Ticked Off!

They're Baaaaack! Actually, they never really left. It takes a lot to kill a tick and a standard, ordinary winter in New England may not be cold enough to do it. They can live all through the winter on one blood meal and the ones that missed their bus in the spring and summer just keep climbing until the leaves fall to the ground in October so there's their second chance to find an unsuspecting critter to catch a meal from.

Now that spring is her and the yardwork begins I am hearing more and more complaints about the number of ticks people are finding on their pets and themselves. The scary part is that the ticks that are most dangerous to us and our pets, are the ones we don't see. They are as small as the tip of a pencil and can attach unnoticed to us. These are the true villians that carry Lyme Disease.

So what's a person to do to protect themselves and their pets? Humans just need to keep out of tall grass, weeds, leaves and brush. Stay on the trail! As far as our pets are concerned, there are many effective flea and tick products out there so use them and use them properly. Keep in mind that not all flea treatments kill or repell ticks so read the label carefully and ask for advice from your vet. Many of the products work systemically through the pet so the tick needs to bite before it is killed. Not to worry as the bacteria that causes the Lyme Disease is carried in the ticks stomach and they need to feed and then regurgitate to infect the host. This takes about 48 hours. Most of the treatments will usually kill the tick before it gets a chance to puke. In my best scientific terminology.

Don't freak out if your pet tests positive for Lyme. Many pets become exposed but never show symptoms. The test your vet gives your dog for Heartworm will also test for Lyme and if the dog is showing any signs of illness, you can treat with antibiotics.