Healthy Together: Fall Adventures, Hidden Ticks, and Staying Safe Outdoors
Dr. Kathryn Arbic, DVM
Few seasons invite us outdoors like autumn. Cooler temperatures, colourful trails, and crisp mornings make it one of the best times of the year to hike, trail run, or simply explore nature with our dogs. Before long, many outdoor enthusiasts will be trading hiking boots for snowshoes, cross-country skis, or even trying skijoring—a winter sport where a dog helps pull a skier along snowy trails.
These activities do far more than provide exercise. They improve cardiovascular health, build strength and endurance, reduce stress, and support mental well-being. Our dogs benefit in many of the same ways. Regular physical activity helps maintain a healthy weight, strengthens muscles and joints, provides important mental stimulation, and often reduces anxiety and unwanted behaviours. When we choose to be active together, everyone wins.
While autumn offers some of the best outdoor conditions of the year, it also brings a common misconception: that tick season is over.
The Hidden Risk of Fall
Many people assume ticks disappear after the first frost. In reality, blacklegged ticks (commonly called deer ticks) remain active whenever temperatures rise above approximately 4°C. During mild Ontario autumns and winters, they may continue searching for hosts well into November, December, and sometimes throughout the winter during warmer spells.
Here in Eastern Ontario, blacklegged ticks are well established and can carry several important diseases. In addition to Lyme disease, anaplasmosis became a provincially reportable disease in Ontario in 2023, reflecting its growing importance as an emerging public health concern.
More Than Just Lyme Disease
Most people have heard of Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. In both people and dogs, early symptoms can be vague and may include fatigue, fever, joint pain, shifting leg lameness, or swollen joints. When diagnosed early, Lyme disease is usually very treatable, but untreated infections can occasionally lead to more serious complications.
Less well known is anaplasmosis, another bacterial disease transmitted by the very same blacklegged tick. Although veterinarians diagnose anaplasmosis in dogs with increasing frequency, many people are surprised to learn that humans can develop the disease as well. Human granulocytic anaplasmosis is an emerging tick-borne illness in Canada, with reported cases increasing as blacklegged ticks expand their range. Symptoms often resemble the flu and can include fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, and fatigue. Like Lyme disease, early diagnosis and treatment are important.
Veterinarians pay close attention to these diseases because our pets share the same environments that we do.
Simple Prevention Makes a Difference
Fortunately, enjoying the outdoors doesn't mean avoiding it. A few simple habits can greatly reduce the risk of tick-borne disease for both people and pets.
Perform a thorough tick check after spending time in wooded or grassy areas – specifically check around your pets ears, neck, armpits, groin, and between their toes.
Remove attached ticks promptly using fine-tipped tweezers or an approved tick removal tool.
Speak with your veterinarian about year-round tick prevention that is appropriate for your dog's lifestyle.
Wear light-coloured clothing when hiking, stay on established trails where possible, and consider using an approved insect repellent when appropriate.
The goal isn't to avoid nature—it's to enjoy it confidently and safely.
Healthy Together
As autumn turns to winter, shorter days and colder temperatures can make it tempting to stay indoors. For some people, the change in season also affects mood, energy, and motivation. Fortunately, our pets can be some of our greatest motivators. A dog waiting patiently by the door often gives us the extra nudge we need to get outside—even when the couch seems more appealing.
This reflects the concept of One Health—the understanding that the health of people, animals, and our shared environment are deeply connected. Every walk, hike, trail run, or ski adventure is an investment in two lives instead of one. We often think we're exercising our dogs, but in reality, they're exercising us too. They help us build routines, spend time in nature, reduce stress, and stay physically and mentally healthy throughout the year.
The healthiest habits are often the ones we share. With a little preparation and awareness, there's no reason to let ticks—or colder weather—keep you from enjoying the outdoors. Every adventure benefits the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of both ends of the leash.
References
Government of Ontario. 2016, June 17. Tick-borne diseases. https://www.ontario.ca/page/tick-borne-diseases
Public Health Ontario. 2024. Anaplasmosis and babesiosis in Ontario: 2023. Queen's Printer for Ontario. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/A/24/anaplasmosis-babesiosis-ontario.pdf
© 2026 Kathryn Arbic / Callisto Therapeutics. All rights reserved. Ottawa-Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada.
