There’s a lot to love about living here in the Lone Star State … and a few things we could probably do without. Ticks definitely fall into the latter category. These eight-legged, bloodsucking monsters carry dangerous diseases which can affect both people and pets. In this article, a local Champions Forest, TX vet goes over some information you may not find very pleasant, but should be aware of regardless.

Species

Ticks are technically arachnids, a category that also includes spiders and scorpions. Many people assume that arachnid is another name for spider. That isn’t entirely wrong. All spiders are arachnids. However, all arachnids aren’t spiders. There are actually 11 subcategories of arachnids, including one for mites and ticks. To break it down a bit further, there are over 900 types of ticks. These can be divided into two categories: hard and soft. Hard ticks are more common, comprising about 700 of those 900 species. The remaining 200 are soft ticks. We’re not fans of any of them.

Local

Texas is home to several ticks. First, we have the American Dog Tick, which likes fields and grassy areas. Then there’s the Brown Dog Tick, which can live indoors, and the Groundhog Tick. Last but not least, we have the Lone Star Tick. As the name suggests, these ticks are common in these parts. You may have heard that some tick bites cause people to develop allergic reactions to eating red meat. The Lone Star Tick is the culprit in this issue.

Diseases

As you may know, ticks carry several dangerous diseases. Lyme disease is the most commonly known, but it isn’t the only one. Some of the others include Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tick-borne Relapsing Fever, and Tularemia.

Protection

You’ll need to be diligent about protecting both yourself and your canine buddy. Check both yourself and Fido over thoroughly after spending time outdoors. Don’t forget to look between your dog’s furry toes and beneath his collar. If you do find a tick, use tweezers or a tick remover to gently pull it out. Don’t break it off: that may leave pieces behind, and can lead to infections. Ask your vet for more information.

Does your pooch need to get caught up on his parasite control? Contact us, your local Champions Forest, TX pet hospital, today!