Ticks lurk in high grasses and heathlands, and can be found in high-risk areas such as Norfolk, Suffolk, the South West of England (including the Isle of Wight), and the North of Scotland.
A tick will 'quest' by reaching out and latching onto a dog if it brushes past the grass. Once a tick has attached itself to a dog, it will find a warm place, such as the armpits, neck and ears, pierce the skin with its mouth and start feeding.
A tick will feed up to seven days, growing from the side of a pinhead to about 10mm, when it will be fully engorged with the dog's blood. If a tick is removed improperly, its mouth can remain attached, further risking the transmission of Lyme disease.
Ticks can be prevented by applying a flea and tick spot-on, such as Beaphar FIPROtec® Spot-on, or Beaphar Canishield® collar, which kills fleas, ticks and sandflies for up to six months.