With our unseasonably warm weather comes a few things we'd rather do without. Minnetonka veterinarian Rob Memmen says they're already seeing ticks out in full force.
Pet owners are having to think flea and tick protection earlier this year due to our warmer weather and lack of snow cover.
"If we get weather consistently above freezing for more than 48 hours, ticks will come out and feed, even if there's still snow on the ground," says Memmen.
He says they're already seeing plenty of ticks and that it's becoming more common for them to treat animals for parasites, ticks and fleas during the winter months, instead of the typical late fall and early spring months.
"Their instinct and their nature is to try to feed, the females need to feed to reproduce," explains Memmen. "If the weather allows for them to be active, their instict is to start feeding as quickly as they can."
Memmen says with the lack of snow cover, they've also been seeing an increase in parasitic infections caused by exposed animal feces.