With spring giving way to warmer, summer-like temperatures, a West Island veterinarian is warning pet owners to be vigilant about a tiny insect that can cause big problems.
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of pets bitten by ticks. They started appearing earlier than normal this year and in many more areas than before.
“Even as recently as five years ago ticks were only something that you found on pets that went hiking south of the border in the Adirondacks, northeastern U.S. it's been slowly coming,” said veterinarian Karen Joy Goldenberg.
Goldenburg, who works at the Pierrefonds Animal Hospital, says it’s believed climate change seems to be the big reason why ticks have been spreading.
Cats are much more tick resistant than dogs. If a tick attaches itself to a dog, there are serious health risks, primarily from Lyme disease.
“They can get arthritis, swollen painful joints, they can get feverish flu-like symptoms, they can even get kidney failure from it,” Goldenburg said.
Wooded areas like the Morgan arboretum, and even lush back yards, are havens for ticks. After taking your pet outside, she said, owners must check them thoroughly.
“Every square inch of their fur, you've got to go through it. When you first come in that tick's going to be tiny. It’s going to be about the size of a sesame seed,” Goldenburg explained.
Kirkland resident Gail Routley has been taking extra care with her dog Mackie.
“They're small and he does get dirt on him as well so it's going to be a challenge but I’m going to be mindful of it,” she said.
It takes 24 to 48 hours for any disease to passed from the tick to the animal. To remove them, Goldenberg advises pet owners to see a vet, at least the first time.
“You have to do it really just right. You don't want to leave any parts of the tick in the dog under the skin [because] that can be a source of infection,” she said, adding if you squeeze the tick’s body, infection can be passed on quickly to the animal.
It may be best to invest in the numerous preventative medications on the market now, but take note – ticks are now showing some signs of resistance to certain types.
