Good news for dogs that have problems with ticks even when on Frontline Plus

Merial, the maker of Frontline Plus, introduces Certifiect which is the newest addition to the Frontline family of flea and tick control products.  Certifect starts killing all stages of ticks in six hours and kills up to 100 percent within 18 hours.  It also causes ticks to detach from dogs and prevents reinfestation for up to one month.  Speed of kill for ticks is of vital importance because the sooner a tick is killed, the less likely it is to transmit infectious agents. 

We now carry Certifect in addition to Frontline Plus. Please call or stop in for more information.  You can also click here for more information.

Do you know the proper way to remove a tick?

Lighting a match behind an embedded tick or covering a tick with Vaseline or alcohol are old wives' tales and NOT the best way to remove a tick.  These actions can actually aggravate ticks and make them "throw up", putting the bacteria or parasites they carry in their saliva right into your pet.  Think Lyme disease and Anaplasmosis for our area especially. 

The best way to remove a tick is to get it to "back out".  You should grasp it as close to the skin as possible with tweezers and pull the ticks' body out with a steady motion.  Wear rubber gloves and clean the skin with soap and water after removal.  Dispose of the tick by placing it in alcohol.

Tick Myths:

Myth #1 - Lyme disease is the only illness that ticks can transmit to dogs and humans.

Lyme disease is certainly the most well-known tick disease and the prevalence of this infection is on the rise in both humans and dogs in Minnesota.  But, it is far from the only problem associated with ticks.  Anaplasmosis is another tick borne disease seen in dogs (and people).  It is also on the rise in Minnesota and because there is no vaccine we actually see more cases of this now than we do of Lyme disease.  Think that's it...think again.  Other diseases are Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, ehrlichiosis, cytauxzoonosis (in cats, so far we don't see this in cats that have not traveled outside of Minnesota, but it is moving northward from the southern states), tick paralysis, and anemia.  Believe it or not, this is still a PARTIAL list!

Myth #2 - If I find a tick on myself or someone in my family, Lyme and other tick diseases can be ruled out immediately with a blood test.

According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), laboratory results for tick-borne illness in people are often negative on the first sample and require a second test two to three weeks later to confirm infection.  Children are more susceptible to infection due to their immature immune systems.  Signs of Lyme are flu-like symptoms such as fever and malaise with or without a bull's-eye rash, but many people (and dogs) with tick-borne illness don't experience any symptoms, especially in the early stages of the disease.

Myth #3 - Ticks aren't a problem in the winter when it is too cold for them to live outside.

In most areas of the country, high season for ticks runs from April to November.  Experts recommend year round preventives, however, as infection can occur at any time of the year.  In the winter, for example, some tick species move indoors and are in closer contact with pets and people, while others make a type of antifreeze to survive during the winter months!

Stay tuned for Myth #4...