Animal Tick Talk: Norwood Veterinary Clinic
As we welcome the cool fall weather and enjoy outdoor time with our pets, remember that ticks are most active in the fall and spring seasons when the temperatures are between 4 and 20oC. With our recent warmer winters, ticks have been found at all times of the year! Ticks live on the ground and in southern Ontario there are several species of ticks that will feed on our pets.
It is a good idea to do regular tick checks! When looking for ticks, start at your pet’s head and comb your fingers through their fur feeling for a ‘skin tag’ type of lump. You may also see small black ticks crawling in the fur. Tick removing tools are available to safely remove attached ticks, and work by grasping the tick close to the animal’s skin and plucking or twisting the tick without squeezing the tick body. Squeezing the tick may increase the chance of disease transmission. You can submit a tick photo to etick.ca for tick species information.
The black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) can transmit different types of bacteria that can cause diseases in our dogs. These diseases can present with various symptoms including fever, leg lameness, swollen joints, reduced appetite or lethargy. Your veterinarian can do a blood test to let you know if your dog has been exposed to one of the disease-causing bacteria. A positive result does not mean that your dog will get sick! Research suggests that 95% of dogs that get exposed to the bacteria that causes Lyme disease never show any illness. Cats do not seem to be susceptible to Lyme disease, but outdoor cats can bring ticks indoors.
Tick prevention medications are available and recommended. Please remember that if your pets are exposed to ticks then you are also at risk of tick bites. Tucking your pants into your socks and showering within 2 hours of your outdoor activity has been shown to reduce the risk of tick bites in people. My dog loves going for a hike in cottage country! Knowing the risks helps me keep him healthy.
Christine James, DVM
Norwood Veterinary Services
Local Humane Societies
Lakefield Animal Welfare Society
2887 Lakefield Rd., Lakefield
705-652-0588
www.lakefieldanimalwelfare.org
Peterborough Humane Society
1999 Technology Drive,
Peterborough 705-745-4722
www.peterboroughhumanesociety.ca
Animal Rescue Krew (ARK)
3307 Lakefield Rd., Lakefield
705-651-0069
Home Again Bancroft
613-474-3450
Humane Society
Of Kawartha Lakes
705-878-4618 • www.hskl.ca
