Tick & Parasite Season in Greater Victoria: What Every Dog Owner Needs to Know

Summer in Greater Victoria means trail days, beach walks, and long evenings in the park with your dog. It also means tick season is in full swing. The Western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus), the primary tick species on Vancouver Island, is most active from March through July, with a secondary spike in autumn. And while Lyme disease prevalence in BC ticks remains relatively low (less than 1% of tested Western black-legged ticks carry the bacterium), the risk is real and growing. Add fleas, lungworm, and intestinal parasites to the mix, and it becomes clear: parasite prevention is not optional for Victoria dog owners. It is essential.

As the team behind the Greater Victoria Dog Guide, and as dog parents to Ziggy, our 6-year-old Rottweiler, and Lady Sahara, our 13-year-old Lab mix, we spend a lot of time on the trails that run through tick habitat. This guide covers what every dog owner in Victoria, Saanich, Langford, Esquimalt, and surrounding areas needs to know about parasites this season: which ones to watch for, where the risk is highest, how to prevent them, and what to do if you find a tick on your dog.

What Ticks Are Found on Vancouver Island?

Several tick species live on Vancouver Island, but the one that matters most for dog owners is the Western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus). This is the primary carrier of Lyme disease in the region. Other species present include Ixodes angustus, Ixodes auritulus, and Ixodes texanus, though these are less commonly encountered on domestic dogs.

The Western black-legged tick has a three-stage life cycle, larva, nymph, and adult, and each stage requires a blood meal to develop. Nymphs are the smallest and hardest to detect, roughly the size of a poppy seed, which is why many tick bites go unnoticed until the tick has been attached for hours or even days.

Where Is the Tick Risk Highest in Greater Victoria?

Ticks thrive in the same environments dogs love most: wooded trails, tall grass, brushy undergrowth, and leaf-littered forest floors. In Greater Victoria, the highest-risk areas tend to be:

• Mount Douglas Park, The forested trails wind through dense undergrowth where deer (a primary tick host) are common. The north-side trails and the approach from Ash Road are particularly brushy.
• Gowlland Tod Provincial Park, Rocky outcrops and second-growth forest create ideal tick habitat along the ridge trails. Dogs must be on-leash here, which helps with tick prevention.
• Thetis Lake Regional Park, The forested sections between Upper and Lower Thetis Lake pass through areas with high deer activity. Stick to the main trails and avoid pushing through brush.
• Francis/King Regional Park, The Garry oak and Douglas fir forest has dense ground cover that harbours ticks, especially in the off-leash sections.
• The Galloping Goose corridor, Sections passing through Metchosin and Sooke run alongside wooded areas where tick density is higher than in urban Victoria.
• Beacon Hill Park and the Dallas Road trail, While lower risk than deep forest, the grassy areas and shoreline vegetation near the water can harbour ticks, especially near deer crossings.

The eastern rim of Vancouver Island, from Victoria northward through the Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo, Parksville, and up to Campbell River, is considered a higher-risk zone for tick encounters. The Southern Gulf Islands also carry elevated risk. Within Greater Victoria itself, any trail that passes through wooded terrain with deer activity should be treated as potential tick habitat during peak season.

Lyme Disease: The Risk Is Low but Real

Here is the good news: according to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), less than 1% of Western black-legged ticks tested in British Columbia carry the bacterium that causes Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi). Local veterinary sources suggest clinical Lyme disease in dogs is rarely encountered in practice on Vancouver Island.

Here is the caution: the tick population on Vancouver Island is expanding, and the percentage of infected ticks has been gradually increasing over the past decade. Lyme disease is also a reportable illness in humans, and cases on Vancouver Island have been rising. The risk to dogs is lower than the risk to humans (dogs are less efficient amplifiers of the bacterium), but a tick bite can still transmit other pathogens, including Anaplasma phagocytophilum (anaplasmosis), which is a growing concern on the West Coast.

The bottom line: do not skip prevention because the risk seems low. A single tick can carry multiple pathogens, and the consequences of infection, joint pain, lethargy, fever, kidney damage in severe cases, are serious. Prevention is simple, affordable, and far better than treatment.

