Dogs, the weather is finally warming up here in New England, with the first day of spring just a few days away. However, when answering the call of adventure, don’t let your guard down about ticks. Because they are also emerging from their winter hibernation and they are hungry!
Contrary to what some may believe, long cold winters do not kill off the tick population. Ticks can survive the winter by going dormant. Leaf debris not cleared away from the previous fall and brush areas provide insulation under the snow, which help the ticks to survive. Then as the snow melts, and temperatures reach approximately 45º Fahrenheit, ticks emerge looking for easy targets to feed off of including dogs! Even if you avoid the woods and did a thorough fall cleanup, some latch onto a host such deer or mice, and can then be deposited in your yard as they cross through the property.
Ticks carry pathogens which can cause tick-borne diseases, such as Anaplasmosis, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in dogs. Some symptoms to look for are fever, loss of appetite, decreased activity, lameness, and in severe situations paralysis. Also please note that dogs do not get the telltale bullseye rash like humans do. As the researchers at the Morris Animal Foundation note, “The severity and duration of symptoms can vary greatly. Some dogs recover from tick-borne illnesses with little or no signs of illness. Other dogs become chronically infected and experience serious losses in quality of life and longevity.”
However, diagnosis can be difficult because just like ticks hide, so do the pathogens they carry. Some pathogens can hide in a dog’s cells and not be detected through tests. Also symptoms may emerge months after exposure. So a hike in the spring, may not even be considered months later when symptoms develop in a dog who has avoided the woods all summer. In addition, the symptoms of a tick-borne illness can easily be mistaken for another disease.
That is why daily tick checks are important, because the sooner they are removed the better. According to veterinarians, a tick must attach for 36 to 48 hours before it can introduce most diseases to a host. Areas to pay close attention to are around the face, especially the eyes and ears, under the collar, the groin and armpits, between the paw pads, and the area under the tail. However, finding a tick is easier said than done, because they can be as small as the head of a pin. Therefore, it is important to talk with your veterinarian about what is the best tick preventative for your dog.
Asa and I love getting out and enjoying nature, especially after being cooped up all winter. However, do not let your guard down when it comes to ticks! For more information on preventing tick bites both on humans and pets, how to remove them properly, and for data on ticks in your neck of the woods, please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s page on ticks at CDC.gov. Additional information specific to dogs, including specific places ticks like to hide, visit the American Kennel Club. You can also find information on tick-borne illnesses in dogs at AKC.org. For information specific to Maine, and for how to submit a tick for testing in our state, please visit the University of Maine Cooperation Extension Tick Identification Lab.
