05/14/2026
National Lyme Disease Awareness Month is observed in May and brings attention to how Lyme disease is contracted, ways to help prevent ticks and what signs to look for.
Lyme disease is a contracted from the deer tick or black-legged tick. Some areas have tick “seasons”, often beginning in May, but in Florida ticks are active year-round with peak season from March through October when it’s hottest.
Ticks love hanging out on the ends of grasses and bushes to find their host. Preventing ticks involves wearing long sleeves and pants to cover your skin and avoiding brush and resting near wooded areas. Wearing insect repellent with DEET properly is also a great way to help prevent ticks. If you go for walks or rest near wooded or scrubbed areas, be sure to check yourself and your pets for ticks after.
To remove a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible and pull up without twisting. Clean the area with soap and water. Signs to look for when questioning whether to seek medication attention after a tick bite include fever, chills, aches and pains and rashes. In dogs, you may notice lameness, swollen joints and lethargy.
If you think your dog may have a tick or Lyme disease, contact our office at 813-651-0467.
