Ticks On Dogs

Ticks on dogs can be very serious. Ticks are wingless, blood sucking arachnids more closely related to spiders, mites and scorpions than insects.

Most people know that it’s important to stay away from them. Part of the reason for this is they can carry many different diseases.

What people might not be aware of is they are multiplying in number all across the United States.

Experts agree, as their number in the world increases so does the chances that your dog will be infected with the diseases they carry.

This is a very scary thing for those who love their pet and don’t want to see anything bad happen.

One reason many more are popping up is because woods and farmland are being developed. This leaves nowhere to go but on your poor pup.

Facts About Ticks

• There are more than 825 species
• Usually found in brushy, woody and tall grass areas (Avoid those areas or keep grass well mowed and trees and bushes well trimmed)
• They have harpoon-like barbs on their mouths to attach to the host for feeding and a sticky secretion to help them hold on to the host
• Lime disease, which can be transmitted to both pets and humans by the bite of infected deer ticks, affecting more than 16000 Americans each year
• They can carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which strikes 300 to 400 Americans a year
• Canine Ehrliciosis - Dogs get ehrlichiosis from the brown dog tick, which passes an ehrlichia organism into the bloodstream when it bites.
• Some species lay about 100 eggs at a time, others lay 3000 to 6000 per batch

Tick Life Cycle

They start their lives as larvae. This larvae hatches from eggs and then they want to find a host to attach to.

Some of the first hosts are rats. These larvae then fall of, feeding on the decay on the ground.

After the larvae are ready it will become a nymph and try to feed from a smaller animal. Finally, it is ready for more as an adult.

Climate Changes May Be A Cause

Whether you believe in global warming or not a popular theory is global warming is another reason for the increase in ticks. They like this new, warmer climate.

A warmer climate means where they would be almost nonexistent at some points during the year they are incredibly prevalent during other parts of the year.

These days they are around all year long in some locations. Which means certain diseases are around all year long as well.

People are taking advantage of the warmer weather by taking the whole family, and their dogs outside. This means more exposure to these blood suckers, with a higher likelyhood of having ticks on dogs.

Ticks and Dogs

Many deer are infested by ticks. In fact, deer are a main reason there are so many. These animals give them the blood they need to thrive.

There is not much you can do about the ticks increasing population but there are things you can do to protect against a tick dog.

Year Round Protection

Veterinarians recommended using protection year round for your dog. Your can purchase these products at your local pet supply.

Many heartworm medications also prevent them from attaching to your pet, talk to your vet.

Keep Everyone Safe

The number of ticks in the United States is rising all the time. The best thing for you and dog health is to keep your dog safe by keeping it tick free.

Check yourself and your dog thoroughly, it is not difficult to spot ticks on dogs (unless your dog is long hair) do all you can to protect against these blood suckers.

Make sure you double check because you don’t want to take any chances.

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