The tick control toolkit

Click the image to download a PDF version of this toolkit! Nothing says "ick" like ticks and the diseases they transmit to pets and people. Don't let your clients' confusion about tick prevention stop you from keeping pets safe. Here's what you need to stay in-the-know about the latest tick issues, arm your team to deliver the best recommendations, and protect those pets from these pesky parasites. 

Clinical updates:

> Raise your arachnic radar! The tick invasion is already in your area. 

> Lyme disease: Human cases

> Up close and personal with four common ticks

> Tick-borne Powassan disease is on the rise in humans

> The parasite picture: An update on ticks

Data:

> Tick talks in practice

Client communication tools:

> Talking to pet owners about the "blue dot"

> Ticks "falling from trees" and other myths

> Client handout: Myths vs. facts-the truth about ticks

> ID ticks with this tool

Management ideas

> 4 tips to manage your parasiticide inventory

More tick tools below!

Clinical updates

> Canine tick-borne diseases: When to treat a positive patient-side test result

> Tick-borne diseases in cats: Two to watch for

> Identifying and treating 3 tick-borne diseases in dogs

Better business

> Offer less to get more

> Use an old-school whiteboard to inform pet owners of local risks

Clearer communication

> Two ideas for talking about ticks on social media

> Talking to ticked off clients

> Teach clients how to create a tick-free zone in the backyard

> Client handouts:

        - How to do a tick checkon a pet (and what to do if you find one)

        - Read this before you remove a tick!  

More tick tools!

Expert articles:

> Dr. Flea (aka Michael Dryden, DVM, MS, PhD) talks ticks. 

> 2016 tick update: Populations are spreading!

> What you should know about cytauxzoonosis

Video tools:

> It's time to get in tick-top shape: CAPC Tick of the Month round up

> Veterinary parasitologist and savvy CVC speaker Dr. Richard Gerhold gives the low-down on these burrowing bloodsuckers. 

Team tips:

> Tips for talking to clients about ticks

> Parasites: What's your role in the clinic?

Handouts and team tools:

> Understanding the tick life cycle

> ID ticks with this tool

> Human symptoms of tickborne illness

> Help pet owners protect themselves against tickborne disease

Sample script:

> Ticks in the city

Audio tools:

> Hey, pet owner: What do you have in common with your dog? You're a host.

And even more ...

> Scientists find uncommon virus in southeast U.S. ticks

> Have you had the tick talk with clients?

> Tackling ticks across the map

> Boost clients tick IQ

> The invisible threat

Ticks in 2015: An infographic

Is there a communication gap between veterinary professionals and pet owners when it comes to ticks? New data points to yes.

Video

> The tick that's a high-elevation risk

> The tick that wants to be a flea

> The tick designed to make you scream

> The tick that's a large, aggressive bully

Ready-to-use client handouts

These handouts help reinforce the education you and your team deliver in person. Just click, print and give to clients.

> 7 things everyone should know about ticks

> 10 steps to prevent zoonotic disease

> Help pet owners protect themselves: An overview of U.S. tick-borne diseases

Tick education: What's your role (plus a sample script)

Learn how the whole team can work together to educate pet owners about ticks and tick-borne disease threats to help protect pets and their owners. Plus, get a sample script to help technicians put the freeze on parasites.

The dvm360 social media marketing kit for tick control

Use these pre-written Facebook posts and tweets to educate pet owners about the need for tick control and prevention. (That's right. It's social media outreach made easy!)

Tick trivia-test yourself

Test your knowledge of these little suckers and the diseases they transmit.

Talk back

Does your team do a great job with tick control and prevention? We'd love to share your winning strategies with your colleagues. Did you try one of these tools? We'd love to know what your experience was like. Any other feedback? We're here.

And more ...

Articles and tips

> Testing for vector-borne pathogens in dogs: The best use of diagnostic panels

> Parasite control scenario: What would you do?

> Bring new life to parasite prevention

> Tips to tackle tough tick talks

> What you should know about cytauxzoonosis

> Don't get ticked at ticks-get even

> Lyme disease: How to keep pets-and your veterinary clients-safe

> Go for the gross factor

The dvm360 social media marketing kit for tick control

> Facebook posts and tweets

Client communication tool

Take control of the conversation by keeping these simple tips in mind:

> Dig deeper when clients decline parasite preventives

Video

Watch Dr. Mike Paul discuss the importance of parasite control for pets. Then, post this video on your practice website:

> Why parasite control really matters

Patient care pointers

Use these tips to help you prepare a readable blood smear to identify Cytauxzoon felis, which is transmitted by ticks:

> Identifying parasites on blood smears

Team meeting guide

Review these tips during your next team meeting to make parasite control messages stick with your clients.

> Make your meeting matter

Ready-to-use client handouts

> Myths vs. facts: The truth about ticks

> Lyme disease and your dog

> Tackling tick talks across the map

> Parasites: What's your role?

> Build your team's protocol

> Create a tick-free zone

> Life cycle: Ticks

> 7 myths about Lyme disease

Take the next step

Use these five strategies to keep your team's enthusiasm for tick control and prevention high.