Ticks in spring: earlier than most people think 🕷️

Emil had his first tick of the year as early as the beginning of March. I found it in the evening while stroking his belly, swore briefly, laughed briefly (Emil didn't mind at all), and thought: If people ask me when tick season starts, from now on I'll just say "now." No matter when "now" is.

Because that's the truth that surprises many: ticks don't follow the calendar, they follow the thermometer. And the thermometer is ticking differently now than we remember from our childhood.

In short: Ticks in Germany become active as soon as it's warmer than about 7 °C for several days – depending on the winter, that can start as early as February. The best protection for your dog is a consistent routine: check after every walk, remove correctly, and if in doubt, consult a vet. Home remedies like oil or alcohol on the tick belong in a fairy tale book, not on your dog.

When ticks really become active

The myth "tick season begins in April" is old. It was never entirely accurate, and in recent years, it's becoming increasingly wrong. The most common tick species in Germany – the castor bean tick and the ornate sheep tick – don't need heat; they just need a break from the cold. As soon as the temperature climbs above 7 degrees for several days, they become active. In mild winters, they are almost continuously present in some areas.

For you as a dog owner, this means: The tick check doesn't belong on your May calendar, but in your daily routine from the first warm day of the year. And it should continue until late autumn. If you only pay attention in summer, you'll miss the first and last wave.

Typical tick habitats aren't spectacular: tall grass, forest edges, bushes, but also your own garden if it's a bit wilder. By the way, ticks don't fall from trees – they sit close to the ground and let themselves be brushed off. Anyone who wanders through undergrowth brings them along. Emil reliably manages this on 80% of our walks.

Where you should look – the Mom-Check

Ticks like warm, thin-skinned areas. After contact, they often crawl for minutes or even hours before biting. This is your chance: If you check your dog immediately after a walk, you'll find many ticks before they even bite.

Areas you should know:

Head and ears, especially the inside of the ear flap and the transition to the neck

Armpits, easily overlooked because the fur is denser there

Groin and belly, a popular spot especially for dogs with soft fur

Between the toes, especially for dogs walking through wet grass

Neck and collar area, the folds under the collar are often forgotten

With Emil, I run my hands through his fur every evening. It's not a big ritual – two minutes on the sofa before the news starts. He finds it relaxing, I find possible ticks, both happy.

How to remove a tick correctly

This is where good advice diverges from grandma's miracle cures. First, a quick note: Oil, butter, glue, nail polish, alcohol, or lit matches do not belong on a tick. All of these stress the animal, and stressed ticks regurgitate their stomach contents back into the wound – which makes the transmission of pathogens more likely rather than less likely.

What actually works: