It seems that tick season grows longer every year. With fewer deep, winter freezes that would ordinarily reduce the tick population, dogs are now picking up the pesky parasites throughout the entire winter. Many species of ticks can transmit pathogens to animals and humans. The most notable of these in Pennsylvania are the bacteria that cause Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
There are 25 species of ticks found in Pennsylvania. Two of these, the black-legged tick and the American dog tick, are the most common. Black-legged ticks, often referred to as deer ticks, feed on small mammals and birds in their larval stage, medium mammals in their nymph stage and larger mammals when they reach adulthood. At any life stage, black-legged ticks can feed on humans, livestock and pets. Adults are active in early spring, fall and winter, when temperatures are above freezing. Larval ticks are active in the summer and nymphs in the late spring through summer.
Black-legged ticks are responsible for the transmission of Lyme disease. In Pennsylvania, 20 to 40 percent of black-legged ticks test positive for Borrelia burgdorferi depending on location, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention B. burgdorferi is the pathogenic spirochete responsible for Lyme disease and can be transmitted at any life stage of the tick.
Lyme disease primarily affects humans, dogs and horses. In dogs, Lyme disease can present as limping, lameness, fever, loss of appetite and lethargy. If you notice any of these signs, make a vet appointment and begin treatment as soon as possible. Treatment for Lyme disease is generally a four-week course of doxycycline. Left untreated, Lyme disease can cause severe and long-lasting symptoms, altering your dog’s quality of life and resulting in more costly treatments.
The American dog tick is much larger than its relatives and can become the size of a grape after feeding. Larvae are active during the spring and fall, while nymphs are found throughout the summer. Surprisingly, they can survive for a year or more between feedings, making them a threat during all seasons. Larvae and nymphs seek out small mammals, while adults feed on dogs and other medium to large mammals, including humans.
What makes the American dog tick so dangerous is its ability to transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). Symptoms of include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, joint pain, swelling of the face or limbs, cough, vomiting and diarrhea. If detected early, as with Lyme disease, RMSF can be treated with doxycycline, and full recovery is expected. Delayed treatment can be detrimental to the health of a dog.
Since you can’t go anywhere without the threat of ticks in the environment, preparation is the key. I choose to use herbal sprays and topicals like Wondercide, as well as a thorough flea combing after a walk in the woods. Flea combs are effective in removing ticks as long as they are not attached. Sprays do a great job of repelling the pests and prescription preventatives do the job of killing them after they bite.
For added protection, InsectShield.com sells dog bandanas and clothing made with the repellent permethrin. It repels fleas, ticks and mosquitoes with less likelihood of harming your pet like systemic tick medications.
Unfortunately, no method is 100 percent effective. So, if you do find an attached tick, you can send it in for testing at TickLab.org and proceed with treatment if necessary.
