Tick Season in Saskatoon

Keeping your pup safe on walks, at the dog park, and in the backyard this season.

Tick activity is on the rise around Saskatoon this year. Dogs are especially exposed — they walk low to the ground through grass and brush where ticks wait — and can carry hitchhikers home even after a short walk. A few habits built into your routine make a big difference for your dog's health and your own.

What's Actually Out There

The American dog tick is by far the most common species here, making up roughly 95–98% of reported bites in the province. It's active mid-April through July, peaking in May and June, and despite the name, it bites both dogs and people. While it can occasionally carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever, the risk stays low. The blacklegged tick (responsible for Lyme disease) is rare in Saskatchewan and not established locally — most arrive via migratory birds — but sightings have ticked up in recent years, especially in fall. Bottom line from health officials: the risk to dogs and owners is low, but not zero.

Before the Walk

•      Talk to your vet about prevention: Monthly oral or topical tick preventatives, or a tick collar, are the single most effective defence for dogs and work all season long.

•      Stick to trails: Ticks wait on tall grass and brush for a host to brush past. Keeping dogs on cleared paths at spots like the Meewasin trails, Beaver Creek, or Forestry Farm cuts exposure a lot more than letting them roam off-leash through brush.

•      Keep your own gear on: Long pants tucked into socks and DEET or Icaridin repellent protect you while you're out walking your dog through the same grass.

After the Walk

•      Run your hands through their coat: Check ears, around the neck and collar, armpits, between toes, and the tail base — ticks gravitate to warm, hidden spots and a thick coat can hide a lot.

•      Check yourself too: A tick can ride in on you just as easily as on your dog. Shower soon after to wash off anything not yet attached.

•      Make it routine: A quick tick check after every walk during peak season (May–June) takes under a minute and is far easier than treating a missed bite.

Found a Tick on Your Dog?

Remove it promptly with fine-tipped tweezers, grasping close to the skin and pulling straight up with steady, even pressure — don't twist. Clean the area with soap and water. Snap a photo and submit it to eTick.ca for free identification. Watch your dog over the following weeks for lethargy, fever, loss of appetite, swollen joints, or limping, and call your vet if anything seems off — especially after a known bite.