Don’t get ticked off

Posted on July 8, 2008 by Lynne Hudlow

Are you heading into the outdoors for vacation or short day trips? Whether you are going hiking, camping at the beach, or traveling to visit the scenic sites, all these activities get us outdoors. To keep this summer fun and your Pet healthy, be watchful for ticks that may be living and lurking in the great outdoors.

If you have never seen a tick, here is a helpful entry on Wikipedia , which includes some photos of ticks. These pests attach to the skin of you and/or your Pet with their mouthparts and then feed on blood, which is their source of food.

While you are out exploring and having fun, protect your dog or cat with products that repel and/or kill ticks. You don’t want ticks hopping on your Pet for a ride, only to find another unsuspecting victim once you are back at home.

Some of the products most commonly advertised include monthly topical treatments like…

Frontline for dogs and cats (kills fleas and ticks)
K9 Advantix , for dogs only (kills fleas and ticks) , which SHOULD NOT be used directly on cats OR if you have cats in your household..

If a once monthly treatment is not for your Pet, there are repellents such as pyrethrin sprays that both kill and repel ticks as well as fleas. Read and follow all label instructions carefully.
Young, sick, or nursing Pets are often improper candidates for a spray or other tick products. Check with your veterinarian to determine the best options for your Pet.

Your veterinarian can also give you a heads up on any other summer or tick health issues seen in your specific area. If you have questions about insect repellents for human family members, please consult your physician.

If you do find a tick(s) on your Pet, removing the tick correctly is important. Until ticks attach and start feeding, they are very small and can be difficult to find, especially on dark or long coated Pets. If you find one tick, it is safe to assume there are others as well. There are many old wives’s tales touting the best way to remove a tick, so if you intend to remove the tick yourself, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you successfully remove a tick. Be careful not to squeeze a tick in a manner that causes them to push their saliva into the bite wound, since that saliva can carry serious diseases such as Lyme disease.

Another option if you find a tick(s) on your Pet is to take him to your veterinarian (this is what I do) and have the experienced team remove the offending critter, check the Pet over and get you set with proper tick control. Some creepy tasks are better left to the professionals so you and your Pet(s) can continue to enjoy the summer!



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