Yesterday I found a tick on Pinkerton. Yuck! And I freaked out and called the vet and did a bunch of research so I could inform you guys of the dangers of ticks… I know my blogs can sometimes get wordy, but this one is SO IMPORTANT! Ticks are the most efficient transmitter of disease and just because we live in a city does not insulate us from the dangers of ticks. So with the hope that you will read it, I’m going to bullet point this blog posting with only the very important facts. And if you want the details (guaranteed to make you itch!) I’ll also link to some really valuable websites on the topic of ticks and Lyme Disease. PLEASE READ THIS!
WHY SHOULD I BE WORRIED?
- Your cat is at risk of getting a tick if it goes outside. Even in the city. Period.
- Your dog is at risk of getting a tick if it lives near a wooded area, has a yard, runs in tall grasses, hunts, goes to the park or forest preserve, attends dog daycare or is boarded at a kennel.
- In addition to the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease, ticks can carry bacteria that cause localized infections and even paralysis. In Illinois there are 5 species of ticks that are regularly encountered by humans and pets. Wanna see em? Click here and prepare to itch.
HOW DO I PREVENT MY PET FROM GETTING TICKS?
- Prevent ticks in your own yard by keeping the grass mowed and clearing away yard waste, piles of wood and trash piles.
- Prevent ticks in your house by regularly vacuuming and using a Flea and Tick Home Spray like the one made by Veterinarian’s Best. (We sell it at Doggy Style!) This Flea & Tick Home Spray contains essential oils of Peppermint and Clove that repel both fleas and ticks. If you don’t want pests in your house, make it a hostile environment!
- If your cat goes outside, regularly giving her a bath with a natural flea and tick repelling shampoo will deter ticks (and fleas) from taking up on your kitty. We recommend the Veterinarian’s Best Flea & Tick Shampoo Spray – good for dogs too!
- Before going into a wooded area use Ark Naturals Neem Spray on your dog. It is a combination of neem and citronella – two all-natural pest deterrents.
- At Doggy Style we don’t recommend the use of chemical spot-on treatments or house/yard treatments. These dangerous chemicals can have very serious effects in the short term if used incorrectly, and very serious effects in the long term if used regularly. There are so many good, natural options that work well if used diligently.
- If you really do want to use a chemical preventative like Frontline or Revolution, Dr. Karen Becker has found that in Illinois, many owners get away with just two applications per year – one in the spring and one in the late summer/early fall.
WHAT IF I DO FIND A TICK ON MY PET?
- Don’t panic. Actually, I know you will panic, so just try not to panic.
- Congratulate yourself for finding the little sucker!
- To properly remove a tick use a pair of tweezers. Firmly (but gently) grab the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out. You do not want to squeeze so hard that the tick explodes. (Gross, I know!) If this happens, bacteria can actually be forced into your pet.
- Sometimes, the head will remain stuck in your dog. You can try to carefully remove it with the tweezers or take your pet to the vet to have the head removed. Don’t leave the head embedded in your pet! It can cause an infection.
- Don’t try to remove a tick with a match or petroleum jelly. These methods are urban (rural?) myths and don’t work.
- Swab your pet’s skin with alcohol and watch for a few days to make sure it doesn’t develop an infection.
WHAT ABOUT LYME DISEASE?
- The good news: It takes 24-48 hours for the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease to be transmitted to your pet once a tick latches on. That means that if you FIND and REMOVE a tick within 24 hours you do not have to worry about Lyme Disease.
- In order to find a tick within 24 hours you have to look. Every single time you go to the park or forest preserve you should run your hands over every part of your dog’s body feeling for ticks – even the dirty bits! Every time your cat comes back inside after being outside you should run your hands over its body feeling for ticks.
- In addition, there is a Lyme Disease vaccine for dogs. If your dog is outside in the woods a lot you may consider getting this vaccine done. Keep in mind, however, that vaccines have their risks – including possible exposure to the disease itself. In addition, 90% of dogs who test positive for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease DO NOT go on to develop the disease. So, if you are diligent with tick prevention and removal you can avoid exposing your dog to the vaccine and potentially the disease.
I hope you found this helpful. Of course, if you need help choosing flea and tick prevention products just give us a call or stop by the store!
