Dog Newsletter
Bear Paw Veterinary Service
March, 2022
Dog ticks!
Ticks are nasty little buggers! They spread disease to our animals and our households… diseases that are serious and preventable.
Case and point: I was done for the day, crawled in bed… my left foot felt like it still had a sock on – like the sock was wedged between my 3rd & 4th toe. It was an engorged tick! My wife looked at me alarmed and the look suggested that I should sleep elsewhere. I pulled it off and assured her that I was clean. That was over 3 years ago and my foot is still numb at the tick bite site.
Ticks are late winter to late summer problem. Animals travel often and far therefore, the risk of disease increases. The last 2 years we have seen more tick problems with our canine patients. We have not been vigilant enough on the preventative recommendation to our clients, subsequently, we have seen an increase in tick borne diseases in our local dog population.
Ticks can carry canine diseases:
- Lyme disease
- Ehrlichiosis
- Anaplasmosis
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
- Babesiosis
- Bartonellosis
- Hepatozoonosis
Ticks can carry human diseases:
- Lyme disease
- Ehrlichiosis
- Anaplasmosis
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
- Babesiosis
- Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness
- Tick borne relapsing fever
- Tularemia
Preventative measures/products should be utilized from Mid-March to August to address animal & human health.
Options of prevention: Ticks can be difficult to locate so many times owners miss them until they engorge. It is best to give our dogs a preventative.
Topical tick preventions work, but also expose family and other pets to the chemical. If a dog gest wet, the duration of effect can be shortened. I prefer the chewable tables and suggest the products Nexguard or Bravecto.
Nexguard lasts 1 month so we use this in puppies (as their weight changes during tick season) and small dogs < 20 pounds (these dogs can get Bravecto if their environmental exposure/risk dictates).
Bravecto lasts 3 months so it is the product of choice for our bigger dogs (20-123 pound). This product is hypoallergenic and simplifies having to give a product monthly. 2 doses will span 6 months.
The cost of using these products is about $0.83 per day.
Please consider using such prevention to ensure your dog’s health and your health. Contact our office to obtain and maintain such a program. 406-265-8901
Paul W. McCann, DVM