R.D. Hawkins
insects, spiders or something from another planet that landed here solely to suck blood and spread Lyme disease? Well if you guessed the last one I suggest you be sure and make your reservation at the Star Trek convention this year before it sells out. Technically, ticks are not insects they are arachnids and closely related to spiders. As if that isn’t confusing enough there are about 825 species of ticks belonging to 7 biological families. The Ixodidae family (known as hard ticks) contains more than 650 species with the Argasidae family (soft ticks) containing 150 species. Other families of ticks which are far less important in terms of disease make up the rest. Ticks can be found worldwide. Some ticks target specific animals, though other species are not choosy as long as their host has blood. Blood sucking behavior is different depending on the species. Adult feeding activity is chiefly in late summer and early fall but may begin later after a dry summer. Ticks have 4 life stages – egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Another interesting fact about ticks is they can survive several month to several years without feeding if environmental conditions are right. Different types of ticks will favor different spots on your dog with some not being choosy, while others prefer the head, neck, shoulders, and pubic area. Others species will gravitate to the ears, attach themselves under the tail, or find their way into the nasal passages. It only takes one tick latched on to your dog to qualify as a tick infestation and the chances are pretty good that if your dog frequents areas where tick reside he will be bitten. Animals that spend time outdoors, especially in wild areas, are more often affected. Thus, among dogs, hunting breeds or dogs that tend to roam are most likely to be infested, though any dog who spends time outside can pick-up a tick. Certain species of ticks are masters at hiding with perhaps the best being those from the Otobius megnini family. These ticks prefer to latch on in the ears of their host and can easily be overlooked by dog owners. These ticks are found in low rainfall areas of the western United States, Mexico, and western Canada. Dogs and humans can experience severe irritation from ear canal infestations. The infestations can cause paralysis. Secondary infections by larval screw worms have been reported. If that isn’t bad enough this family of ticks can transmit a number of dangerous diseases such as Q fever, Colorado tick fever, Lyme disease, tularemia, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Identifying a tick infestation is done primarily by examining tick bite marks on the dog and the presence of the parasite itself. Ticks that have been on an animal for days will have had the opportunity to consume enough blood to make them appear more rounded. As soon as a dog owner recognizes that a tick has attached itself it should be removed to minimize the chance of disease and skin damage. According to the Merck Manual for Pet Health the best way to do this is to use a pair of tweezers to carefully grasp the tick close to the skin and pull gently. Hot matches, which are widely thought to be helpful for removing ticks, should be avoided. A word of caution! Never try to remove one of these parasites with your bare hands as some diseases ticks carry can find their way into your system through breaks in the skin or contact with mucous membranes. One example of this is Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Infested dog should also be treated with some type of anti-tick shampoo (preferably non- insecticide) to eradicate the larvae, nymphs, and adults. If by chance your dog has multiple ticks a trip to the veterinarian should be considered for tick removal . Heavy infestations will not only damage the skin but greatly increase the chances of tick borne diseases such as anemia, paralysis, and other complications. Source: Merck Manual for Pet Health
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