10-minute read · Researched with Canadian veterinary, government and animal-welfare sources · Sources listed at the end
Yes, Canadian dogs still need tick protection in October and November. Adult blacklegged ticks, the species that spreads Lyme disease, are most active in spring and fall, and they can be out any day the temperature climbs above about 4°C. Ticks in fall in Canada are easy to miss because they wait in the leaf litter you walk through.
Thanksgiving hikes and leaf raking put dogs right in tick habitat. The Public Health Agency of Canada notes that blacklegged ticks are spreading to new areas in Canada, in part due to climate change. This guide covers when ticks are active, a quick tick check, safe removal and the questions to bring to your vet.
Key takeaways
- Adult blacklegged ticks are most active in spring and fall, and can be active any time the air temperature rises above 4°C.
- Check your dog after every walk through woods, brush, tall grass or leaf piles: head, neck, ears, between the toes, groin, legs and around the tail.
- Remove an attached tick right away with clean, fine-point tweezers, pulling slowly and straight out. Never burn, squeeze or smother it.
- Ticks usually need to stay attached for a day or more to pass on Lyme bacteria, so a daily check is one of your best defences.
- Ask your vet whether fall and winter tick prevention or a Lyme vaccine makes sense where you live, and never use a dog tick product on a cat.
Ticks in fall: Canada's second tick season
Most people think of ticks as a spring and summer problem. For blacklegged ticks, that's only half the story. The Canadian Parasitology Expert Panel explains that in endemic regions, adult blacklegged ticks are most active in spring and fall, while nymphs peak in early summer. The same guidance notes that adults can be active any time the ambient temperature rises above 4°C.
That threshold matters in a Canadian autumn. The expert panel points out that between 2010 and March 2018, Ontario saw temperatures reach 4°C in every month except February 2015, and Quebec in every month except January and February 2015.
Researchers at the Ontario Veterinary College found the same pattern in real pets: ticks were collected from pets in every month of the year. In Ontario, ticks were more active in spring and fall, while in Saskatchewan activity peaked in spring and summer.
Are ticks active in winter?
Sometimes. The Public Health Agency of Canada says ticks can be active whenever the temperature is consistently above freezing and the ground isn't covered by snow. A mild, snow-free spell in December or a January thaw can bring them out again. Once the ground is reliably snow-covered, the risk drops, but it doesn't vanish on every warm day.
| Season | Blacklegged tick activity | What dog owners should do |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (April to June) | Adults active; nymphs start to appear | Daily tick checks; talk to your vet about prevention before peak season |
| Early summer | Nymphs peak (very small and easy to miss) | Slow, careful checks, especially between toes and in ears |
| Fall (September to November) | Adults peak again | Keep up checks after leafy walks; don't stop prevention early without asking your vet |
| Winter | Adults can be active on days above 4°C with no snow cover | Check after mild-day walks; ask your vet about winter coverage in risk areas |
Blacklegged ticks and Lyme disease in dogs: what's the real risk?
In Canada, Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium spread through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks (also called deer ticks) and western blacklegged ticks, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Ticks live in and near areas with trees, shrubs, tall grass and piles of leaves, which describes a lot of Canadian backyards and trails in October.
The good news: the Merck Veterinary Manual notes that many infected animals show no signs. When signs do appear, they can include:
- fever and loss of appetite
- swollen or painful joints
- lameness that shifts from one leg to another
- swollen lymph nodes
- lack of energy
Merck also warns that the form of Lyme disease that affects the kidneys is one of the most serious in dogs. That's why it's worth taking prevention seriously even though the Canadian Parasitology Expert Panel describes the overall prevalence of tick-borne disease in Canadian dogs as quite low.
What about cats?
Ticks attach to cats too, especially outdoor cats. Ontario Veterinary College researchers note that cats do not appear to be susceptible to Lyme disease, but a cat can still carry ticks into your home, so check outdoor cats the same way you check your dog.
How to check your dog for ticks (a two-minute routine)
A daily check is the most practical habit you can build. The Ontario Veterinary College calls regular, thorough tick checks after time outside, combined with tick medication, the most impactful step in tick bite prevention. Merck adds that a tick usually needs to be attached for 1 to 2 days to spread disease, so finding it the same day really does help.
- Pick a bright spot. Daylight is best. If it's already dark after your walk, use a strong lamp or a phone flashlight.
- Start at the head. The Public Health Agency of Canada says ticks often attach to the head, neck and ears of dogs and cats. Look inside and behind each ear flap.
- Run your fingers against the fur. Move slowly over the neck, under the collar, chest and armpits. You're feeling for a small, hard bump that wasn't there yesterday.
- Check the legs and feet. Spread the toes and look between the pads.
- Finish with the belly, groin and tail. Lift the tail and check underneath and around its base.
Long or double coats take more time, and for bigger dogs a raised, stable surface makes it easier to see the skin. Keep a pair of fine-point tweezers with your leashes or in your pet first-aid kit so you're ready when you find one.
How to remove a tick from your dog safely
The Government of Canada's tick removal steps work for pets as well as people:
- Use clean, fine-point tweezers to grasp the tick's head as close to the skin as possible.
- Pull slowly and steadily straight out. Don't twist or jerk.
- If the mouthparts break off and stay in the skin, remove them with the tweezers.
- Wash the bite area with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer, then wash your hands.
Don't burn the tick, or smother it with nail polish, essential oils, petroleum jelly or nail polish remover. Public health guidance warns this can cause the tick to release infected stomach contents into the bite.
