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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Tips for prevention, removal of ticks from family pets<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Charleston (SC) Post and Courier <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jun 19 2015 12:01 am<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pet Docs<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ollie is our big, 10-year-old orange tabby. His four favorite things are roaming<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the woods next to our home, eating, sleeping in the sun and being petted.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Yesterday, I (Perry Jameson) was doing his forth favorite thing, which induced a<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>deep purr that relaxes both him and me. As I scratched under his chin, I felt a little<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>lump. Once the hair was parted, I could see what it was: a big, engorged tick.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As the weather gets warm, I consistently find these on my cats, especially the two<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>males Ollie and Mojo.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As veterinarians, tick removal is something we have to do frequently and most pet<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>owners should know how to do this as well. It is important to remove all of the tick<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and not leave any behind which can continue to transmit infection or induce inflammation<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>at the site.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We do not recommend using your fingers for this as it inevitably results in a part<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of the tick being left behind. Use forceps, tweezers or one of the new tick removal<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>devices (available at camping supply stores and pet supply stores) instead. These<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>tools allow you to grasp the tick close to the skin and next to the mouth parts.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Apply steady rearward traction to pull the tick off. Then drop it in the toilet and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>flush.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Since ticks carry diseases infectious to people, wash your hands afterward or, even<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>better, wear gloves during the removal process. They can also transmit infections<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to our pets.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The biggest tick-transmitted disease for cats in our area is cytauxzoonosis. Cats<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>with cytauxzoonosis may have with high fever, trouble breathing, depression, dehydration,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>anorexia, anemia and jaundice that often rapidly progresses to hypothermia, recumbency,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>coma and death.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Even with aggressive therapy, greater than 50 percent of cats with the disease will<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>die. Bobcats are believed to be the primary host for the organism.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dogs can get diseases from ticks as well. In our area, Ehrlichia and Anaplamsa are<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the most common. These diseases often cause fever, lethargy, anorexia, decreased<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>white blood cells and platelets, and sometimes joint pain.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fortunately, most dogs will respond well to therapy. Rocky Mountain spotted fever,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Babesia and Lyme disease are not as common but still can occur here.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is not only a good idea to prevent tick exposure because they are gross but also<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>because they can make both our pet and human family members sick.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The best way to prevent exposure is to keep your pets indoors. The next step is a<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>daily tick inspection. Go over your entire pet, even looking down into their ears.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The earlier the tick is found, the less imbedded it will be, making it easier to<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>remove and less likely to transmit infection.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Preventing tick exposure in outdoor pets is a two-step process. First, they can be<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>kept away by using a collar embedded with compounds that repel ticks. These do a<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>pretty good job around the head and neck but may not keep them away from other areas.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Topical flea/tick prevention is an option but the tick has to bite your pet before<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>it is killed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The second is to make your yard a place where ticks do not want to be. This involves<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>keeping your grass cut short, keeping bushes and shrubs trimmed and removing yard<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>debris, like leaf piles, where ticks like to hide.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Deer will bring ticks into your yard. If deer like to visit, then tall fencing may<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>be required to keep them away.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The best way to prevent tick-transmitted diseases infecting our pets is to first<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>prevent exposure to ticks. Check your pets daily and take steps to keep them away.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Your veterinarian is the best resource to help you come up with the right plan of<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>attack for your family.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dr. Henri Bianucci and Dr. Perry Jameson are with Veterinary Specialty Care LLC.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>