Once only a problem in the height of summer, now thanks to our warmer winters, and lack of killing frosts, ticks are more prevalent, and attack our dogs for a longer season. It has become more important for dog parents to know the many types of ticks found in Boston, as well as the diseases they carry. Luckily for us and our dogs, there are many more ways, and more effective ways of protecting pets than in the past. I hope to use this article to introduce the reader to the many types of ticks, the illness they carry, how to remove ticks, and valuable methods of preventing infestation.
The National Audubon society notes only two tick species are native to the area. Each tick lives in mostly the same type of environment, damp areas covered in grass. Mostly, our back yards, our parks, golf courses. Just about everywhere except perhaps the Mall around City Hall. But ticks are tough little arachnids, if and pest could live in the Mall, it would be them. Ticks are extremely small, between 1/16th of an inch at pre-bite, to 1/8th of an inch or larger after they have feed. Just how large is 1/16th or 1/8th of an inch. Look at a penny, the Lincoln’s nose is just shy one sixteenth of an inch. From his nose to his ear, one eighth of an inch. Now look at your dog. If his hair is longer than that penny is wide, it is possible he or she might be carrying ticks right now, unless you are up to date on your prevention.
The Wood Tick, a brown or red gray – depending on the sex – tick that is usually only 1/8th of an inch in length. This is a hard body tick, which is difficult to remove from an animal. The hard body easily breaks off from the head, and because the ticks head is so small a dog owner might think they have removed the entire tick from their pet. They do not have am inactive season, and as long as the ground is not frozen or covered with snow these ticks will be active. These ticks search for hosts by climbing to the top of high grass, and waiting for vibrations, shadows, or just hoping to grab on to a moving target.
The second native tick is the Deer Tick, a much smaller tick, harder to find on your pet, despite it’s small size it is far more dangerous. This tick at adult size is only 1/16th of an inch long. It starts biting during the nymph stage, where the oft repeated claim, they are as small as the period on a page holds true. During the nymph stage, this tick is blood red near the hard to see head, and brown on the rest of the body. This is the tick known to carry Lyme disease and Babesia, both painful illnesses which could shorten your dogs life, or your own, if a disease carrying tick bites your dog and you, in either order.
There is a third tick, the Groundhog tick that is moving into the area. Once limited to areas of New Jersey, this tick has been seen in Southern New England and may now be in the Boston area.
While the best method of preventing a tick from attacking your pet is to avoid areas where ticks live, but, who wants to walk their dogs only on City Hall Plaza. Dogs love to run or roll in the grass, and any grass is prime habitat for ticks. Most pet owners have been lead to believe only tall grass, or weeds are prime tick habitat. Ticks can even live in a well mowed lawn, or the short mowed grassy areas on either side of Route 128. It is possible they do not live in the outfield at Fenway Park, but I don’t believe the team will be allowing dogs on the field any time soon. Unless they run out of Center Fielders. They are most active when the grass is damp, and this being New England, the grass is always damp, at least at my house. However, ticks do not just live in grass, or in wood lands, they are very accommodating pests and can also be found under plants, hiding in tree bark, climbing up wooden fences, hiding in cracks in the porch or house. In summation, just about every where other spiders do.
So the only true method of prevention is to make the ticks not want to bite your pet. The prevention industry has improved since I was owned by my first dog, lets review the methods available to pet lovers today.
Topical methods -
These are the best know and most advertised methods of prevention. Most today are good at stopping ticks, fleas, and even mosquitoes. Good for approximately thirty days, and sold by dog size theses treatments are easy to use. Provided you use them! Many people, myself included, forget to give their dog’s their monthly medication. Another issue for pet owners is most dogs do not like the feeling of the medication on their skin are difficult to treat, my dog has a tendency to run under the bed when he sees me bring the topical medication out. Just remember, this medication can not be used on puppies under ten weeks of age, or dogs who are ill or weak.
A topical medication works by spreading across the dogs skin and covering the dog. The treatment works best when applied directly to the skin, something hard to do with long haired dogs. Ingredients used include Imidacliprid and Permethrin, which prevent the insects and arachnids from biting. They work but paralyzing the nervous system of their target pest. Once paralyzed the animal dies and drops off the dog. Unless, your dogs has long hair as mine does. Then you will find your self pulling dead fleas and ticks off your dog during your weekly brushing sessions.
