Ask most people when tick season is and they will say summer. That is understandable, and in parts of the country it is also incomplete. Fall is a busy time for ticks too, and it is worth knowing why before your next leaf covered walk.

Why fall counts

In the northeastern United States, the University of Rhode Island's TickEncounter program says that in autumn, "pretty much all" tick encounters involve adult blacklegged ticks, also called deer ticks. The females matured over the summer and are looking for a host. The Vermont Department of Health describes the same rhythm: young ticks peak in May and June, and adult female activity increases again in October and November.

The Vermont department adds that these ticks can be encountered any time of year when temperatures are above freezing, and URI's tick program notes that roughly half of adult female deer ticks in New England, the mid Atlantic and the Upper Midwest carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.

That is the regional picture, and it matters to say so: which ticks are active, and when, differs across the country. Your vet will know what is active near you.

The two minute check

The American Kennel Club recommends checking your dog for ticks after outdoor time in woods or grassy areas, even if your dog is on a tick preventive. PetMD's veterinary guide is specific about how:

• Run your hands slowly over your dog's whole body, feeling for small bumps.
• Part the fur and look. A flea comb can help you find a tick without disturbing it.
• Look hardest at the favorite hiding spots: the inside and outside of the ear flaps, between the toes, under the tail, around the eyelids, in the armpits and groin, and under the collar.

If you find one

PetMD's steps, from a veterinarian, are simple:

1. Clean tweezers or a tick removal tool with rubbing alcohol.
2. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as you can.
3. Pull straight out, slowly and steadily.
4. Clean the bite area.

Do not twist. Twisting can tear the tick apart and leave part of it embedded, which can lead to infection. Save the tick in a container to show your vet, since knowing which kind it was can help if your dog seems unwell later. If any part stays in the skin, or you are not comfortable removing it, call your vet, who will be glad to help.

The conversation to have with your vet

Prevention products come in several forms, and the AKC points out that the right one depends on the individual dog. The URI program's advice is to keep pets on their tick prevention through the fall rather than stopping when summer ends. Whether that fits your dog, and which product, is a question for your vet, not something to guess at from the aisle in a store.

If your dog seems off in the weeks after a tick bite, tell your vet about the tick and bring the one you saved.

Cats who spend time outdoors can pick up ticks too, and prevention products are not interchangeable between species, so ask your vet before using anything on a cat.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. If you find a tick you cannot remove, or your dog seems unwell, contact your veterinarian.

Sources: Fall Tick Alert, TickEncounter, University of Rhode Island; Tick Activity in Vermont, Vermont Department of Health; Dr. Hannah Hart, DVM, for PetMD, How to Check Dogs for Ticks; American Kennel Club, Keep Your Dog Safe From Fleas and Ticks. Photograph by Rafael Hoyos Weht on Unsplash.