Vets in Watford have joined the Big Tick Project to monitor ticks and the diseases they cause.

The Project, launched by TV presenter Chris Packham and Bristol University, aims to track the rise of the tick population in the UK, and discover how many carry disease.

Ticks are usually found on dogs, and can transmit serious infections such as Lyme disease as they feed off the blood of their host.

Mr. Packham said: “Research suggests that tickets are a growing problem, especially in areas such as urban parkland, woodland or open country.

“While I find both tickets and fleas interesting creatures, I don’t want them on my dogs, in my house, or on me.”

Dog owners can take their pets to participating practices in Watford, including Vets4Pets, Park Vet Centre, Medivet and Fernside Vet Clinic. Any ticks found on dogs will be sent to Bristol University for research into tick-borne disease.

The project also aims to identify the level of risk to dogs and people in Watford, and compare this to the national average, as well as providing advice on effective tick control.

For more information click here.