Once sold only in doctor’s offices, most large chain pet stores now sell topical medications. Doctor’s still sell topical medications but their price is higher than the same product purchased at at pet store. Where to purchase this medication, is up to the pet owner.
Use of a flea and tick collar is another method of prevention, once our only method of protecting our pets. Still sold in pet stores, and on line, this method is still popular with parents of short haired dogs. Sold, as topical treatments are, by dogs size and weight, They work best for smaller short haired dogs, where ticks do not have space to hide. I have found treated collars to be less effective on my dog than topical treatment, he has very long hair. On a shorter haired or near hairless – one inch or less – collars are excellent methods of tick prevention. Collars work by spreading medicine as the dog moves and scratches the collar. The dog must wear the collar touching the skin in order for the medication to spread. Even a small amount of room between the dog and the flea/tick collar will prevent the medication from spreading.
We should not forget the oldest method of tick prevention. Checking the dog’s skin after each trip outside. You dog should be use to his parent touching each part of the dog’s body. Even the icky parts! Ticks like to crawl into folds of the skin and areas where a dogs foot or mouth cannot reach. It is the parents job to be the extra eyes and paws for their dog. On a short haired dog, a simple flea comb should be able to do the job. Running the comb over the dogs coat, checking for fleas and ticks should do. One method my father shared with me was to put some petroleum jelly on the comb, which causes the fleas and ticks to stick to the comb. Gross yes, but it works.
For longer haired dogs, like mine, use a rake or long toothed comb, carefully separate the dogs hair into small sections and brush against the root of the hair to expose the skin. In long haired dogs, pay special attention to the area where the tail meets the back, and the hind legs, if the dog has heavier hair on the hind quarters.
One secret I learned from my groomer is if your dog is infested with fleas or ticks and you bravely decide to wash your dog with a flea/tick shampoo, start by wetting the area between the dogs ears and his shoulder blades, and start shampooing there. Leave the rest of the dog dry, yes dry! According to her, the pests sense the dog is getting wet and start moving toward the dogs head. Once past the shoulder blades they come in contact with the medicated shampoo. Wait a bit, and start shampooing the dog’s tail and then feet. I don’t know how well this works, having never been brave or foolish enough to bath my own dog.
By now, you have done everything you can to prevent your best friend, from being attacked by ticks. However, no one method is perfect, and you still might find a tick on your companion. Or on a child. The method for removing a tick is the same no matter who the arachnid has attached itself to. In my experience however, dogs squirm a bit less then children.
The best instructions I have found for removing a tick is from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. So rather than attempting to write my own tick removal method:
| HOW TO REMOVE A TICK The goal of tick removal is to get rid of the live insect in one piece. While the squeamish at heart may be tempted to give the little bugger a quick yank and be done with it, leaving parts of the tick embedded in your flesh will most likely cause an infection. With patience in mind, follow these simple steps: 1. Wash your hands. 2. Sterilize a pair of tweezers. This can be done with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab or by running a lit match beneath them.
3. Grab the tick as close to your skin’s surface as possible and pull slowly. Do not jerk! You want the tick to help you, by backing out as you’re pulling. If the tick does not back out on its own, stop pulling, and add a few drops of rubbing alcohol, cooking oil, or petroleum jelly to the surface of the skin. The added moisture will begin to drown the tick, causing him to back out. 4. Wait. Within five to ten minutes, the tick should begin to loosen its hold. 5. Pull again. Using the tweezers again, gently pull the tick from your skin. 6. Examine the tick. Make sure you both remove the head and body of the tick. If you suspect the tick is a disease carrier, preserve the tick in a zip lock bag for examination by your physician. 7. Cleansing. Once the tick is out, wash the skin area with antibacterial soap or swab affected area with an antiseptic. Any itching, rash or irritation can be treated with hydrocortisone or antiseptic creams. |
Continue on to Part 2 of this series: Ticks - Diseases They Carry, and Prevention.
Important linksÂ
- For pictures of ticks, and the Lyme disease rash on people and dogs. http://www.lymenet.org/pictures.shtml
- For information on topical treatment http://www.1800petmeds.com
- US Food and Drug Administration – Fighting fleas and ticks http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/696_flea.html
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