Beyond Ticks: Other Parasites Active in Victoria

Fleas

Victoria's mild, wet winters mean fleas never truly go dormant. While flea season peaks in late spring and summer, year-round prevention is recommended by BC veterinarians. Fleas can transmit tapeworms, cause flea allergy dermatitis (one of the most common skin conditions in dogs), and infest your home if left unchecked. Indoor dogs are not immune, fleas hitchhike on clothing, other pets, and wildlife.

Lungworm

Lungworm (Crenosoma vulpis) is a parasitic roundworm that infects the respiratory tract of dogs. It is transmitted by slugs and snails, and on Vancouver Island, slugs and snails are everywhere, especially during the wet months. Dogs contract lungworm by accidentally ingesting slugs or snails while sniffing or licking the ground, or by eating grass with slug slime on it.

Symptoms include chronic coughing, wheezing, lethargy, and weight loss. Diagnosis requires a veterinary exam and faecal testing. Many standard flea and tick products do not cover lungworm, so talk to your vet about if your dog's parasite prevention program includes lungworm coverage. Given how prevalent slugs are in Greater Victoria, particularly on the wet, mossy trails we love to walk, lungworm deserves more attention than it typically gets.

Intestinal Parasites

Roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms are common in dogs across British Columbia. Puppies are especially vulnerable, and even adult dogs can pick up intestinal parasites from contaminated soil, other dogs' waste, or wildlife. Annual faecal testing is recommended for all dogs, and many all-in-one parasite prevention products cover the most common intestinal worms.

Heartworm: A Note for Victoria

Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes and requires sustained temperatures above 27°C for several weeks to complete its life cycle in the mosquito vector. Greater Victoria's climate rarely reaches those conditions consistently, so heartworm is not considered a significant risk on Vancouver Island. However, if you travel with your dog to the BC Interior, Alberta, or elsewhere in Canada during summer, talk to your vet about heartworm prevention for the trip.

How to Do a Proper Tick Check on Your Dog

A thorough tick check takes less than five minutes and should happen after every walk through grassy, wooded, or brushy areas. Here is the technique we use on Ziggy and Sahara every time:

1. Start with the head and ears. Run your fingers along the edges of both ears, inside the ear flaps, and around the base of the skull. Ticks love the thin skin behind and inside ears.
2. Check the neck and collar area. Part the fur around the collar line and feel for any small, hard bumps that were not there before.
3. Work down the shoulders and chest. Run your hands along the front of the chest and under the front legs (the armpits). These warm, sheltered areas are prime tick real estate.
4. Check the belly and groin. This is where ticks are most often found on dogs. Lift your dog gently if they are small enough, or have them roll over. Feel along the belly skin and in the groin area where the hind legs meet the body.
5. Examine the back and flanks. Run your hands along the spine and down both sides, feeling through the fur for any bumps or irregularities.
6. Check between the toes. Spread each paw and look between the toes and around the nail beds. Ticks can hide in these crevices easily.
7. Inspect the tail base. Feel around the base of the tail and along its length.

What an attached tick looks like: An unfed tick is flat, dark, and roughly the size of a sesame seed. A fed tick is engorged, grey or brown, and can be the size of a small grape. If you find a tick, do not panic, but do act quickly.

How to Remove a Tick Safely

If you find an attached tick on your dog, removal should happen as soon as possible. The risk of Lyme disease transmission increases significantly after 24 to 48 hours of attachment.

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool (we carry a Tick Key in our trail kit). Grip the tick as close to the skin as possible.
2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not twist, crush, or jerk the tick, this can cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin.
3. Clean the bite site with rubbing alcohol or soap and water after removal.
4. Dispose of the tick by placing it in a sealed bag or container, flushing it down the toilet, or submerging it in rubbing alcohol. Do not crush it with your fingers.
5. Monitor the bite site for the next two weeks. Watch for redness, swelling, a rash, or any signs of infection. If the area becomes red and expands outward (a bullseye pattern), contact your veterinarian immediately.
6. Note the date of the tick bite and the type of tick if you can identify it. This information is valuable if your vet needs to assess Lyme disease risk.

