A Major Threat to Dog Health

Take Ticks Seriously

It seems like just a few years ago, seeing a tick on your dog was nothing to fear. These days, we know that many ticks are carriers of diseases you won’t want to leave untreated.

A Little Lesson in Ticks

Contrary to popular belief, ticks aren’t insects, but arachnids, like spiders and mites. They have a one-piece body, with tough little barbs around their mouths, making it easier to attach to a host for feeding. They also have strong legs to hold onto the host, and many have a gluey substance on their legs that helps them stay attached once they grab on.
There are upwards of 200 known tick species in the United States, and they have loads of favorite places to hide, including beach grass, woods and lawns.

The Problem with Ticks

Where many pet parents used to simply worry about fleas, and the inconvenience of having a flea infestation on a pet or in our homes, the trouble with ticks is far worse.

Ticks can carry infections they pass along to our pets and even our family members. These infections need to be treated.

If you have removed a tick from your cat or dog and notice lethargy, loss of appetite, fatigue, vomiting, pale gums, swollen joints, fever or fatigue, call your vet right away.

If you have removed a tick from yourself or a family member, save the tick in a bottle of rubbing alcohol or a sealed plastic baggie. Then give your family doctor a call to find out if he wants to have the tick tested to determine if it is a disease-causing tick.

The Dreaded Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a serious threat to good health, in dogs, cats and humans. The ticks who carry the disease often pick it up from other carriers of the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, including deer, raccoons and squirrels.

Lyme disease is transmitted through the bite of the deer tick, also called the black-legged tick. Symptoms in humans include fatigue, chills and fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, and a red circular skin rash.

There is a Lyme disease vaccine for dogs. If you live in an area where Lyme disease seems to be a problem (your vet will know) it’s wise to invest in the vaccine.