Dog owners, beware; it’s tick season
Wayne County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center coordinator Kirsten Eshler checks a puppy for ticks. According to www.pestworld.org, the heavy tick season is partly due to a mild winter that allows ticks to emerge sooner than usual.
As warmer weather brings more outdoor adventures, health officials remind pet owners of a hidden danger in parks, backyards and wooded trails: ticks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said ticks are more than just a nuisance; they can transmit serious diseases to both dogs and humans including Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis.
“Tick activity is on the rise across much of the United States. Checking your dog after time outdoors is essential,” said Kirsten Eshler, Wayne County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center coordinator. “Ticks can be difficult to find, especially in areas under the collar, behind the ears and between the toes. Dogs should be checked daily, and especially when they have spent time outdoors.”
According to www.pestworld.org, the especially heavy tick season is due, in part, to a mild winter that allows ticks to emerge sooner than usual.
According to Eshler, checking for ticks is easy and doesn’t take long.
“Run your hands slowly over your dog’s body and feel for small bumps, paying attention to hidden areas, like under the collar, around the ears, groin, between the toes and underneath the tail,” she said.
As tick populations grow and spread into new areas, public health officials emphasize the shared responsibility of pet owners to safeguard both their animals and their families.
For more information on tick prevention and removal, visit www.cdc.gov/ticks.
Dan Starcher is the public communications coordinator for Wayne County.