posted June 06, 2012 08:12 AM            

Because of the extra-mild winter this year, the early spring could bring an unwelcome guest: the tick. Be warned: The warmer weather is good news for people and pets who want to be outside, but beware of an uptick of the hard-to-detect pest.

The basic reason is that the eggs will hatch sooner. "Eggs are already in the ground, but this is the time that they will be coming out in great numbers," said Pollie Rueda, an entomologist stationed at the Smithsonian and Walter Reed Army institute of Research. He noted that the normal tick season is from May through August, but with the 70-degree temperatures in some places, the ticks may get a jump on the season.

Ticks that are already out and about are the visible adult, sesame-sized ones, noted Kristen Nordlund of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Think of these little buggers as the arachnid form of vampires. They hang out in blades of grass for a host to come along -- a mouse, a dog, or a human -- to attach themselves and feed off your blood over days, or until discovered, and they often leave disease behind -- sometimes multiple illnesses.

The big concern for humans, according to the CDC, is that most tick infections occur during the "nymph" stage. Those recently hatched ticks are the size of the period at the end of this sentence, and they have four sets of legs and the ability to suck your blood. Because they are essentially invisible, preying on a host can easily go undetected.

In most cases, the tick must be attached for 36-48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted. Infections from ticks, such as Lyme disease (plus babesiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and anaplasmosisis), are on the rise and are difficult to diagnose. The symptoms are awful: from headaches to long-term joint pain and even heart problems.
Since 1992, the cases of Lyme disease have doubled, according to the CDC, and more than 21,000 cases are reported every year.

posted June 06, 2012 08:14 AM            

With a new infographic outlining the dangers of ticks, VetDepot encourages owners to protect dogs from these disease carrying parasites.

Encinitas, CA (PRWEB) April 19, 2012
Spring has sprung and with the change in seasons has come an influx in the tick population. Thanks to an unusually mild winter and the early onset of warm temperatures in many parts of the country, an especially bad tick season is expected. Ticks are a threat to both dogs and humans because they can spread dangerous diseases including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and Lyme disease.

According to VetDepot's recently released tick infographic, common species of ticks include the brown dog tick, the deer tick, the American dog tick and the Lone Star tick. A female tick needs a blood meal in order to lay her eggs. For that reason, she finds an animal or human to latch onto, possibly spreading disease.

Since symptoms of tick-borne illnesses may take up to 7 to 21 days to appear, it痴 important for owners to perform a daily tick check on their dogs. This is especially crucial on days a dog spends a great deal of time outdoors. Common spots for ticks to latch onto dogs include the upper leg areas, shoulders and behind the ears. If a tick is found, it should be removed right away using a pair of tweezers or tick pliers. Firmly grasp the tick and pull it out with steady pressure to ensure that the entire body is removed. Also, it痴 a good idea for a dog痴 veterinarian to conduct a tick exam during ever y checkup.

posted June 06, 2012 08:16 AM            

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