Important: Do not apply petroleum jelly, nail polish, or heat to the tick in an attempt to make it release. These methods are unreliable and can cause the tick to regurgitate its stomach contents into the wound, increasing infection risk.

Year-Round Prevention: What BC Vets Recommend

The most effective approach to parasite prevention is consistent, year-round protection prescribed by your veterinarian. Victoria's mild climate means parasites do not follow a clean seasonal schedule, fleas can survive indoors all winter, and tick activity can start as early as February in warm years.

Common prescription options recommended by BC veterinarians include:

• NexGard (oral chewable), kills fleas and ticks, monthly administration. Broad-spectrum and well-tolerated.
• Bravecto (oral chewable), kills fleas and ticks for 12 weeks per dose. Convenient for owners who prefer fewer monthly tasks.
• Simparica Trio (oral chewable), covers fleas, ticks, heartworm, and intestinal parasites in a single monthly dose. A popular all-in-one option.
• Credelio (oral chewable), kills ticks and fleas, monthly administration. A newer option with a favourable safety profile.

For lungworm specifically, ask your vet if your current product covers Crenosoma vulpis. Not all standard flea and tick preventives include lungworm protection, and given how common slugs are on Victoria trails, it is worth confirming.

A note on over-the-counter products: Topical treatments available at pet stores may provide some protection, but prescription products are generally more effective, longer-lasting, and backed by veterinary oversight. A quick conversation with your vet can determine the best product based on your dog's age, weight, health status, and lifestyle.

Trail-Smart Habits for Tick Season

Prevention goes beyond medication. Your habits on the trail make a big difference. Here are the practices we follow every time we take Ziggy and Sahara out during tick season:

• Stay on cleared paths. Ticks quest by clinging to grass blades and brush at the edges of trails. Walking in the centre of a maintained path reduces your dog's exposure significantly.
• Avoid pushing through brush. This is where ticks are densest. If a trail narrows into overgrown vegetation, turn around or push through carefully and do a tick check immediately after.
• Wear light-coloured clothing (for yourself) and consider a light-coloured bandana on your dog. Ticks are easier to spot against light backgrounds.
• Use a repellent spray. Permethrin-based sprays can be applied to clothing and gear (not directly on dogs). For dogs, ask your vet about repellent options that are safe for canine use.
• Do a tick check in the car before you drive home. Catching a tick before it hitches a ride into your house is far easier than finding one on your couch later.
• Shower or rinse your dog after hikes. A quick rinse removes unattached ticks before they have a chance to find a spot and bite.

What to Tell Your Veterinarian

If you find a tick on your dog or suspect a tick-borne illness, here is what your vet needs to know:

• When and where the tick was found (which trail, park, or area)
• How long you think the tick was attached (if known)
• What the tick looked like, size, colour, and if it was engorged. A photo helps if you are unsure of the species.
• Current parasite prevention, what product your dog is on, when the last dose was given
• Any symptoms, lethargy, loss of appetite, joint swelling, fever, coughing, or unusual behaviour since the bite

Your vet may recommend a course of antibiotics as a precaution if the tick was attached for more than 24 hours and is identified as a Western black-legged tick. Blood testing for tick-borne diseases can also be performed, though results may take several days.

The Bottom Line

Tick and parasite season in Greater Victoria is real, it is here, and it runs from early spring through late autumn, with fleas potentially active year-round in our mild climate. The good news is that a combination of year-round veterinary-recommended prevention and smart trail habits gives your dog excellent protection.

Do a tick check after every hike. Talk to your vet about the right parasite prevention product for your dog. Stay on cleared trails during peak tick season. And if you find a tick, remove it promptly with fine-tipped tweezers and monitor the site.

Greater Victoria's trails are too beautiful to avoid, and with the right precautions, you do not have to. Ziggy and Sahara certainly do not intend to give them up, and neither should you.

For more seasonal guides, check out our articles on blue-green algae safety at Victoria lakes, hot pavement and summer trail safety, and our complete guide to dog-friendly living in Greater Victoria.

Stay safe out there, Victoria. Give Ziggy and Lady Sahara a tick-free pat from us.