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Keeping ticks off the dog in a 'bumper crop' year

THUNDER BAY – They’re lying on their backs in the tall grass, just waiting to hitch a ride and catch a bite of anything warm-blooded.
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Local veterinarian Melanie Tallon offers some advice on keeping dogs tick-free over what is expected to be a bad tick season. (tbnewswatch.com)

THUNDER BAY – They’re lying on their backs in the tall grass, just waiting to hitch a ride and catch a bite of anything warm-blooded.

According to the Thunder Bay and District Health Unit, this year’s tick season is expected to be a "bumper crop." Considering the low but increasing presence of Lyme disease-carrying deer ticks in the region, it’s of particular concern for our four-legged, furry dog friends.

“I would say just be cautious and know the risks,” said Melanie Tallon, a veterinarian with Highview/Meadows Animal Clinics.

“If you do have them in areas where you know there are ticks and they can pick them up, check them over carefully and consider looking at a tick preventative.”

Dogs don’t show Lyme symptoms the same way humans do but some can become quite sick with fevers, arthritis and joint pain. Where cats tend to groom themselves thoroughly to avoid ticks, it’s easy for parasites to blaze through a dog’s fur and burrow under the skin.

Tallon advised manually pulling ticks out with tweezers as close to the skin as possible so the barbs that hold the tick’s head will surely be extracted.

She added leaving a bump or some lost skin behind is better than risking leaving tick pieces behind to be infected.

“I usually start at the nose and work my way back and have a feel through the fur,” she said.

“You’re looking for anything that feels like a bit of a bump or a wart that’s come up. They like to hide in areas with skin folds so the ears, sometimes between the toe pads so you want to check the whole animal.”

As far as preventative efforts go, Tallon suggested keeping grass short in the yard and taking note when pets run through low-hanging foliage.

Some topical medicines are available, including oral medications dogs can take every three months. Other applied topicals that are safe for dogs can be fatal to cats. Tallon suggested consulting a veterinarian

“It will not prevent the pet from picking up a tick but if the tick bites, it will die. It won’t have time to transmit anything and it also won’t be bringing it back into the house to leave it on your floor or on your pillows.”    





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