By Dr. RuthAnn Lobos

Early Season, Early Risk

Ticks are out early this year, and for bird dog owners that matters. In many areas, a warmer, drier winter likely helped more ticks survive, so they are showing up sooner and in greater numbers than many hunters expect. If your dog is already running fields, cover, fence rows, or local training grounds, exposure may already be happening.

Why This Matters Before Hunting Season

Early tick exposure is more than a nuisance. Ticks can carry diseases such as Lyme, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and anaplasmosis that can affect a dog's health, stamina, and ability to work. Because spring conditioning, summer training, and weekend tune-ups all put dogs in tick habitat, risk often starts long before hunting season. Owners may notice fever, lethargy, reduced appetite, stiffness, shifting-leg lameness, sore joints, swollen lymph nodes, vomiting, diarrhea, bruising, nosebleeds, or a dog that just seems off. Signs may appear days or even weeks after a bite, which is why prevention and close monitoring matter.

Know the Tick Risk Where You Run Your Dog

Tick risk is not the same everywhere. Different regions have different tick species, and those species carry different disease concerns. Depending on where you live, train, or travel, your dog may be exposed to blacklegged ticks, Lone Star ticks, American dog ticks, or others. Tick activity and tick-borne disease risk are expanding geographically, so prevention should be based on where your dog goes, not just where you live.

Traveling to Train or Hunt? Do Your Homework

This matters even more if you travel to train or hunt. You may work your dog close to home now, then head somewhere very different in the fall. Before you go, check which tick species are common there, what diseases are a concern, and whether your veterinarian recommends changes to your prevention plan. Resources like the CDC (Preventing Tick Bites | Ticks | CDC) and the Companion Animal Parasite Council (Companion Animal Parasite Council | Ticks) note that regional parasite risk shifts over time, so last year's assumptions may not be enough this season.

WATCH: PURINA Sporting Dog Shorts — Tick Season

Match Your Prevention Plan to How Your Dog Hunts

Talk with your veterinarian about a prevention plan that fits how your dog lives and hunts. There is no one-size-fits-all approach for every bird dog in every zip code. A dog training locally a few days a week may face different exposure than one traveling across several states every month. Current guidance continues to support routine tick prevention and regular vigilance because risk is no longer limited to a short season or a small map.

Check Your Dog Every Time He Comes Out of Cover

One of the best habits you can build is checking your dog every time he comes out of the field. Ticks often hide in places owners miss first: deep in the ear fold, under the collar, in the armpits, between the toes, around the groin, around the eyes and lips, and in dense, warm coat. If your dog has a thick coat or dark coloring, slow down and look carefully. Some ticks, especially immature ones, are tiny and easy to miss.

Build a Tailgate Routine That Catches Ticks Early

A tailgate check takes only a couple of minutes, but it can prevent bigger problems later. Focus on the face, ears, eyes, armpits, groin, and between the toes where ticks like to hide. A towel rub, systematic hand check, or tools like a Tick Mitt can help catch ticks that are still crawling before they attach firmly. The routine does not need to be complicated, but it does need to be consistent. Waiting until later that night or the next morning makes ticks easier to miss.

Be Ready to Remove a Tick the Right Way

Have a plan for what to do when you find a tick. A pair of fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool belongs in every canine first-aid kit. Remove the tick carefully and promptly, then watch your dog for changes such as lethargy, soreness, reduced appetite, fever, or anything else that seems off. Not every tick bite leads to disease, but early signs are worth taking seriously. If you have concerns, call your veterinarian.

• Pro Tip: put a mark or note in your calendar if you do find an attached tick, so you'll have a reminder exactly when it happened if your dog does start to show signs of sickness.

A Few Minutes Now Beats Trouble Later

The bottom line is simple: a few extra minutes after training or a hunt can help you avoid a much bigger problem later. Build a tick check into your routine, keep the right tools handy, know the risks where you train and travel, and stay ahead of the season. Ticks may be out early, but a solid prevention plan can help keep your dog healthier and ready for the work ahead.

Want to learn more? View the entire Sporting Dog Shorts catalogue of educational episodes HERE.

RuthAnn Lobos, DVM, CCRT, CVAT, is the Senior Veterinarian for Nestlé Purina PetCare. She joined Purina in 2005 as Veterinary Communications Manager for Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets. Dr. Lobos managed Global Scientific Programs and Events for the Purina Institute for four years, during which time she was an integral part of the Institute's signature Companion Animal Nutrition Summit. Dr. Lobos received her certification in canine rehabilitation and veterinary acupuncture through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in 2010 and 2021, respectively. She is an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition, American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians, and Colorado Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Lobos lives in Boulder, Colorado, and spends her evenings and weekends practicing as a relief veterinarian. Outside of work, she is an avid marathoner and triathlete and also enjoys upland game hunting, working with sporting dogs, hiking and camping with son. Her canine companions are a hard-charging yellow Labrador Retriever named "Finn" and a lovable Wirehaired Pointing Griffon named "Journey,". Dr. Lobos can be found on Instagram and TikTok (@petvetruthann).