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The Tick Threat Is Unpredictable – But Protecting Your Pets Shouldn’t Be
March 2, 2026
OTTAWA, Ont. – March is National Tick Awareness Month (NTAM), and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), in collaboration with Merck Animal Health, is highlighting the importance of tick prevention to help protect pets and the people who care for them.
Tick risk continues to evolve quickly, influenced by environmental, ecological and social factors. With all these factors at play, we can’t reliably reference last year, last month, or even last week to help us predict the tick risks facing our pets today. It is more important than ever to protect pets for the entire tick risk period … but determining exactly when that is has become a challenge!
That’s why the 2026 NTAM Campaign delivers the message: WHEN YOU CAN’T predict, protect.
“I think we can all agree that the situation with ticks has changed dramatically in the last 10 years,” stresses CVMA president, Dr. Tracy Fisher. “And it feels like every year there are more ticks in more places, and new diseases to consider and educate clients about. We know that the Ixodes scapularis is active when temperatures are 4oC and above, but when we’re living in a climate that can’t seem to make up its mind, and ticks keep expanding their range so fast, it’s hard to accurately predict when a pet needs tick protection.”
More information about National Tick Awareness Month can be found at www.ticktalkcanada.com
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The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association is the national and international voice for Canada’s veterinarians, providing leadership and advocacy for veterinary medicine. Visit canadianveterinarians.net to learn more.
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CVMA Communications
Email: communications@cvma-acmv.org
Tel: 613-236-1162