Tick Season in the UK: When It Peaks & How to Protect Your Dog

If you walk your dog anywhere with long grass, bracken, or woodland (so basically, most of the UK), ticks are something you need to know about. They are small, they are sneaky, and they can carry some nasty diseases.

I will be honest. Writing about ticks makes my skin crawl. But this is one of those subjects where knowing the basics could genuinely make a difference to your dog's health. So let me walk you through what you actually need to know.

When Is Tick Season in the UK?

Ticks are most active when the weather is warm and damp. In the UK, that typically means:

• March to June: The first peak. As temperatures rise in spring, ticks that have been dormant over winter become active and start looking for a host.
• July to September: The second peak. Mid to late summer is prime time, especially after rain followed by warm weather.
• October onwards: Activity drops as temperatures fall, but ticks can still be active on milder autumn days.

The short version: if it is warm enough for you to be comfortable walking without a coat, ticks are probably active.

Climate change is extending the season. Milder winters mean ticks can remain active later into autumn and start earlier in spring. Some vets are now seeing tick related illnesses year round.

Where Are Ticks Most Common in the UK?

Ticks are found across the whole of the UK, but some areas have higher populations:

• Scotland (especially the Highlands and Islands): Very high tick density in moorland, rough grazing, and woodland areas
• South West England (Devon, Cornwall, Somerset): Particularly in coastal paths and woodland
• The Lake District and North West England: Bracken covered fells are a hotspot
• Norfolk and Suffolk: Heathland and forest areas
• Wales: Especially in upland areas and farmland
• Urban parks and gardens: Yes, really. Ticks can be found in any area where wildlife (deer, hedgehogs, foxes) is present, including town parks

The key habitats are long grass, bracken, heathland, woodland edges, and anywhere deer roam. If you can see deer in the area, assume ticks are there too.

How to Check Your Dog for Ticks

After every walk (especially in the habitats mentioned above), run your hands slowly over your dog's entire body. Ticks feel like small, hard lumps on the skin. They can be as small as a pinhead before feeding, or as large as a baked bean once engorged.

Pay special attention to:

✔️ Around the ears and behind the ear flaps

✔️ Around the eyes

✔️ Under the chin and along the jawline

✔️ The armpits (front legs)

✔️ The groin area

✔️ Between the toes

✔️ Around the tail base

BamBam, our rescue British Bulldog, loves puddles and the sea, which means she is often in exactly the kind of damp, grassy areas where ticks hang out. I check her every single time we come home. It takes two minutes and it has become as automatic as wiping her paws.

How to Remove a Tick Safely (Step by Step)

If you find a tick on your dog, do not panic. But do remove it properly. Getting this wrong can increase the risk of infection.

What you need: A tick remover tool (these are cheap, widely available, and worth keeping in your dog walking bag).

Step by step:

1. Stay calm. The tick is not going anywhere fast.
2. Slide the tick remover tool under the tick, as close to the skin as possible.
3. Twist gently (either direction) while lifting upward. The twisting motion helps release the tick's mouthparts from the skin.
4. Pull the tick away smoothly once it releases. Do not yank.
5. Check the area. Make sure no mouthparts are left behind. If something remains in the skin, see your vet.
6. Clean the bite area with a mild antiseptic.
7. Dispose of the tick. Wrap it in tissue and flush it, or place it in a sealed container.
8. Note the date and location of the bite. This matters if your dog develops symptoms later.

What NOT to do:

• Never squeeze the tick's body. This can push infected saliva back into your dog.
• Never try to burn the tick off. This does not work and can burn your dog.
• Never use Vaseline, nail polish, or alcohol to "suffocate" the tick. These methods are ineffective and can cause the tick to regurgitate into the wound.
• Never pull a tick straight out without twisting. The mouthparts can break off and cause infection.

Lyme Disease: What to Watch For

Lyme disease is the most well known tick borne illness in the UK. It is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick.

Not all ticks carry Lyme disease, but the risk is real. Symptoms in dogs can appear days to weeks after a tick bite and may include:

• Lethargy or unusual tiredness
• Fever
• Swollen or painful joints (your dog may limp or be reluctant to move)
• Loss of appetite
• Swollen lymph nodes

If your dog shows any of these signs after a tick bite, see your vet immediately. Early treatment with antibiotics is important. Lyme disease is serious, but it is treatable when caught early.

Other tick borne diseases found in the UK (less common but worth knowing about) include babesiosis and ehrlichiosis. Your vet can advise on testing if there is any concern.

Reducing Tick Exposure: Practical Tips

You cannot keep your dog in a bubble. Walks in the countryside are one of the best parts of having a dog. But you can be sensible about reducing exposure:

1. Check your dog after every walk. I cannot say this enough. Make it a habit.
2. Stick to paths where possible. Ticks wait in long grass and bracken, not on well trodden paths.
3. Avoid peak tick areas at peak times. Early morning when the dew is still on the grass is when ticks are most active.
4. Keep your garden tidy. Short grass and clear borders reduce tick habitat close to home.
5. Ensure you have parasite control. Do your research for an appropriate parasiticide for your dog based on their breed, age, health, and lifestyle.

Where Natural Coat Care Fits In

Our Herba X Aromatic Botanical Coat Oil is formulated by qualified herbalists and nutritionists. It uses aromatic botanical ingredients that help deter biting insects.

I want to be clear: this is not a tick treatment. No natural product in the UK can legally be called that. What it does is support your dog's coat and use aromatic botanicals to help put off biting insects. Many of our customers use it alongside their regular vet recommended parasite control as an extra layer in their routine, especially during tick season.

It is part of a toolkit, not the whole toolkit.

If you are interested in our wider coat and hygiene range, you can browse the Purity Collection here. Everything is trusted by over 400,000 dogs and rated 4.9 by 22,000 customers.

The Bottom Line

Ticks are a fact of life for UK dog owners. They are not something to panic about, but they are something to take seriously.

Check your dog. Learn how to remove a tick safely. Know the signs of Lyme disease. Do your research on the right parasite control for your dog. And if you want to add aromatic botanical support to your routine, we are here for that too. For more seasonal care tips, browse our blog.