Ticks are Terrible!

One of the more common problems pet owners face is ticks and the illnesses they transfer to our beloved pets as well as ourselves. Ticks are obligate, blood drinking, arthropod parasites. They hang out in forests, kennels, barns, and tall grasses. The most common ticks to this area are the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis. These four ticks carry diseases that can make both humans and their pets very sick. Prevention and early detection are key in preventing those diseases. Once a tick infestation sets in to an environment it can be very difficult to get rid of, especially the brown dog tick. Tick borne diseases may transmit quickly after the tick first attaches. Symptoms of these diseases include; lethargy, anorexia, lameness, loss of appetite, and swollen painful joints. If you notice any of these signs after possible tick exposure to your pet, like hiking, extended time outside, or any time spent in the woods, please have your pet seen by their local veterinarian for testing and care. These diseases respond to antibiotics but may take a long time to completely resolve. All four ticks are also known to cause tick-borne paralysis. Tick born paralysis may be seen 5-9 days after a tick attaches and is a progressive paralysis that shows signs starting with changes to your dogs bark, changes to their ability to walk mostly in their hind limbs, and progressing to not being able to rise from laying down. With the immediate removal of the ticks and supportive care by your veterinarian your pet has a good chance to return to normal life in 24-72 hours. Ticks and their diseases: Amblyomma americanum; Cytauxzoon felis, Ehrlichia,

Dermacentor variabilis: Cytauxzoon felis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (Rickettsia rickettsia)

Rhipicephalus sanguineus: Ehrlichia and Anaplasma playts which infects the platelets

Ixodes scapularis: Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), Anaplasma phagocytophilum

The most commonly seen tick borne disease in the area is Lyme disease which when left untreated and undiagnosed can be fatal to your pet. Tick control for dogs; Dogs have a variety of preventative options for tick control, more so then cats, as permethrin/pyrethrins are not toxic to dogs. There are two main topical medications that prevent tick attachment; Advantix (permethrin and imidacloprid) and Frontline Plus (Fibpronil). Advantix works to both paralyze the parasites by contact with a treated animal and kill the ticks. Advantix also works to kill the larvae stage of most ticks. If you feel you would rather use a collar then a monthly topical then Preventic (Amitraz) collar is relatively effective. These medications can be purchased through your local veterinarian or at pet supply stores. Tick control for cats; Cats are fairly limited in chemical prevention, two safe topicals to use are Frontline Plus (Fipronil) and Seresto collar (flumethrin). Do NOT use permethrin/Pyrethrins based prevention as this is toxic to cats and will cause them to have uncontrollable muscle spasms and dangerous fever. Most of the over the counter preventatives are based around these. Please read the active ingredients before using the medications on your pets. If you are in doubt about a medication either call your local veterinarian to make sure it is not toxic or do not use it at all. The best way to prevent tick borne disease in your pet is routine monthly chemical prevention and performing a manual tick check after activities such as hiking or playing in the woods. If you find a tick on your pet, gently grasp it near the pets skin with either tweezers or your fingers and pull slowly to avoid leaving the head or mouth parts in the skin. It is best not to use alcohol, nail polish remover, petroleum jelly, or matches or any combination of those listed above as you could cause discomfort to your pet. Also we dont want your pet to accidently catch fire as alcohol and nail polish remover are highly flammable and will ignite if a match is brought near. Either dispose of the tick by flushing it down the toilet or drown it in rubbing alcohol and keep in a small pill bottle or vial in case your pet comes down with any symptoms of tick borne disease.