Ticks An Ever-Present Danger

As ticks can be found in all of the contiguous 48 states as well as Hawaii, it’s vital that all hunting dog owners take a few minutes to educate themselves on the dangers these pests pose to both them and the health care of their pets. Here’s a quick summary of some common ticks found in the United States:

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Lone Star Tick — Found in approximately 35 states in the Eastern half of the country (they’ve been found as far north as Maine, as far south as Florida, and as far west as Oklahoma), these nasty little pests can cause ehrlichosis in both dogs and humans, Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (with symptoms very similar to that of Lyme disease) and tularemia. While its usual habitat is dense forest, the lone star tick is a hardy species and can also be found in grassy meadows and young forests.

American Dog and Rocky Mountain Wood Ticks — Found year round in virtually every part of the country, these nasty little buggers transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever to both pets and people. As they generally inhabit grassy meadows, young forests and can be found along roadways and trails, it’s crucial to remain vigilant to their dangers, even when you’re not in a wooded area.

Deer Tick (Blacklegged and Western Blacklegged Ticks) — Found largely in the Midwest, Eastern and Southern parts of the U.S., the deer tick has also recently begun to show up on the West Coast. This is the tick that transmits Lyme disease, as well as ehrlichiosis and babesiosis. Deer ticks usually inhabit deciduous forests and the grasslands surrounding them.

Brown Dog Tick — The most common tick, the brown dog tick can be found in 49 states and in a variety of habitats, including shaded sandy areas; cracks and crevices in houses, garages and dog runs; and even on walls and ceilings of homes. In some parts of the country these ticks feed all year long and can transmit ehrlichosis, babesoiosis, and thrombocytopenia.

Regardless of what kind of ticks are in your region, it’s critical to protect both yourself and your dogs from these blood-sucking pests for proper health care. The CDC recommends that you always wear light-colored clothing (so that you can see moving ticks) and always use a repellent containing either DEET or permetherin. And always protect your dog with topical tick protection like the K9 Advantix® product from Bayer. K9 Advantix not only kills ticks, but it also repels them — generally before they attach. In addition, your dogs will be protected from the dangers of fleas and mosquitoes.

To learn more about protecting yourself from ticks, go to http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/ticktips2005.

To learn more about protecting your dogs from ticks and proper health care, go to http://www.k9advantix.com.

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