Now that the snow is gone, the ticks are out.  Many people out walking with their dogs this week have come home to find ticks on their dogs, and themselves!  Ticks, in and of themselves, are not really very dangerous.  Their saliva does contain irritating substances that can cause an inflammatory reaction at the site of the bite, so after removing a tick from yourself or your pet, you may notice redness or swelling at the site, and that may persist for several days or even longer.  It is very unusual to develop an infection at the tick site.

The biggest concern with tick bites in our geographical area is the ability of ticks to transmit the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, which is responsible for lyme disease.  In the northeastern United States, the primary vector is considered to be the Ixodes scapularis species of tick, also known as the deer tick, or black-legged tick.  In other parts of the country, other tick species are responsible, and there is growing concern that the American Dog tick may be a vector for the disease as well.  The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services recently released their 2007 Lyme Disease Bulletin, and they reported that the incidence of lyme disease rose by 43% from 2006 to 2007.  They also reported that over 50% of deer ticks in southern NH are infected with the bacteria causing lyme disease. 

Lyme disease is a growing concern in our pet dog population as well, and we know from our own screening tests that more and more dogs are exposed to lyme disease every year.  In dogs, we do not typically see a “target” rash at the site of the tick bite, but we may note a fever, swollen or achy joints, and in severe cases, signs of kidney failure.  (At this point in time, there is no evidence that domestic cats can contract lyme disease.)

How do we reduce the chances that our dogs will contract lyme disease?  There are several things we can do:

• Exercise good tick surveillance: If your dog has had any opportunity to be exposed to ticks, while roaming outdoors, or even while walking on a leash at your side, check them over carefully at least once every 24 hours.  Ticks like the head and neck, but can be found anywhere on your dog.
• Use a topical parasiticide such as Frontline or Revolution: Even the best of us may miss a tick or two on our dogs.  Frontline and Revolution are designed to kill ticks within 24 hours of contact with your dog, and can help diminish their chances of transmitting lyme disease.  None of the commercial products have any tick repellant activity, but there is a collar, called the Preventic collar, which is impregnated with a slow-release formulation of Amitraz.  This chemical does help repel ticks, and the makers of Revolution will provide the collars free with the purchase of 3 or 6 month supplies of Revolution.  The collars may also be purchased seperately. 
• Lyme vaccination: For those dogs who are potentially going to be exposed to ticks on a regular basis, vaccination against lyme disease can help reduce the incidence of clinical disease if they are bitten by an infected tick.
• Lyme screening: The Idexx SNAP 3Dx test we recommend yearly to make certain dogs are free from heartworm disease also screens for exposure to lyme disease.  It has been shown that treating dogs with antibiotics appropriate for lyme disease can help keep your dog from showing clinical signs of lyme disease if he or she has been exposed to it.

There are also environmental treatments that can be used in your yard to help reduce the tick population. You can check with your local garden center for recommendations.

The Centers for Disease Control has a very nice collection of web pages discussing tick-borne illnesses in humans and control and prevention. It’s worth a look if you are interested in learning more.

Feel free to stop by the office and pick up a brochure about lyme disease, or purchase a dose or two of Frontline. If you are having trouble controlling the ticks on your dog, and would like to consider vaccinating for lyme disease or treating for possible exposure, please call our office and discuss it with one of our receptionists or technicians. They will help you determine the next best step, and may suggest a consulation with one of our veterinarians.