At risk for ticks
Experts say furry friends more likely to be exposed to Lyme disease
Courtesy of MetroCreative
Courtesy of MetroCreativeprevention plays a vital role when keeping dogs from catching tick-carried diseases such as Lyme, ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis.
During a recent camping trip, Cindy Ridley and her dogs Cubby and Olivia played unwilling hosts to a dozen unwanted pests.
“We caught 12 ticks,” Ridley said.
The South Union Township woman said two of the dozen were deer ticks, and the remaining 10 were dog or wood ticks.
Ridley is one of many dog owners throughout the United States impacted by the increase of ticks this summer. According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council’s 2024 Annual Pet Parasite forecast, several states – including Pennsylvania – are expected to see a continued increase in ticks this summer.
“Tick-borne disease incidence in people in the United States has tripled since last year,” the report stated. “With much of this increase due to tick-borne pathogens which were reported in higher numbers.”
CAPC, a nonprofit organization of veterinarians and leading animal health experts from around the county, estimated Pennsylvania could see a 10% increase from last year of pathogen-spreading ticks in dogs.
The council also found that in Fayette and Washington County, 1 in 8 dogs that were tested for Lyme disease came back positive results, while 1 in 6 dogs that were tested in Greene County came back as positive.
The rising trend of tick bites and Lyme disease diagnoses in dogs has been a pattern. Veterinarian Dr. Amy Nicewonger of Alpha Veterinary Services in Uniontown said her practice has seen an uptick in the last five to seven years.
“When we opened up our practice in 2014, we started seeing Lyme cases, and it started out as maybe a few a month,” Nicewonger said. “Now with our four doctors, we’re having multiple new cases every single week.”
The American Veterinary Medical Association defines Lyme disease as an illness caused by a type of bacteria that is transmitted through certain ticks such as the blacklegged ticks. Dogs that are infected with Lyme disease may develop intermittent limping that shifts from leg to leg, fever, loss of appetite, decreased energy, swollen lymph nodes and painful joints.
“The signs are usually very dramatic, with a very fast onset,” Nicewonger said. “When we see these dogs that tested positive for Lyme we treat them with the antibiotic doxycycline.”
Though it is rare for dogs to die from Lyme disease, there are certain cases where the disease affects the dogs’ kidneys.
“Lyme nephritis in my experience has been 100% fatal even with treatment,” she said.
While Lyme disease has been the most common form of tick-spread illness, there are other forms of illnesses spread by the parasite that could have negative impacts on dogs.
Ehrlichiosis, a bacterial disease, can cause fever, bleeding, poor appetite and lethargy and anaplasmosis may cause respiratory failure, bleeding issues and organ problems.
Nicewonger said prevention is a vital step in keeping pets safe from any disease ticks may carry, even during the winter months.
“Tick prevention now should be monthly and year-round,” Nicewonger said. “Anything over 40 degrees, and your dog can get a tick.”
Nicewonger said she recommends preventative medications that can help avoid Lyme disease should a dog be bitten by a tick.
“When a tick bites your dog, it has to be attached and alive to transmit Lyme,” she said. “So if your dog is on prevention (medication), the tick bites your dog … and won’t be able to transmit the organisms to your dog even if it’s carrying it.”
Toni Shelaske, owner of Healthy Pet Products in McMurray, said her all-natural and organic pet store offers several options for pet owners when it comes to preventing and removing ticks from pets.
“We take a natural approach, and try to minimize the chemicals,” Shelaske said. “We tell customers the best thing to do is a multilayer approach, or in other words, use more of a neutral modality for pets.”
Shelaske said her store offers herbal sprays that act as repellent with natural ingredients like cedar oil and lemongrass. The store owner also offers several tools to remove ticks such as the “Tick Twister” and the “Tick Key” to help remove the parasites from the entry point.
“The ‘Tick Key’ is cool because they even make it to fit on your keychain,” Shelaske said. “So if you’re traveling with your pet, you can just put it over the tick … and twist, and it makes the tick release.
Nicewonger said despite what many believe, pet owners should not be as concerned with removing the head of the tick, nor be worried if they see a black spot or scab at the area of the tick infiltration.
“When a tick is removed, if it’s been there long enough there’s going to be a little black spot in the middle or a scab where the tick was,” Nicewonger said. “It tends to be a raised bump that can be really firm and can be there for weeks after the tick is removed, and then it will go away.”
As for cats, Nicewonger said she sees more cats compared to dogs with ticks, but felines have very little chance of catching Lyme or other blood borne diseases.
“With cats ticks are a nuisance … but we don’t have the secondary concerns about those diseases that are spread by ticks, like we do with dogs,” Nicewonger said.
And while keeping one’s pet completely clear of ticks may be an overwhelming, if not impossible task, Ridley believes there are a few steps pet owners can adhere to, to make sure their furry companions have a healthy and parasite-free summer.
“You want to be really cognizant when you come home that you get a good fine-tooth comb and work your way through the dog,” Ridley said. “The other thing is to protect yourself while you’re walking. Put on high socks – I know it’s a real fashion statement – and tuck them into your pant legs.”