Ticks
Contrary to popular belief, ticks are not insects. They are actually arachnids, a group that includes spiders, scorpions, and mites. These blood-feeding creatures can carry many infectious diseases including Lyme disease, and transmit them directly to humans and animals through their bite. Ticks are usually divided into two classifications: hard ticks, which are found out in the open, and soft ticks that live in nests and burrows.
Hard ticks are more prevalent in
the United States and cause greater damage to pets and humans than soft ticks.
The most common hard ticks in the United States are the Lone Star Tick, the
American Dog Tick, the Rocky
Mountain Wood Tick, the Brown Dog Tick, and
the Deer Tick. The hard tick goes
through 4 life cycle stages: Adult, Egg, Larvae, and Nymph. Ticks usually
require multiple hosts over a long period of time to complete their life cycle.
Tick populations usually surge in the early spring, well ahead of the
peak flea season, which usually occurs in the late summer. A solitary tick can
usually be safely removed with tweezers by grasping it carefully at the head
(which is attached to the surface of the skin) and applying slow and steady
traction. Try not to squeeze the body of the tick or handle the tick with your
bare hands. Consult your veterinarian if you are not familiar or comfortable
with the tick removal process.
Additional Tips to Avoid and Control Ticks
·
Avoid brushy, woody, and tall grass areas where ticks
are usually found
·
Keeping your lawn well mowed and trees and bushes
well trimmed may be helpful in reducing the local tick population
·
Products containing the
repellent DEET are recommended for people, but not for animals. Many different formulations of insecticides
are approved for use on pets, including liquid spot/stripe applications,
shampoos, sprays, sponge-ons, powders, collars, and wipes
·
Insecticidal foggers and sprays may be helpful in
controlling ticks in the home and kennel