Contrary to what some may believe, long cold winters do not kill off ticks. 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 helps the ticks to survive. Then as the snow melts, and temperatures reach approximately 40º to 45º Fahrenheit, ticks emerge looking for easy targets to feed. Even if you avoid the woods and did a thorough fall cleanup, ticks can latch onto wildlife hosts, such as squirrels, deer, mice and even birds, and can then be deposited in your yard as they cross through the property. Therefore, especially considering how mild this winter has been, don’t let your guard down about ticks. Because ticks are out, they are hungry, and they can make dogs sick!
Ticks carry pathogens which can cause tick-borne diseases in dogs, including Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichia, Hepatazoonosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (which isn’t confined to just that area of the country), and Lyme disease. 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 known tick areas 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 24 to 36 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 back of legs in “armpits” and groin, 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.
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 can be found at 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.
