Tick Tock - Tick ... STOP!

Tis the season to be wary; wary of encountering ticks! According to Wikipedia, ticks are nasty little "arachnids, typically 3 to 5 mm long, and part of the superorder Parasitiformes. Along with mites, they constitute the subclass Acari. Ticks are external parasites, living by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians." Spring is upon us, and so are these little jerks. I'm constantly taking my dog, Cairo, out on hikes with me, and now that the weather is getting "nicer," we're out as much as possible, as I'm sure many of you are! We should all take ticks very seriously, as certain ones can cause Lyme Disease. Every one of us should be as knowledgeable as possible and take the proper precautions when it comes to them. I know it's annoying ... trust me, but such is life, and we all do what we have to do to protect ourselves and our furry friends. So yeah, let's take a look at some of the different types of ticks, where they live, and what to expect from them.

There are over eight types of tick species out there. Don't worry ... I won't bother with their Latin names, but I will briefly talk about each one. Let's start with a scary one; the Blacklegged or Deer ticks. These are the little suckers that transmit Lyme Disease ... as well as other diseases, such as Babesiosis (the infection of red blood cells), and Anaplasmosis (causes fevers, headaches, chills, and muscle aches). They reside predominately in deciduous forests. I'm sure that many of you reading this are from the Northeastern part of the U.S. If so, watch out! These things are all over! American dog ticks are found predominantly in areas with little or no tree cover, such as grassy fields and scrubland. They can transmit diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) (bacterial disease causing fevers, headaches, and rashes) and Tularemia (symptoms vary and can be life threatening). Lone Star ticks are found in woodlands with dense undergrowth. The adult versions of these guys can transmit the pathogens causing Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (causes fevers, headaches, chills, muscle aches, and upset stomach), RMSF, and 'Stari' borreliosis (causes a 3 inch rash [approx.], and the victim may experience fever, headache, fatigue, and/or muscle pain). They are aggressive human biters. Brown Dog ticks are worldwide and definitely found all over the U.S. Watch out for these in southern states mostly. They transmit RMSF (to dogs mainly) and sometimes to humans. They also transmit the agents of canine ehrlichosis and canine babesiosis (to dogs). Rocky Mountain Wood ticks are found in lower elevations in wooded areas. They can transmit Colorado tick fever virus (fever, chills, headache, body aches, fatigue, sore throat, vomiting, abdominal pain, and/or skin rash) to humans and RMSF to humans, cats, and dogs. They're also known to cause "tick paralysis" in humans and pets, so watch out! Gulf Coast ticks, Pacific Coast ticks, Western-Blacklegged ticks, and Cayenne ticks are, yet, four other varieties of ticks which are still being studied. Check your internet sources for more updated information on these.

Now, let's take a minute to discuss what can be done involving preventative measures. First off, check your pet (and yourself) daily, especially if you've been around "tick terrain." After a tick has attached itself to its prey, it only takes a day or so before parasites can be transmitted, so definitely check as much as possible. Attempt to "tick-proof your yard." Trim your weeds and keep your grass cut. Clear leaf piles and try making a tick trap using a bait box. You can use certain pesticides, but that comes with a risk, so use that as a last resort. Personally, I prefer to keep my yard pesticide-free. Also, a fenced in yard will help to keep out wildlife that can spread ticks, such as deer. There are certain medications that help too, though these come with pros and cons. Do some of your own research on this, as I'm not completely comfortable recommending products that could cause a possible negative side effect. The website, https://www.consumerreports.org/pets/tick-prevention-for-dogs-cats/, talks a bit about some of the tick medications used, such as topical ointments, oral medications, and vaccines.

Well, it's bound to happen sometime, right? Okay, a tick has burrowed itself into you or your pet. What should you do now?! First things first. Remove the tick. You should do this with fine pointed tweezers. "Grasp it from the side where it meets the skin, and, using steady gentle pressure, gently pull in the opposite direction from which it embeded, until the tick is released." - iladef.org | Save the tick (in a zip-lock bag) and wash and disinfect the bite. Now you can look at the tick to figure out exactly which one bit you and how to proceed from there. Remember, the longer a tick is attached, the higher the risk of transmission. It is more likely to get Lyme disease if a tick has been attached to you (or your pet) for over 24 hours, but if it has been attached for less, that doesn't mean that the risk posed by those bites is zero. It is recommended that you contact your health care provider after being bit by a tick. I can't say that I personally do this, as I hike all the time and find ticks on me more than I'd like to admit, but yeah ... do as i say, not as I do. HAHA! Consult your physician involving antibiotics that prevent Lyme. Ask specifically about Doxycycline. My dog had Lyme and went on a regiment of this immediately. He's doing great now. I'm not saying it's a miracle cure by any means. I'm just saying, do your research and be knowledgable about everything.

It's a crazy and dangerous world out there, especially in these trying times lately. With everything else going on, it may be easy to put other serious issues on the back burner. Just be smart involving ticks. They're out there in full force lately. I have 5 acres of woods and trails behind my house that my dog loves to run around in. I need to be smart about it. My dog is my everything and he deserves to be happy and healthy, as do I; as do we all. Remember your preventative measures and what to do if, god forbid, you get bit. It's not the end of the world. Ticks, unfortunately, are everywhere nowadays. I never even thought about them growing up. It's crazy how they've infiltrated our everyday lives now. All we can do is adapt and stay as safe as possible without sacrificing our outdoor activities too much. I hope this helped ... and good luck!