High Tick Activity in Pet Wellness
Due to a mild winter, tick populations are unusually high, with activity starting much earlier than usual. New veterinary treatments now offer up to a year of protection. Veterinarians are also seeing an unexplained rise in vomiting and diarrhea among pets.
The FDA approved a new injectable medication in late 2025 that prevents fleas and ticks in dogs for up to a year. Called Bravecto Quantum, it's administered by a veterinarian and offers continuous protection, simplifying pet care. It protects against fleas, black-legged ticks, American dog ticks, and brown dog ticks for twelve months, and lone star ticks for eight. However, veterinarians are also reporting an increase in dogs with vomiting and diarrhea. While the cause is currently unknown, some vets say fleas and ticks can carry bacterial diseases that transmit to people. For the third consecutive year, digestive issues stay firmly in the top spot of most common and expensive pet health problems. The rise in tick populations may also lead to an increase in tick-borne diseases. Veterinarians in Reno are recommending year-round parasite prevention and early detection through annual exams.
