Spring Moult and Tick Season: A UK Owner's Guide

As the weather warms, two things kick off together: your dog dumps their winter coat in a big spring moult, and ticks become active across much of the UK. Manage them as a pair. Regular deshedding clears the dead coat that ticks love to hide in, and daily checks plus prompt removal keep the parasites in check. Here's the seasonal routine that keeps spring under control.

Why spring shedding is so heavy

Many dogs, especially double-coated breeds like Collies, Huskies and German Shepherds, grow a dense winter undercoat and blow it all out as days lengthen. For a few weeks you'll be picking fur off everything.

This isn't a problem to stop, it's a process to manage. Letting the dead undercoat sit causes matting, traps moisture against the skin, and gives ticks and other nasties somewhere to lurk close to the body.

Stay on top of the moult

The answer is frequency, not force. Short daily sessions beat one big weekly battle.

• Brush little and often, ideally outdoors during peak shed
• Work a deshedding brush right down to the undercoat, not just the top layer
• Tackle any knots gently first with a dematting comb, as matted fur worsens fast in a heavy moult
• Bath occasionally to loosen dead coat, then brush it out while damp

A quick wipe-down with a no-rinse foam between baths keeps the coat fresh without over-washing, and clean paws after muddy spring walks are easy with a paw-wash cup. Keep claws in check too, as spring activity ramps up; a set of pet nail clippers handles the regrowth.

When UK tick season starts

Ticks are most active from spring through autumn, with a clear surge as temperatures rise from around March onwards. They wait in long grass, woodland and bracken, then climb aboard as your dog brushes past. They're most numerous in rural and wooded areas, but urban parks aren't tick-free.

The risk isn't just the bite. UK ticks can carry diseases including Lyme disease, which is why prompt, complete removal matters so much.

Check your dog after every walk

In tick season, make a post-walk check part of the routine.

• Run your hands over the whole body, feeling for small bumps
• Focus on the warm, hidden spots: ears, neck, armpits, groin and between the toes
• A heavy moult makes checks harder, which is another reason to keep on top of deshedding
• Check yourself and any kids after countryside walks too

Catching a tick early, before it's been attached long, lowers the disease risk.

How to remove a tick properly

Do not yank it, burn it, or smother it in cream. Those methods make the tick regurgitate into the bite, raising infection risk. Use a proper tool.

1. Slide a flea and tick remover under the tick, as close to the skin as possible. 2. Twist and lift steadily until it releases, mouthparts and all. 3. Don't leave the head behind, which can cause a local infection. 4. Clean the area, and watch it over the following days.

Our Best Tick Removers for Dogs: UK Buyer's Guide compares the hook and card-style tools. If your dog seems off-colour, lethargic, lame or develops a spreading rash in the weeks after a bite, get a check with your vet for any tick-borne illness concern.

Build a spring care routine

Put it together into a weekly rhythm:

• Daily: quick brush during the moult, plus a tick check after each walk
• Weekly: a deeper deshedding session and a nail check
• As needed: a bath to loosen coat, paw cleaning after muddy walks, prompt tick removal

Seasonal care doesn't end with spring. Our Summer Heat Kit Checklist: What Every Dog Owner Needs covers the warmer months ahead, and Winter Paw Care: Protecting Paws from Grit and Salt handles the other end of the year. For the full seasonal picture, see our Seasonal Pet Care hub, and browse the grooming and health range to build your spring kit.