Can dogs get Lyme Disease? What"s the best prevention?

Our tick control programs enable your dog to enjoy being a dog. Loving the outdoors, by your side, safe from tick diseases.

Are you aware that your dog can become very sick from a tick? Many people assume that even though ticks are bothersome and revolting on your pet there is no cause for alarm, which couldn’t be farther from the truth. Here in the U.S. there are four tick diseases that can infect your pooch. These are Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and yes the dreaded Lyme Disease. Each of these illnesses can wreak havoc on our health and the health of our pet as well. Along with disease, ticks can actually cause dangerous disorders such as Anemia in your dog as well.

Dread Skeeter keeps your family and your pets tick free all season

Symptoms that your dog may have a tick-borne illness can include a loss of appetite, lethargy and depression,  pain, diarrhea, vomiting, edema in the extremities, hemorrhaging, neurological disorders such as seizures, and even death.

In the North Shore area, Lyme disease in particular is an area of concern for residents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention actually chart the progression of Lyme disease in dogs through parasite prevalence maps which are provided by the CAPC ( Companion Animal Parasite Council) . These innovative maps are used in a new study by the CDC to predict which regions are at a greater risk of outbreaks of the disease. By keeping up with the information on canine occurrences in an area the CDC can pinpoint which areas are most vulnerable and better warn the citizens of that area to protect themselves against ticks that may be potential carriers of the disease. According to this data, we’re at high risk here in Massachusetts. One out of every fifteen dogs tested for Lyme Disease tested positive.

Kids and dogs love the outdoors and getting dirty in the spring and summer. Keep them both safe from tick-borne diseases with Mosquito Squad of the North Shore.

Along with having your veterinarian advise you on the best tick protection for your dog, as well as exercising tick safety during tick season, it is even more important to treat the areas where ticks thrive. Even the best laid plans that include spot-on canine tick treatments can falter and put your dog at risk.

It is important to pet owners and non-pet owners alike to protect themselves from ticks and the potential diseases that they carry. One way to discourage ticks is to keep up with your surroundings and take control of your property by keeping overgrowth, debris and brush to a minimum. Tick tubes are the one of the best weapons against ticks and Lyme disease along with seasonal spray protection. Tick tubes appear to be non-threatening, but on second glance they contain an arsenal of knowledge and tick abatement in a small tube.

How the tick tube works

The tick itself uses field mice as transport from the woods to you or your dog. The tick actually hitches a ride on the field mouse with the sole priority to “go home” with the mouse. The young tick is transported to the mouse’s den where it can feed, thrive and grow until it inevitably attaches to a host like man’s best friend or our kids while they are playing in their own backyard.  Tick tubes contain treated cotton which the mice use to “feather” their nests. The treated cotton breaks the cycle by killing the tick, but aiding the mouse in making a toasty warm bed. The treated cotton is safe for the mice, but lethal to the tick. Recent studies indicate that using tick tubes on your property can reduce your risk of coming into contact with an infected tick up to 90%. So your family, and your dog is happy and healthy.

Anthony Pascetta owner of Mosquito Squad of the North Shore with his right hand man- Dread Skeeter

Mosquito Squad of the North Shore uses tick tubes in conjunction with our seasonal barrier spray to keep you tick free all season. Our perfect pair of tick abatement programs keeps tick out of sight and out of mind. Go ahead, let Spot run and enjoy the season. Let your dog be a dog, and all that entails, but keep his tail waggin’ safe with tick control that stops the cycle of disease at the source.

Call us today for a free quote • (978) 887 – 1177 • email: northshore@mosquitosquad.com

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Whats with the weather?

Hasn’t this been warmest winter in a long time? Yes I know we get a short blast of wet and cold but for the most part the weather has just been balmy!

And I not the only who thinks that – our mutual friends fleas and ticks are also thankful for this warm weather as they flourish with the warm, almost humid weather we are having.  So guess what ? I have found ticks on my dogs, best you check yours!

I have also noticed an increase in the number of dogs we are seeing with tick bite fever (Babesiosis). This serious and life threatening disease of dogs is more akin to malaria than the tick bite fever that people get (although that’s no joke either).

Dark purple parasites in red blood cells are Babesia canis parasites

The babesia parasite hijack red blood cells and then causes all sorts of mischief in the body causing anything from mild anemia and fever right through to multiple organ failure and death. Nasty little bug!

So what can we do about this? Well tick bite fever germs must be transmitted through the bite of a tick (usually the female), so if we stop ticks biting the dog, problem solved.

There are many products to kills ticks everything from dips through to products like Frontline and Advantix. The most important action is to PUT IT ON THE dog, and keep treating even if you don’t see ticks.

I find Preventic collars very useful for dogs living in a high tick environment -> i.e. goes into the bush often or lives on the urban edge (like in Richwood and Burgundy Estate), the collars last a while and are remarkably waterproof.

Finally there is vaccine against tick bite fever that will reduce the intensity and severity of infections but does not claim to prevent the clinical disease. Something to consider to keep our furry friends happy.

Cheers for now

Peter

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