BLOOD-SUCKING ticks are feeding earlier in the year and for longer, putting Worcester’s dogs and their owners at risk.

Tick bites can transmit serious infections such as Lyme disease, a serious and debilitating illness that can cause long-term health problems in dogs and people.

But Worcester’s veterinary practices are taking action by joining naturalist and TV presenter Chris Packham and the University of Bristol in the Big Tick Project.

This new nationwide initiative runs from spring to autumn, tracking the rise of the tick population in the UK and finding out how many carry disease.

Dog owners can take their pets to participating practices in Worcester, including De Montfort Vet Hospital, Abbey Green Vets, Whitehouse Vets, Avenue Vet Centre, Macarthur Barstow and Gibbs, Lowesmoor House Vet Centre, Housevet and The Stocks Veterinary Centre for a tick check and advice about innovations in effective tick control. Any ticks found on dogs will be collected and sent to Bristol University laboratories to help advance the knowledge of tick-borne disease, benefitting both veterinary and human medicine.

Chris Packham said: “Research highlighted by the Big Tick Project experts at Bristol University suggests that ticks are a growing problem, especially in areas such as urban parkland, woodland or open country.

"While I find both ticks and fleas interesting creatures, I don’t want them on my dogs, in my house, or on me.

"I want the best advice and treatment available and I know I can get this by talking to my vet.”

By taking part, local veterinary practices will help the level of risk to dogs and people in Worcester to be identified, compared to the national average. The practices also aim to provide advice to local dog owners on effective tick control.

Dog owners wanting to take part in the Big Tick Project can visit bigtickproject.co.uk