Act Quickly - Avoid The Danger Ticks Can Cause You And Your Pets!
We all know that ticks can make us sick, but few realize how sick. We’ve all heard about Lyme disease, but it can be easy to underestimate tick-borne diseases if you don’t know someone who has experienced it. But before we get into the diseases ticks can transmit to us and our pets, we want to begin by saying that not every tick that bites has a disease. And tick-borne diseases take time to transfer from the infected tick to their host. For example, Lyme disease can take 24 to 48 hours to be transferred. Therefore, if ticks are caught early enough and removed properly, illness can be avoided, depending on the disease the tick has. It is also important to understand that Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases are treatable in their early or acute stage. However, once they progress into their chronic stage, some of these diseases are incurable. So acting quickly to find and remove ticks and having a medical caregiver look if you find a tick, tick bite, or are experiencing the symptoms of tick-borne disease is essential. And this is true of both humans and pets.
There is a long laundry list of diseases associated with ticks. You've probably heard of many of them, but some you may not even know exist. Some of the diseases spread by ticks include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Powassan virus, Colorado tick fever, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and tularemia, which can cause tick paralysis. The risk of disease depends on which tick you or your pet has been in contact with. Blacklegged ticks, commonly known as deer ticks, are the primary threat for Lyme disease. American dog ticks are the most likely ticks to spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. Lone star ticks spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia and are vectors for ehrlichiosis. Groundhog ticks, which prefer to feed on groundhogs and other small mammals, are a high-risk vector for Powassan disease.
Our pets can also contract tick-borne diseases, but the impact each of these diseases has depends on the animal. Between dogs and cats, our dogs are the most susceptible to tick-borne diseases. But that doesn't mean our cats are safe. Cats can contract serious diseases like Haemobartonellosis and cytauxzoonosis from ticks. While rare, these diseases can be deadly.
What To Do About Ticks
- Protect pets. Make sure your pets have flea/tick collars and have been treated with veterinarian-prescribed products for eliminating ticks.
- Perform routine tick checks on both yourself and your pets. Ticks will often attach to our pets in between their toes or in and around their ears. On humans, they typically attempt to climb up into the hair and attach to the scalp but may settle for another spot along the way. If you find a tick while performing these checks, use a tick-removal tool or tweezers to pinch the tick near the head as close to the skin as possible and pull straight up to remove it. Avoid squeezing its abdomen to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
- Avoid entering areas where questing ticks may be hiding. When you go for a walk, avoid tall grass and other areas of thick vegetation. Ticks prefer to hide in moist, shaded spots as they lay in wait for a new host to pass by. If you have a dog, consider creating a fenced-in area in your yard for your pet to play in to help keep your dog from exploring areas of your landscaping where ticks may be and to resist wildlife from entering these areas.
- Prevent wildlife. Every measure you take to prevent wildlife and bird activity near your home will help resist ticks and reduce the tick populations in your yard.
- Mow your lawn regularly. Keeping your lawn trimmed will make the conditions in your yard less ideal for ticks.
- Consider tick control. Invest in routine treatments from a pest professional to reduce tick populations in key areas on your property and around your home.
- Recognize the signs of tick-borne illness. Lyme disease often begins with a distinct bullseye rash while Rocky Mountain spotted fever is associated with a spotted rash. Recognizing these signs and signs of other tick-related illnesses can help you and your physician prevent chronic illness.
If you live in our extensive service area of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and portions of the surrounding states, let the licensed and certified professionals at Action Pest Control take care of your tick problem! Our service professionals use EPA-approved products by following strict safety protocols to ensure your home and yard receive the best protection available.
Take the necessary steps to protect yourself, your family, and your pets from ticks by partnering with us at Action Pest Control!
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