Media Releases

National Veterinary Association Reminds Canadians March Is National Tick Awareness Month – We Have All The Tools We Need To Outsmart Ticks

February 27, 2023

OTTAWA, Ont. – March is National Tick Awareness Month (NTAM) and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and Merck Animal Health are reminding Canadians that we have all the tools we need to Outsmart Ticks! Anytime. Anywhere.

The CVMA, through funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada, recently published the results of a survey titled, Narrowing the Knowledge Gap in Tick and Tick-Borne Disease Awareness and Prevention: The Roles of Canadian Veterinarians, which revealed there remain gaps in awareness and adherence to appropriate tick preventative behaviors for both people and their pets.

“Though we have created many resources throughout the last eight years of the NTAM campaign, the recent survey highlights that gaps remain for owners when it comes to protecting their pets and themselves against ticks. This year’s campaign focuses on building more awareness about the available tools and closing the gaps,” says CVMA president, Dr. Chris Bell. “We are in a unique position in veterinary medicine, in that while we are educating owners on the optimal protection for their pets, we also help them apply the knowledge they have acquired to protect themselves. We can help our clients outsmart ticks.”

Veterinary teams can extend tick education and risk communication beyond the veterinary visit. Leveraging available tools to engage with pet owners through multiple channels, such as in-clinic displays, social media posts, reminder communications, and web-based education platforms help inform owners of evolving tick risk in their respective regions throughout the year and help them understand and adhere to tick prevention strategies.

Educational materials and tools, including informative videos, social media posts, posters, and local tick forecasts can be found at ticktalkcanada.com. The CVMA website offers additional information on National Tick Awareness Month: canadianveterinarians.net/veterinary-resources/practice-tools/national-tick-awareness-month.

Since 2016, NTAM, led by the CVMA in partnership with Merck Animal Health, has focused on key components of tick awareness to help protect pets and their people.

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.

Contact:
Lori Ahronson
Manager, Communications and Public Relations
Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA)
lahronson@cvma-acmv.org