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As CDC Initiates Plan to Monitor U.S. Tick Problem
Pet owners and their pets spend more time outdoors during the warmer months. As you refresh on summer safety tips, don’t forget all the time spent at parks and camping/hiking spots and even just playing in the backyard, can mean fleas and ticks–which thrive in tall grass and leaf piles –may be ready to pounce on man’s best friend.
Fleas and ticks can easily latch onto dogs and cats, and can spread serious diseases. Lyme disease is the most common illness caused by tick bites, representing 72% of the tick-borne diseases reported in humans in 2017, and can be fatal if left untreated.
Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported human illnesses from mosquito, tick and flea bites more than tripled in the United States from 27,388 in 2004 to 96,075 in 2016. The data are a strong indicator of animal illnesses, as well. The CDC is set to start monitoring the nation’s tick problem as well as the diseases the pests might be carrying.
With the rising numbers, pet parents can take measures to protect their four-legged friends, including checking pets and family members regularly and having pets protected with a preventative year-round. Lyme disease has been found in every state in the U.S.
Other Safety Tips for Dogs this Summer Include:
• Never leaving them in a hot car even for a few minutes
• Keeping a dog’s paws cools
• Making sure a dog always has access to fresh drinking water and shade
• Don’t assume a dog can swim well
• Indoor pets are as much at risk of contracting fleas and ticks as outdoor pets
On May 2, Dr. Dan Markwalder, DVM, will be available to share advice for keeping your dog safe this summer, with special emphasis on protecting pets from flea and tick infestation and Lyme disease. He’ll also outline the signs and symptoms associated with Lyme disease.
When you book a window, we’ll provide you with guest bio & suggested questions. Interview is courtesy: Merck Animal Health
