Though pet-owners should be wary of fleas and ticks year-round, spring can be particularly troublesome as it marks the beginnings of warmer and drier weather. The combination of those two conditions serves as the perfect breeding ground for fleas and ticks. According to experts, seasonal pests thrive in warm environments with tall grass. Since many pet owners choose to take their furry friends on hikes or to parks during spring and summer, their pets are put at greater risk for a nasty flea or tick infestation. Ticks in particular can present serious health risks such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and more. For veterinary and grooming centers, flea and tick season can mean an increased need for veterinary ID collars.

When pet owners drop off their animals at a vet’s office, these animals need to be securely identified. According to the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) guidelines, best practice states each animal should have identification physically affixed on them and for a record linked to the identification to be kept. One solution that helps meet the physical identification requirement is to use temporary veterinary ID collars.

Veterinary ID collars are available in a variety of materials and styles to securely identify animals of all breeds and sizes. Identification bands made of lightweight Tyvek® with adhesive closures are inexpensive and great for short visits, such as to treat a flea or tick infestation. Animals with longer fur, like Huskies and Collies, may benefit from a plastic animal ID band with a snap closure. You can write identification information directly on a plastic animal ID band, or use an ID band with insert cards, like Safeguard® animal ID bands. By using insert cards, veterinary staff can write important information such as a pet’s microchip number, entry date, gender, or other details.

For bigger animals such as large dog breeds, TabBand Max animal ID collars with adhesive closure make identification easier, due to their longer 20 inch length. If you need to accommodate an even larger animal, such as a horse, TabBand Max collars can be connected together until they fit. Similar to other veterinary ID collars, they can be written on directly, not requiring any special pens.

If a pet is required to stay at your office for an extended period of time for a minor surgery, stitches, or kenneling, a more durable animal ID band may be needed. In that case, Ident-A-band® veterinary ID collars may be preferred. Ident-A-Band® is a complete animal ID system that features a continuous roll of clear vinyl collars, insert cards for recording animal ID info, a waterproof pen for writing pertinent information, and stainless steel clips to securely fasten ID collars. It’s easy to identify animals of all sizes using a system like Ident-A-Band® because you can cut each collar to the exact size you need.

For flea and tick season, don’t be caught unprepared for a larger volume of furry visitors that need extra care from their veterinarian or groomer. Stock up on veterinary ID collars before summer hits to ensure all animals that visit your facility are comfortable and securely identified.