As the weather gets warmer, it’s time to focus once again on protecting our dogs against ticks and the diseases they can transmit.

If your pooch spends any amount of time outside, he or she should be on a flea and tick preventative. And because there’s no telling when temperatures will climb above a tick-friendly 40 degrees, it makes sense to give a monthly preventative all year round.

Also, get in the routine of performing a tick check after your dog’s been outside. It only takes one to cause a tick-borne problem, such as Lyme disease. That, in turn, can cause a world of hurt, including fever, lethargy, swollen joints and lameness.

So, don’t forget tick preventative. And if you live in an area with a high tick count, consider asking your veterinarian if your pooch should also be vaccinated against Lyme disease.