The leaves start to blush, your dog noses along the river path, and for a second everything feels perfect. Then you spot it.. a tiny, stubborn hitchhiker at the edge of an ear. Fall in Saskatoon is still tick season. The good news is that we can lower the risk a lot with a few simple habits, and we’ll show you exactly how.
The quick reality check: Saskatchewan’s Lyme risk is low but not zero. Most ticks we see here are American dog ticks, but a small number of blacklegged ticks—the ones that can spread Lyme—do show up each year.
Why fall specifically? Blacklegged ticks have a fall peak for adults around the autumn months. They can even stay active into winter on bare ground above freezing, which we do get between cold snaps. That is why September through November deserves a plan.
Zooming out: blacklegged ticks are expanding in parts of Canada, and migratory birds can drop them into new places, including the Prairies. Local risk stays low, but awareness keeps you ahead of the curve.
What to do in 30 seconds after a walk
Do a quick sweep: ears, under the collar, armpits, between toes, groin, base of tail. Ticks like edges where fur is thinner. PHAC prevention toolkit
Pull if you find one: use fine-point tweezers, grab close to the skin, and pull straight up. Clean the bite and your hands. No twisting, burning, or “smothering” tricks. PHAC removal guide
Snap a photo and submit to eTick for fast species ID. Keep the tick for five days in case they ask for it. eTick and their photo guide
Where Saskatoon pets pick up ticks
Think “edges” and “shade”: long grass by the trail, leaf litter under shrubs, brushy riverbank corridors, woodpiles in the yard. Ticks wait with their little front legs out and latch on when a pet brushes past. Stay on-trail when you can, especially along the Meewasin and other river paths. NCCEH tick habitats (Canada), PHAC prevention toolkit
Yard check: keep grass short, clear leaf litter, and consider a one-metre mulch or gravel border where lawn meets shrubs. Small changes make your yard less tick-friendly. PHAC: reduce ticks around your home
Prevention that actually fits Saskatoon life
Use a vet-recommended preventive: frequency and product depend on your pet’s size, species, and lifestyle. We’ll help you choose something that covers fall outings without overdoing it.
Leash up in brushy stretches: especially in shady, grassy sections along the river. Shorter contact with vegetation means fewer “hitchhikers.”
Build a habit: a 30-second check after high-risk walks beats an hour of worry later.
For perspective: SK’s American dog tick is the one we see most, and it does not transmit Lyme however it does still pose risks of infection and bacterial disease transfer. Blacklegged ticks (sometime known as “deer ticks”) are the Lyme vector and they are uncommon here—but not zero. Keep doing the simple things and you will cut the risk dramatically. Province of Saskatchewan
When to call your vet
Call us if:
you cannot remove a tick fully
you are unsure how long it was attached
your pet shows fever, low energy, limping that seems to “move” from leg to leg, swollen joints, vomiting, or eye changes
Lyme and other tick problems continue to be relevant in Saskatchewan pets, but timely assessment is best practice. SK Lyme overview
What about other Prairie ticks?
We do see Rocky Mountain wood ticks in parts of Saskatchewan. Rarely, a single tick can cause “tick paralysis” in pets or people, which improves after the tick is removed. There is also the risk of infection or other bacterial transmissions at the bite site. This is another reason daily checks are worth it. WCVM overview
Wrapping it all up
Ticks can pose a risk to outdoor pets that's worth mitigating. At City Park Vet we offer blood testing for the most common tick borne diseases including Erlichia, Anaplasma, and Lyme Disease. Our test also includes a check for the Heartworm Antigen which is not transmitted by ticks and not typically seen in Saskatchewan, but worth being aware of for any pets that may hve travelled to Heartworm endemic areas. At the time of writing this blog, this testing is free and intended for research into the prevalence of these diseases.
Save these local links:
Submit a tick for ID: eTick and how to photograph it
Saskatchewan Lyme basics: Province of Saskatchewan. Government of Saskatchewan
National risk and monitoring: PHAC tick surveillance
How to remove a tick: PHAC step-by-step
