Pet Ponderings by Tracey Walshaw ~ Mosquitos and Fleas and Ticks – Oh My!

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Hikers and dog walkers got a scare this summer with the announcement that the species of tick carrying Lyme Disease was found in our neck of the woods. Out of the 100's of different species of this little blood-sucker there is only one that carries the disease – the blacklegged ticks AND only 10% of those can infect you or your pet. The last time I got close enough to a tick I was too busy screaming “GET IT OFF ME” to look at the colour of it's legs! There are a lot of misconceptions about ticks and how to dislodge them. You don't need to burn them off, just use tweezers or wear surgical gloves and pull them off, making sure the grasping mouth parts come with it (these things look like aliens under a microscope). The tick will actually dislodge itself once it's full but you don't have to wait for that. They also do not bury themselves completely under your skin and live there. For the lowdown on Lyme Disease and what to watch for, check out the Government Public Health website: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/id-mi/lyme-fs-eng.php#s3.
The usual pest that pet lovers deal with are fleas. These tiny little creatures can multiply faster than rabbits. My vet once told me that if you find one you likely have hundreds more in your house! My first exposure to fleas was on a visit to Texas. The dogs we encountered were literally “jumping” with them! The warm weather prolongs the life cycle down there. We tend to see them in the summer here but once they get into your house they can live through the winter. Cleaning in nooks and crannies, washing bedding and other areas frequented by pets are recommended. But, you must also treat your dog and cat with a medication. You can get the topical kind that is just a drop between the shoulder blades. This medication is usually good for both fleas and ticks. It enters your pet's bloodstream and infects the invaders when they feast on fido. Fleas jump from host to host, so those gophers and mice your cats are “playing” with are likely carriers.
On the topic of rodents, they also pass worms to those who devour them – namely our kitties. Getting on a regular routine of worming your cats every year is a good thing. If your dog gets worms then his poop is also going to pass along the parasite to whomever encounters it. We all know where dogs plant their noses, so being a good caregiver means picking up after your pooch.
Now that your skin is really crawling we hear about mosquitos carrying West Nile! Apparently your dog can get West Nile (as can you). A mosquito will get it by biting an infected host (bird, etc) and then after the virus incubates (5 to 15 days) the bug bites the next victim and passes on the virus. You can buy mosquito repellent specifically for dogs, but also avoiding peak mosquito times (dawn and dusk) will make it more comfortable for both of you. The other disease the mosquitos can carry is heartworm but we don't see that in our part of the country because we have such a short summer. The hot spots in Canada can experience this deadly disease and all of the United States at some time or other so if you are travelling it wouldn't hurt to have your dog vaccinated. One shot will prevent a lot of heartache.
So, there you go! Don't let this cause you nightmares; just be on the alert and be as proactive as possible, so your summer isn't spoiled!