Ticks and What To Do About Them
By Cheri Eagleson, CTCA Foundation Trustee
They may be as small as a poppy seed but we need to be alert to an increasingly common threat--tick-borne diseases (TBD). Ticks are a large health risk for many especially in the warmer months. Tick infectious diseases can be transmitted to dogs and humans.
In tick-endemic areas, TBD such as Lyme Disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrliehosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, present one of the greatest dangers to outdoor enthusiastic and their dogs. These diseases are potentially fatal, which is why preventing tick bites by using preventative measures and checking your dogs nose-to-tail a few times each week is so important.
The Borrelia-burgdorferi bacterium causes Lyme Disease which also has the Spirochaete bacterium. Being alert to the increasingly common threat--Lyme Disease isn't the only cause for concern. The growing number of threats includes newly discovered disease-causing germs and increasing number of TBD expanding in more geographic areas. It seems as if every tick season gets longer and longer as our seasons change. As the tick season approaches, we are all going to be looking for guidelines to help in the prevention of the TBD. For new and better ways to protect our pets from this infectious parasite, there are many different repellents to use.
The Foundation has compiled a great amount of information about the diseases and what you need to know. "Ticks And What To Do About Them" provides this information. It outlines the offense and defense and what are the different and best methods to use in prevention. This has been compiled and written by Robert Aronson, Trustee.
We also have provided a list of which animals can carry ticks into your backyard: deer, raccoons, opossum, wild turkey and even red foxes. You need to know which ticks are in the regional area where you live as there are many such as, Brown Dog tick, American Dog tick, Blacklegged tick also known as the Deer tick, Gulf Coast tick, Lone Star tick, Rocky Mountain Wood tick, Western black-legged tick.
This latest data provides all the information on common tick-borne conditions, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, what to be aware of for protection for our pets, different ways of treating, proper way to remove a tick and preventing the ticks and what works best.
You will also be updated on the latest Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alerts of concerns on some ingredient found in certain flea and tick medications including Bravecto, Credelio, NexGard, Simparica and Revolution Plus, that might cause health concern issues to our pets.
You will find a link to a video by AKC TV's host, Marissa Sarbak, with Dr. Jerry Klein, AKC Chief Veterinary Officer, that is very informative and includes an excellent question and answer format.
To read the entire article, go to the Foundation's website at www.cairnterrierhealth.org/ask-angus.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not express the views or opinions of the Cairn Terrier Club of America.