Commonly thought of as insects, ticks are arachnids similar to mites, spiders and scorpions. They are parasites that feed on the blood of their host including animals and human beings. The organisms are also carriers of diseases as they attach firmly to the host while sucking blood, feed slowly on them and can go unnoticed for a considerable amount of time because of their tiny size. Therefore, as pet parents, it’s crucial to have some basic information about ticks so as to remain on the safer side.
In this article, we have offered a comprehensive study about the common types of ticks that are alarming for pets and the harmful effects that they have.
1. Blacklegged Tick/ Deer Tick
Blacklegged Ticks or Deer ticks are formally known as Ixodes scapularis. They are harmful to dogs, cats as well as humans. The pests can infest animals when temperatures are above freezing but are most likely to be active in the spring, summer and fall. An adult deer tick is orange-blue in color and has black legs.
- Found in: Northeast, Upper Midwest and mid-Atlantic areas.
- A bite from deer ticks can cause: Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease
2. Lone Star Tick
Scientifically known as Amblyomma americanum, Lone star ticks generally pose a risk to cats, dogs and humans. They tend to infest during early spring to late fall. The parasites are reddish-brown in color, with the female parasites having a large white spot on their back.
- Found in: East of the Rocky Mountains, except for the northernmost states.
- A bite from lone star ticks can cause: Cytauxzoonosis, Ehrlichiosis, Tularemia and Rickettsiosis
3. American Dog Tick
American Dog Ticks are formally known as Dermacentor variabilis. Most likely to remain active during the spring and summer, the ticks are harmful to cats, dogs and humans. The parasites are brown in color with white to grey markings.
- Found in: The eastern United States and along the Pacific coast
- A bite from American Dog Ticks can cause: Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia and tick paralysis
4. Brown Dog Tick
Brown Dog Ticks or Kennel ticks are formally known as Rhipicephalus sanguineus and primarily infest dogs. They also tend to attack cats and humans. They are reddish-brown in color and turn grey-blue when engorged.
- Found in: Throughout the United States, except for Alaska.
- A bite from Brown Dog Ticks can cause: anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, hepatozoonosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever
5. Gulf Coast Tick
Scientifically known as Amblyomma maculatum, Gulf Coast Ticks feed on humans and animals. They transmit tick paralysis that can be fatal to dogs if goes unnoticed.
- Found in: Along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Coast to the Chesapeake Bay region
- A bite from Gulf Coast Ticks can cause: Hepatozoonosis and Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis
6. Rocky Mountain Wood Tick
Rocky Mountain Wood Ticks feed on large mammals including humans, dogs and cats. Formally known as Dermacentor Anderson, these ticks generally prefer to live in elevations over 4,000 feet. They are primarily brown in color but become grey when engorged.
- Found in: Rocky Mountain states
- A bite from Rocky Mountain Wood Ticks can cause: Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia
7. Western Blacklegged Tick
Western Blacklegged Ticks are formally known as Ixodes pacificus and transmit diseases to cats, dogs and humans. The pests have a red-orange body with black legs and a black shield. They are mostly encountered in scrub-shrub habitats, forested and grassland habitats adjacent to forests and near water.
- Found in: Along the Pacific Coast, primarily in California
- A bite from Western Blacklegged Ticks can cause: anaplasmosis, ehrlichia and Lyme disease
Protecting pets against ticks
Whether your pet remains indoors or spends time outdoors, they always have the risk of getting infested by ticks. They are not only annoying but can also transmit diseases that can cause health hazards for your pets. You can however protect your furry ball by following the below steps:
1. Keep an Eye on Your Pet
It is always better to detect problems in their early stages. If your pet tends to roam outdoors, you must keep an eye on them for ticks especially on their neck, head, feet, ears and between the toes.
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2. Know Where Ticks Generally Hide
Ticks can be generally found where the wildlife lives like wooded areas. They can also be found in parks, gardens, kennels, dog parks and daycares. Limiting your pet’s exploration to such places will reduce its chances of getting infested.
3. Offer an effective tick prevention to your pet
You should offer your pets effective tick preventatives in order to prevent tick infestation and tick-borne diseases. The preventative products generally come in oral and topical forms. While topical products spread on the skin and eliminate ticks with prolonged contact, oral preventatives dissolve in the bloodstream and kill ticks when they bite the animal and ingest blood from its body.
Wrapping Up
Protecting your pets against ticks and treating them when they get infested with these pesky parasites is indeed a task. But with the help of veterinary-approved products, you can always keep your pets away from ticks and ensure their comfort and happiness. Visit CanadaPetCare to access the best tick treatments and preventatives at the lowest prices and lucrative offers.
