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