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Outsmart Ticks! Anytime. Anywhere. Veterinary Teams can Help “Fill the Gaps” in Pet Owner Understanding
March 3, 2023
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, in partnership with Merck Animal Health, has supported the National Tick Awareness Month campaign and provided education and awareness tools for clinics and pet owners since 2016. Recent survey results from a study conducted by the CVMA in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada, Narrowing the Knowledge Gap in Tick and Tick-Borne Disease Awareness and Prevention: The Roles of Canadian Veterinarians, revealed there is generally good awareness of Lyme disease and the risks ticks pose to human and animal health, but there remain gaps in knowledge concerning awareness and adherence to appropriate tick preventative behaviors for both people and their pets, and understanding Lyme disease in animals.
The survey further solidified the fact that veterinary teams are a central source of information about ticks and tick-borne diseases for pet owners. Despite the significant impact the veterinary community is making by educating our clients and protecting our patients against ticks, there is an opportunity to further “fill the gaps” in pet owner understanding. 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 will help inform owners of evolving tick risk in their respective regions throughout the year and help them understand and adhere to tick prevention strategies.
When our pet owners are armed with this knowledge, they can Outsmart Ticks! Anytime. Anywhere.
2023 National Tick Awareness tools for veterinary teams
The 2023 NTAM campaign will provide clinics with updated posters, combining imagery from previous campaigns, to display in waiting rooms to assist your educational efforts. As well, social media posts have been developed to help you reach clients outside the clinic to allow for ongoing pet owner learning. As always, tools from previous campaigns are still available on ticktalkcanada.com including informative videos, social media posts, posters, and local tick forecasts.
Scan the QR code below to access veterinary resources available here.
A reliable web-based source of information for pet owners and veterinary teams
Ticktalkcanada.com the National Tick Awareness Month official website, reinforces key messages regarding tick awareness and control. The season page provides information on tick activity during the year. The geography page details tick species that are common in each province and territory. Finally, the prevention page provides useful advice on how Canadians can protect themselves and their pets against ticks and the disease-causing pathogens they can transmit.
NTAM kick-off webinar with Dr. Scott Stevenson, DVM, MSC
Once again, we will host a webinar that will help you and your team further educate your clients about tick risks and prevention.
Filling in the knowledge gaps: What recent research is telling us about pet owner understanding of ticks and the role of the veterinary team.
March 1, 2023, 12–1 p.m. EST
Register today to book a virtual seat at this upcoming webinar here.
The webinar will be recorded and accessible through the same link after the live event.
Please visit the CVMA website for more information on National Tick Awareness
Month, to access NTAM resources, and register for the live launch webinar.