Your Health Today
Protect Your Pets: Tick Season is Here and Vets Say Prevention is Key
The CDC is warning pet owners to take tick season seriously this year, as emergency room visits for tick bites are running higher than normal in many parts of the country. And while most people think about protecting themselves, experts say your dogs and cats need just as much attention.
Thomas Hart with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health put it plainly: "These diseases can be just as serious in your pets as they can be in people." Animals are vulnerable to the same tickborne illnesses as humans, including Lyme disease, and Hart says your veterinarian can tell you which diseases are most likely to be a concern in your area.
Unlike humans, pets have few vaccine options. Lyme disease is the only tickborne illness dogs can currently be vaccinated against, and cats have no vaccine options at all. That makes daily checks essential. The CDC recommends looking in and around the ears, eyelids, and collar, as well as under the front legs, between the back legs, under the tail, and between the toes. If you find a tick, remove it immediately, then watch your pet closely for any changes in behavior or appetite. Signs of illness may not appear for up to three weeks after a bite.
Before reaching for any tick prevention product, Hart says to talk to a vet first, especially for cat owners, since cats are extremely sensitive to certain chemicals. Once you have the green light, though, those products can make a real difference. "Those anti-parasitic treatments that you might give your dog or cats monthly, or flea collars, things like that, are really going to prevent the tick bite in the first place," Hart said. The simplest protection, he added, is straightforward: "If you don't get bitten by a tick, you can't get a tick-borne disease, and the same thing is true for your pets as well."
By: CNN Newsource
June 16, 2026
Latest Instagram Posts
25 years later, the memories of 9/11 remain vivid for the firefighters who witnessed the tragedy firsthand. A longtime FDNY firefighter reflects on the trauma, loss and moments that have stayed with him a quarter-century after the attacks. #911 #September11 #NeverForget #FDNY #Firefighter #911Anniversary #25YearsLater #NewYorkCity #Remembering911 #NBCTPalmSprings
A troubling history is coming to light in a Palm Desert husband’s death. 65-year old Vicky Kim is accused in the death of her husband — but prosecutors say she had previously faced several domestic violence cases involving him. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office says it had secured protective orders against Kim before a judge later resolved her cases as misdemeanors, released her from custody and terminated those orders. Now, Kim is expected to be arraigned in connection with her husband’s death. Court records allege the weapon used was a flagpole.
☕️🔥 How hot is TOO hot? A new study finds that drinking scalding-hot beverages may be linked to nearly 3 times the risk of esophageal cancer—the most common type of cancer affecting the esophagus. The takeaway? Let that coffee, tea or other hot drink cool down before taking a sip. ❤️ #HealthNews #EsophagealCancer #CancerRisk #HotBeverages #Coffee #Tea #CancerAwareness #HealthyHabits #HealthTips
☕️ Social Time with Thalia & Jerry. The squishy craze!
Coachella city council unanimously approved an anti-nepotism rule that ban an any Councilmember from appointing a family member or household member to the city’s commissions and committees. Tune in to our 11 p.m newscast as our @newsbyalondra breaks down the policy.
An anti-nepotism rule will be discussed and voted on at tonight’s Coachella City Council meeting - that would ban city council members from appointing their own family members or household members to commissions and committees. Tune in to our 8:30 p.m newscast and our socials and website as our @newsbyalondra brings us the latest details on that final vote.
☕️ Social Time with Thalia & Jerry. What’s your favorite NFL team?
A major cleanup is underway after powerful waves damaged 14 beachfront homes near Capistrano Beach in Orange County. Residents are concerned their homes could remain vulnerable without protective measures in place. Crews are clearing debris, while efforts to bring in protective boulders were delayed by high tide. #California #OrangeCounty #CapistranoBeach #CoastalWaves #Beachfront #WeatherNews
Two new Girl Scout cookies are coming in 2027 🍪 Meet Sparkables: a crunchy oatmeal cookie with chocolate chips and colorful sprinkles, developed with Partake in a facility designed to avoid the nine major food allergens. And for the pups: Patch Pals 🐾 Soft-baked, blueberry muffin-flavored dog cookies in four adorable designs. Both will be available online beginning in January. Which one are you most excited to try? #GirlScouts #GirlScoutCookies #NewCookies #DogTreats #FoodAllergyFriendly #CookieSeason
It’s more than just dancing — it’s fitness, confidence and community. A Coachella Valley dance studio is helping adults move their bodies, have fun and step into their power, one class at a time. And during Beyoncé’s birthday week, the energy was turned all the way up. “When in doubt, twerk it out.” See how VXN Worldwide Dance Company is getting the Valley moving — and building confidence along the way. Read more at NBCPalmSprings.com. #CoachellaValley #PalmSprings #Dance #Fitness #Community NBCPalmSprings