Thousands of dogs contract Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases every year.  Although ticks are mostly commonly found in wooded areas, they can be present in your yard, too.  In addition to Lyme disease, ticks can carry canine ehrlichiosis, canine anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.  Several species of ticks attack dogs particularly the brown dog tick and the American dog tick.

Ticks are not insects, but are closely related to spiders. When feeding, ticks make a small hole in the dog’s skin, attach themselves, and insert piercing mouthparts that remove blood. The presence of ticks is annoying to dogs and can lead to serious illnesses if not removed early. The brown dog tick is not a vector of human disease, but it is capable of transmitting canine piroplasmosis among dogs. The American dog tick may carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and other diseases from animals to people. Dogs are not affected by these diseases, but people have become infected by picking ticks from dogs.

Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks, it is the most frequently reported vector-borne illness in the United States, occurring in 48 of the 50 states according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Lyme disease is most frequently reported in the northeastern and upper midwestern regions of the United States. To control ticks in or near your home, remove brush and leaf litter and create a buffer zone of wood chips or gravel around your house or the perimeter of your yard. You can also spray or distribute pesticides that control ticks. For a complete discussion of pesticide options for tick control, you can review the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences report.

If your dog has a tick attached, you should remove it as soon as possible. Ticks should be removed carefully and slowly. If the attached tick is broken, the mouthparts left in the skin may transmit disease or cause a secondary infection. Ticks should be grasped with tweezers at the point where their mouthparts enter the skin and pulled straight out with firm pressure. A small amount of flesh should be seen attached to the mouthparts after the tick is removed. You can avoid most tick bites on your dog by using a preventive oil such as Advantage or FrontLine.

More Information About Dog Ticks.

Posted by Barbara.