I love my long-haired dog to bits, but she wreaks havoc in my home every summer.

Aside from having to remove all the fur she sheds off my furniture, she also brings in a lot of soil, grass, and bugs.

I can live with all that, but something I couldn't live with is a tick infestation.

One dog owner left her house for a regular walk, and when she came back home, she found 85 ticks on her terrier.

A Terrifying Discovery

Kimberely Whitehead told Metro U.K. that she didn't notice her dog, Justin, had ticks until one had bitten into her leg.

"After discovering a tick burrowing into my leg at the weekend, we checked the dog to find nothing," she said.

Days later, she discovered that her whole house was infested with ticks.

"We've had to get pest control in and today, Justin had 85 removed from him under sedation at the vet's."

Whitehead said that she and her dog contracted Lyme disease and are seeking treatment.

"The unusual warm weather seems to have brought them out in force. We normally walk around the ... woods and the disused railway lines," she said. "Please be alert and make sure you brush yourself and pet down before entering your home."

She hopes that her story will help others to remain vigilant.

"This week has been an education but wish I knew more about it beforehand so please take the time to know the facts on how to remove them and what to look for. More importantly, don't just use treatment for fleas but ticks too," Whitehead added.

How To Keep Your Dog Safe

Many pet owners don't know that Lyme disease can affect dogs as well.

Ticks are becoming a growing health concern as temperatures are rising, and they love hiding in pet hair.

Here are a few simple tips to keep your family and your pet safe this summer.

1. Groom your pets every day and look for ticks.

Try to groom them before they come inside the house.

2. Use tick sprays or other products that will ward off these pesky bugs.

3. Talk to your vet and see if it's a good idea for your pet to get a booster shot to guard against diseases that ticks spread.

Here are a few tips to keep ticks out of your yard

Now that you've got an idea on how to keep your pet safe, now it's time to keep those pesky bugs away from your home for good.

1. Grow bug repellent plants.  

Ticks hate catmint, so you know what that means? Our yards are going to be filled with it.

According to a study by Iowa State University, catmint contains a compound known as nepetalactone, which is said to be 10 times more effective than DEET.

Other plants that can deter ticks include lavender, eucalyptus, mint, and garlic.

2. Cut Your Grass

Ticks love thick and high vegetation.

It may be a hassle to always keep the grass in your yard short, but it will be worth it in the long run.

3. Buy Diatomaceous Earth

Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a natural insecticide that dehydrates ticks and gets rid of their larvae.

Scatter this powder on your property to keep these pesky bugs at bay.

Share this article to spread awareness about the danger of ticks!

[H/T: Global News / Fox News]

If you get a tick bite, click here to find out what you should do.