With the cooler weather we have recently had, ticks are moving again. Here at Clappison Animal Hospital, we have seen an increase of ticks. We have identified most ticks as Black Legged Ticks which can carry Lyme disease.
We ask that you please check your pets after every outing to make sure no ticks have attached, if you do find one please remove and bring it in to be identified.
If you do remove a tick from your pet please monitor for the following:
Symptoms
- The disease is a serious illness and symptoms can include fatigue, fever, and skin rash.
- Due to the minuscule size of the insect, bites are mainly painless and can go unnoticed until symptoms set in.
- Tick bites often resemble a ‘bull’s eye’; a red bite mark surrounded by rings of red, swollen skin.
- If left untreated, Lyme disease symptoms could progress to cardiac symptoms such as heart palpitations, arthritis symptoms, extreme fatigue, general weakness and central and peripheral nervous system disorders.
Spot a tick?
- Remove tick immediately using fine-tipped tweezers.
- Do not squeeze the body of the insect as this can accidentally let Lyme disease bacteria into the body.
- Do not put anything on the tick or try to burn it as this may also lead to the tick releasing bacteria into the bite area.
- Clean the bit area with soap and water.
