats
Ask your vet which tick product suits your pet. Wright warns that pyrethroid products (except flumethrin) must never be used on cats: some dog spot-ons are dangerous to cats, so never use a dog product on a cat. Source: Vet Times, Ian Wright, Getting the year-round parasites message across (14 Sep 2022).
Questions people ask
Do dogs get ticks in winter?
They can. Ian Wright writes in Vet Times that tick activity now runs from early spring to late autumn and exposure can happen at any time of year, so prevention should be considered all year.
How common are ticks on dogs in the UK?
The University of Bristol's Big Tick Project found ticks on 31% of randomly checked dogs, in urban and rural areas.
Can I use my dog's tick treatment on my cat?
No. Some dog tick products contain pyrethroids, which Vet Times notes must never be used on cats. Ask your vet for a cat product.
Sources
- Vet Times, Ian Wright, Getting the year-round parasites message across (14 Sep 2022), read 11 November 2026.
- University of Bristol, Results of the Big Tick Project (2016), read 11 November 2026.
Related pages
Flea treatment in winter, lungworm, walking your dog in cold weather and seasonal hazards.