What to do with the tick
Put it in a sealable plastic bag or a pill bottle and write down the date, where on your dog it was attached and where you'd been walking. You can upload a photo to eTick, a Canadian image-based tick identification platform that accepts ticks found on animals as well as people. Afterwards, kill the tick by drowning it in rubbing alcohol or freezing it for several days, then put it in the household garbage.
Tick season in Ontario and across Canada: know your local risk
Lyme risk isn't the same everywhere. In Ontario, for example, Public Health Ontario publishes a Vector-Borne Disease Tool with a map of blacklegged tick established risk areas. Check your provincial public health website before a fall road trip; your cottage region may carry a different risk than your city.
Make your yard less tick-friendly
- Rake and bag fallen leaves instead of leaving piles along fences and garden beds.
- Keep grass cut short through the last mow of the season.
- Create a clear, mowed play zone and keep your dog out of brushy edges.
- On trails, stay in the centre of the path and keep your dog on leash so they don't nose through leaf litter and shrubs.
Talking to your vet about fall tick prevention for dogs and cats
Don't stop tick prevention just because the leaves have turned. The Canadian Parasitology Expert Panel recommends that in regions where blacklegged ticks are established, a tick preventive be given even during winter months if temperatures rise above the 4°C threshold. Your vet can tell you whether that applies where you live.
Questions worth asking at your next visit:
- Is my area considered a Lyme risk area, and does that change in the fall?
- Should my dog stay on tick prevention through November, or year-round?
- Is a Lyme disease vaccine a good fit for my dog? (The Public Health Agency of Canada suggests discussing vaccines for dogs with your vet.)
A warning for multi-pet homes: the expert panel notes that products containing pyrethroids are generally not safe for cats and should not be used on dogs in households with cats. Never use a dog tick product on a cat, and always tell your vet if you have cats at home. If your puppy hasn't had a parasite plan yet, add it to your first vet visit checklist, and older dogs may need extra attention as part of senior dog care.
When to call your vet
- You can't remove a tick, or part of it stays in the skin and you can't get it out.
- The bite site becomes red, swollen, hot or oozing.
- Your dog has a fever, stops eating, seems unusually tired or limps, especially if the lameness moves from leg to leg.
- You notice swollen lymph nodes or painful, puffy joints in the weeks after a tick bite.
Our picks from Petcarestore.ca for tick season
No product replaces a tick preventive from your vet, but a few tools make daily checks and safer walks easier.
- Foldable Dog Grooming Table with Height Adjustable Arms: Suits medium and large dogs whose owners struggle to check paws, belly and tail on the floor. The height-adjustable arms help keep your dog steady at a comfortable working height, and it folds away when tick season eases.
- HAPPI Blackwatch Tartan Dog Leash: A simple walking lead for keeping your dog in the middle of the trail and out of leaf piles and brushy edges, where ticks wait.
- 31.5" Height Indoor Outdoor Dog Playpen with 8 Panels: Useful for marking off a mowed, leaf-free play zone in the yard so your dog isn't wandering along wooded fence lines.
Browse more grooming and care tools in our health and wellness collection, or see everything in dog supplies.
Frequently asked questions
Are ticks still active in October and November in Canada?
Yes. Adult blacklegged ticks are most active in spring and fall, and the Canadian Parasitology Expert Panel notes they can be active any time the temperature rises above 4°C. Keep checking your dog after walks in woods, tall grass or leaf piles until the ground is reliably snow-covered.
Are ticks active in winter?
They can be. The Public Health Agency of Canada says ticks can be active whenever the temperature is consistently above freezing and the ground isn't covered by snow. A mild, snow-free spell can bring adult ticks out. In established risk areas, ask your vet whether your dog's tick prevention should continue through the winter.
How long does a tick need to be attached to spread Lyme disease?
The Public Health Agency of Canada says infected ticks usually need to be attached for at least 24 hours to transmit the bacteria to people, and the Merck Veterinary Manual says about 1 to 2 days for animals or people. That's why a daily tick check and quick removal matter.
Can cats get Lyme disease from ticks?
Researchers at the Ontario Veterinary College note that cats do not appear to be susceptible to Lyme disease. Ticks still attach to cats, though, and an outdoor cat can carry ticks into your home. Check outdoor cats after time outside, and never use a dog tick product on a cat.
Should I keep my dog on tick prevention through the fall?
In most Lyme risk areas, yes, but your vet should make the call. Adult blacklegged ticks peak in the fall, and Canadian expert guidance recommends continuing prevention even in winter months when temperatures rise above 4°C in endemic regions. Ask your vet how long coverage should run where you live and whether a Lyme vaccine fits your dog.
Sources and further reading
- Public Health Agency of Canada — Lyme disease: Spread, prevention and risks
- Government of Canada — How to remove a tick
- Public Health Agency of Canada — Poster: Protect your pets from ticks and Lyme disease
- Canadian Parasitology Expert Panel (University of Saskatchewan) — Ticks and Mites
- OVC Pet Trust, University of Guelph — Tick Prevention Made Local
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Lyme Disease (Lyme Borreliosis) in Dogs
- eTick — Image-based tick identification and monitoring in Canada
About this guide
Researched and written by the Pet Care Store Canada Team for pet owners across Canada. We build each guide from veterinary, government and animal-welfare sources (listed above) and update it when guidance changes.
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet seems unwell or you think they ate something harmful, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal clinic right away.
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