Tick Bite Prevention Tips for Gardens and Pets

Ticks are increasingly found in private gardens, with the Dutch RIVM reporting that 34 % of tick bites in Gelderland occur at home. Forest ranger Alex Plantinga and veterinarian staff at Dierenkliniek De Laan advise regular checks of skin, children and pets after walking in grass or the woods, and recommend protective measures such as tick‑preventive tablets or collars for dogs.

Virologist Steven Van Gucht of Sciensano stresses that the exact removal technique matters less than avoiding a common mistake: never crush the tick’s body. The tick’s mouthparts can remain embedded, but this is usually harmless if the remainder is removed promptly. Quick, careful extraction and thorough post‑check are the key steps to reduce the risk of Lyme disease and other tick‑borne illnesses.