| There are ten tick borne diseases
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| | vet and/or physician to identify the
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| recognized in the United States. Three
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| | tick, just to be sure.
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| were identified in the last 25 years:
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| | Lyme Disease
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| Lyme Disease (1970's)
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| | Lyme Disease is the most commonly
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| Human Ehrlichosis (1980's)
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| | reported tick borne disease in the United
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| Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis (1990's)
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| | States. A multisystem illness caused by
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| Ticks are external parasites that suck
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| | the spirochete Borrelia burgderferi and
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| blood from other animals to survive. They
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| | transmitted by Ixodes ticks. Lyme Disease
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| are most prevalent in wooded rural areas
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| | is a complex illness that affects dogs,
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| but can be found anywhere animals live.
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| | cats, other animals, and people. To date,
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| Ticks bite dogs, cats, livestock, snakes,
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| | cases have been reported in 44 states in
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| squirrels, turtles, ducks, robins, and
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| | North America and many other countries
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| people. Most ticks are just a nuisance
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| | around the world and the incidence is
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| but some transmit disease. For example:
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| | increasing.
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| Lone Star and Deer Ticks carry Lyme
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| | Lyme Disease is caused by a microscopic
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| Disease
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| | organism called a 'spirochete', which is
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| Brown Dog Ticks carry Rocky Mountain
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| | transmitted through the bite wound of
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| Spotted Fever
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| | certain types of ticks, i.e., Deer Tick,
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| TICK LIFE CYCLE
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| | Black-Legged Tick, and Western
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| The life cycle of the tick plays an
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| | Black-Legged Tick. The ticks must be
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| important role in determining when
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| | attached to the victim for at least 24
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| disease can be transmitted.
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| | hours to transmit Lyme Disease.
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| Ticks lay eggs in the spring, one month
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| | If infection does occur, the disease
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| later larvae emerge. The larvae feed once
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| | affects the skin, joints, and nervous
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| in the summer on small mammals (like
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| | system. In cats, signs are generally more
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| rodents) especially the white-footed
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| | vague than in the dog but arthritis with
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| mouse, then over winter.
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| | fever, lethargy, and appetite loss may
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| The next spring, the larvae molt into
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| | occur two to five months after initial
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| nymphs. Nymphs feed on dogs, cats, deer
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| | exposure. Treatment is with antibiotics
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| and people in the late spring and early
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| | given for two to four weeks and your cat
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| summer. Nymph are tiny, smaller than a
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| | may suffer relapses.
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| mole, and therefore, difficult to detect
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| | PREVENTION OF LYME DISEASE
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| in your pet's fur.
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| | Since nothing can stop ticks from
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| In the fall, nymphs molt into adult ticks
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| | attaching, prompt removal and preventing
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| and feed on larger mammals, like
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| | exposure to ticks in the first place are
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| white-tailed deer. They mate, lay their
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| | the solution. In the past insecticides
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| eggs, and die. Nothing can actually
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| | applied to the coat as a spray, powder,
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| prevent ticks from attaching to pets or
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| | or dip killed the ticks, but their
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| people. The key is to remove the tick
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| | protection only lasted three to five
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| promptly.
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| | days. Therefore, in high-risk areas,
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| TO REMOVE A TICK
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| | treatment had to be repeated every seven
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| Use tweezers and grasp the mouthparts of
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| | to ten days.
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| the tick as close to the skin as you can
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| | New monthly medication prescribed by your
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| and pull back. If part of the tick's head
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| | vet can be given to cats as a pill or
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| remains, use a sterilized needle to
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| | drops. These new products are easier to
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| remove it, just as you would a splinter.
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| | give and far more effective than those
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| Don't squeeze the tick because that can
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| | previously available. Frontline is a new,
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| cause the contents of the tick's body to
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| | over-the-counter product that kills adult
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| be injected into the person or pet, and
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| | fleas on contact and controls ticks.
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| if the tick is carrying a disease, the
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| | Frontline is approved for cats over 12
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| individual can become infected this way.
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| | weeks old and dogs. It comes as a liquid,
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| When you're in an area that may have
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| | which is applied to the skin between the
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| ticks, i.e., hiking or camping in the
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| | shoulder blades at 30-day intervals.
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| woods, check yourself, your children, and
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| | TIP: Cats are very sensitive to
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| pets carefully in less than 12 hours.
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| | insecticides and only products
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| Most ticks don't carry disease and if
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| | specifically labeled for cats should be
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| those that do are removed in less than 12
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| | used. Your vet will be able to recommend
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| hours, it is unlikely that you and/or
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| | the best product for your pet.
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| your family or pets will get a disease.
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| | FACT: Vaccines are available for people
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| TIP: Wear rubber gloves to remove ticks,
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| | and dogs living in high-risk areas. and
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| and then put them in a sealed jar
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| | after treatment.
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| containing a little alcohol. Call your
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