Concord Animal Hospital’s Tips on Ticks

​Keep your pet safe from ticks and tick-borne illnesses
​
​​When pets like Harriett go out to play, they're exposed to more than just fresh air, fun, and a little bit of mud (or really a lot of mud). Our dogs and outdoor cats are also exposed to plenty of pesky parasites, such as ticks and the diseases they carry. Yuck!

What Kind of Ticks Are in Our Area?
There are three main types of ticks in the Concord, Massachusetts area:

1. Deer Ticks, an estimated 50-70% of whom carry Lyme disease causing bacteria!
2. Dog Ticks
3. Lone Star Ticks

All three types of ticks carry diseases such as Lyme, Anasplasmosis and Powassan. All three diseases can make people and our canine companions very sick.
While people follow precautions for keeping themselves safe from ticks such as using bug spray and wearing long pants and socks, it’s important to do the same for our four-legged friends, too.

How Can I Keep My Dog Safe from Tick-Borne Diseases? 
Our veterinarians at Concord Animal Hospital strongly recommend using tick preventatives such as Bravecto or Simparica.  Some clients double-up with a chewable preventative and a repellent collar. Talk to one of our veterinarians to determine the best product for your pet given their health history, potential exposure to ticks and lifestyle. Use your preventative all year long!

Please use a tick preventative year-round!
Frost and freezing temps DO NOT kill ticks. Ticks are dormant but come back to life in only 40 degrees - a high often achieved even in the coldest months. Our veterinarians see plenty of dogs with tick-borne illnesses throughout the winter.
Our vets also suggest taking added precautions such keeping your dogs out of long grass or and away from undergrowth.  These areas are where dogs like to sniff and explore, but they are also prime hangouts for ticks.

After a walk, the American Kennel Association recommends checking some spot you might forget to look, such as inside ears and between toes, just to make sure your pet didn’t bring any ticks home  with them.

Keep a running list of questions on ticks and any
​other concerns to ask during your next vet visit!

Schedule a check up!

What Do I Do If I Find a Tick on My Dog?  
If you find a tick on your dog, remove it as soon as possible! If it hasn’t attached itself yet, there is no risk of tick-borne illness for your pet. If it has attached, grasp the tick with a pair of tweezers as close to the site of attachment as you can and pull straight back.
If you have found an attached tick, particularly one that is engorged, the MSPCA advises noting the date and time to discuss with your veterinarian.
Continue watching for the following symptoms*:

• New joint pain, which may manifest as reluctance to stand or lie down
• Crying painfully
• Walking gingerly or limping, especially on more than one limb or on a different limb from one day to the next
• Lethargy
• Lack of appetite

*NOTE: Symptoms may not appear until several weeks or even months after exposure. If you observe any of these symptoms following a tick bite, contact us immediately to make an appointment. Typically tick borne-illnesses respond well to a course of antibiotics, so don’t delay in contacting us!