Truth About Ticks

Tick populations are increasing and there are not just more of them. They are being found in more places than in the past. Milder winters; more white-tailed deer, which carry the bugs; and increasing development in formerly rural areas are among the factors in the ticks’ spread.

                Some people have never worried about ticks before, but now is a good time to talk to your veterinarian about their prevalence in your area or places you visit. Many tick species have moved out of their original habitats, carried away by migratory birds, coyotes and deer. One or more species of ticks can now be found in every state, including Alaska and Hawaii. Ticks used to be active from spring through fall, but warmer winters mean that some species are staying active as late as February, depending on where they are located.

                That is bad news, since ticks are major carriers of diseases that not only affect your furry friends, but humans too. Most of us are familiar with Lyme disease, but ticks also transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis and Cytauxzoon felis, which infects cats. The ticks that primarily transmit these debilitating and sometimes deadly diseases are the black-legged tick, the Lone Star tick and the American dog tick; all of which are known to live in Michigan.

                There are simple ways to protect yourself and your pets from tick-borne diseases.  Provide all your pets with lifetime parasite control. Treat every pet every month all year long. Apply tick-prevention products on a regular schedule. We recommend putting it on a calendar and applying prevention on the same date every month. It is no longer effective to try to time parasite control to start in spring and stop after the second killing frost. That is an old “wives tale” and our winters are not consistent enough any longer. Even this past winter gave us warm temperatures in the beginning of December.

Dogs and cats do not spread tick-borne diseases directly to their owners, but they can acquire diseases from ticks as well as bring ticks into the home or yard. Just because your dog or cat stays mainly indoors does not mean they are not at risk. If you have been in an area that is conducive to ticks, you can bring them home on your clothing and even in your hair. Use insect repellent on yourself and wear protective clothing. After a hike or other outdoor excursion to tick-friendly wooded areas with tall grass, give yourself a cursory examination for the little bloodsuckers, so you do not bring them home to your pets.

Make your yard less welcoming to ticks by removing leaf litter, mowing the lawn frequently, keeping landscaping free of tall grass and brush or fencing your yard to prevent incursions by deer and other animals that carry ticks. A three-foot division of wood chips or gravel between your lawn and wooded areas will not keep ticks away, but it does serve as a visual reminder that you are entering the tick zone. It is very important to check your dog or cat for ticks anytime he has been outdoors. Keep a tick-removal device on hand and know how to use it.

To remove ticks, use tweezers to grab the head and mouth parts of the tick and pull backwards. This ensures that you are taking it out the way it gets in and attached. Be careful not to squeeze so hard that you squish the head of the tick. This may cause a reaction to your pet.

If you have any questions on which ticks and tick-borne diseases are common in your area or which veterinary approved prevention is best for protecting your animals, please call us at Ash Veterinary Clinic and Emergency Center in Carleton at 734-782-2827. Your pet’s health and well-being is important to us.