Vets in the area are backing a project to track the rise of the tick population in the UK.
Blood sucking ticks are feeding earlier in the year and for longer, putting dogs and their owners at risk. Tick bites can transmit serious infections, such as Lyme disease.
Local veterinary practices are joining naturalist and TV presenter Chris Packham and the University of Bristol in the Big Tick Project, which runs from spring through to autumn, tracking the rise of the tick population in the UK and finding out how many carry disease.
Dog owners can take their pets to participating practices for a tick check and advice on effective tick control. Any ticks found will be collected and sent to Bristol University laboratories to help advance the knowledge of tick-borne disease, benefiting both veterinary and human medicine.
Dog owners wanting to take part with a tick check for their dog(s) or to find out more about the risks from tick bites can visit www.bigtickproject.co.uk or contact Riverside Veterinary Practice, Cradge Bank, Spalding, or Sutterton Veterinary Centre, Station Road, Sutterton.
