Springtime is amazing. After a dreary winter slump, it’s refreshing to see everything getting green again. Springtime means warmer weather and new growth. While there are so many beautiful things that nature brings to the table during the spring, there are downsides as well. Spring represents the return of parasites. According to a recent article in TIME, we are slated to have one of the worst years for ticks on record.
The increased tick population has several causes. First, we’ve had several mild winters. Although there have been dips into colder temperatures, it doesn’t stay cold enough for long enough to challenge the tick population. Second, tick populations are spreading regionally, with certain tick species from the Northeast and western United States spreading into the Southeast. Growing wildlife populations, such as mice, deer, and squirrels, for the past few years have given these ticks plenty of food and transportation.
Fleas are bad enough on pets, but ticks are worse. Enough fleas on a pet can drain enough blood to kill a dog or cat, but just one tick has the potential to do the same damage. Ticks transmit blood-borne diseases like Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis, and Anaplasmosis. These “tickborne” diseases are very difficult to diagnose due to the nondescript symptoms they show. Some of them are curable, some of them are not, but prevention of these diseases is much easier than treatment once a pet has one.
Prevention for ticks in dogs and cats involves either topical, oral, or injectable medications. As a general rule, tick prevention that can’t wash off is going to be more effective than the topical meds. We even have access to a flea and tick shot that protects your pet for a full year! Regardless of your preference, please take tick prevention seriously. If you would like to know more about the shot or have questions in general, feel free to call us at Clayton Veterinary Hospital.
