ticks | Vet Tech Check

‘Myth’conceptions About Ticks

In my neck of the woods (Midwest Michigan), tick season this year pretty much started in January. It never got cold enough to really freeze the little arachnids (they are not insects, they are related to spiders, ugh). So, this year the ticks have been in full swing for months already! With that in mind, I’d like to go over some common myths about ticks and dispel them for you so you can be prepared to face them on behalf of your feline and canine friends.

Myth: A lit match, fingernail polish, or petroleum jelly are the best ways to remove a tick.

Fact: These methods can actually cause the tick to deposit more of its disease riddled saliva into the wound, making things worse and increasing the risk of infection. The best way to remove a tick is to grasp it with tweezers as close to the head as possible and roll it off to the side off the skin with a steady motion. Wear rubber gloves if possible while doing this to avoid the risk of Lyme disease to yourself. Dispose of the tick in alcohol or by flushing it down the toilet. DO NOT SET IT FREE! Ticks are carriers of diseases other than Lyme disease and all of them are nasty. Also, do not attempt to stomp it to death as this rarely works to kill a tick. 

Myth: Lyme disease is the only illness that ticks can transmit to dogs and humans.

Fact: As mentioned above, ticks carry other diseases that they easily share with both our dogs and us. Lyme disease is the most widely known and most common tick borne disease, but ticks can also carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis (or ‘dog fever’), ehrlichiosis, and other still emerging diseases. CDC tick borne diseases

Myth: If I find a tick on myself or another human in my family, Lyme disease and other diseases can be easily ruled out with a blood test.

Fact: The CDC states that lab results for tick borne diseases in people are often negative the first time around. A second test needs to be done two or three weeks later to confirm infection.

Myth: Ticks aren’t a problem in the winter because it’s too cold for them to live outside.

Fact: Tick season usually runs April to November in most areas of the United States, but experts recommend year-round preventatives. Why? In the winter, some tick species actually move indoors with you and your pets while others create a sort of ‘antifreeze’ that helps them survive during winter. Also, if the freeze of winter isn’t long enough ( as was the case this year with our mild winter in my area), ticks can survive outside just fine, thank you very much.

Myth: Ticks live in trees, so if I stay out of the woods, I should be fine.

Fact: Regardless of locale, ticks live on the ground. They crawl up to the top of grass blades and find a host where they then crawl to the top of the host. This is why they are often found in the head area. They do like any dark, warm spot, though, so be thorough with your tick checks!

Armed with this information, what can you do to protect your dogs or cats from ticks?

My clinic sells Vectra 3D for dogs. This is an excellent preventative not only against ticks, but also against fleas, mosquitoes, mites (except mange), sand fleas, and lice. It is a once monthly topical product, meaning it is applied along the back of the spine of the dog once a month and needs a few hours to dry. There is no oral tick preventative for dogs. It HAS to be topical.

Frontline Plus is a once monthly topical tick preventative for cats, but most of the chemicals used to prevent ticks are lethally toxic to cats, so be careful and ALWAYS make sure you have a product made for cats.

So, as you head out this summer with your bug spray, don’t forget the tick preventative for your furry pals!

Enjoy life’s journey with your furry friends!

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on May 27, 2012 at 11:45 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: cats, dogs, tick prevention, ticks