IS YOUR PET AT RISK FROM TICKS?

Wherever you live in the UK, if you have cats or dogs, they could pick up ticks in rural areas, public parks, and even in your garden.

Ticks are blood-sucking parasites that can pierce your pet's skin with their mouths and cement themselves into position to prevent easy removal. Most ticks in the UK are 'hard ticks' which means they have a hard outer shell protecting their body. The most common type is Ixodes ricinus, known as the sheep or deer tick. It's not only a risk to our pets, but can also infest other animals - and humans too.

Ticks are temporary parasites that spend 3-10 days feeding on your pet. They rely on their host for a blood meal - all stages of the life cycle, except for the egg, must attach to a host to feed before falling off into the environment to develop into the next stage. The whole lifecycle can take 1-3 years to complete.

Tick Cycle

IT'S JUST A PASSING IRRITATION, ISN'T IT?

No. Ticks can cause a variety of problems, some of them with serious consequences for your pet. At the very least, the physical presence of the tick is uncomfortable for your pet and can lead to a skin reaction or abscess where the tick is attached - particularly if the mouthparts are left behind when a tick is removed. But the problem doesn't end there, as ticks can also carry diseases that can be transmitted to your pet.

AT RISK IN THE UK

Lyme disease. Caused by the parasite Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted by Ixodes species of ticks, the most common ticks in the UK. Lyme disease can affect humans as well as dogs and on occasion cats. In dogs it may cause fever, lethargy, arthritis and occasionally skin disease.
Anaplasmosis. Caused by the parasite Anaplasma phagocytophila and transmitted by Ixodes ticks. Although rarely diagnosed in the UK, symptoms include depression, fever, reluctance to move and general malaise.

AT RISK ACROSS EUROPE

Ehrlichiosis. Caused by the parasite Ehrlichia canis and transmitted by the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus. It is seen in the Mediterranean, particularly the south of France, Corsica, Greece and central and southern Italy. Signs range from mild fever with loss of appetite to severe illness with anaemia and blood clotting.
Babesiosis. Caused by the parasite Babesia canis and transmitted by the ticks Dermacentor reticulatus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. It is seen throughout Europe, but dogs travelling from the UK are more susceptible to severe illness. Babesia infects red blood cells to cause severe anaemia. Affected dogs are pale and weak, have a high temperature and pass red urine. Severe cases may collapse and die.
Hepatozoonosis. Caused by the parasite Hepatozoon canis, it is transmitted by the pet ingesting the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus. It is often seen in conjunction with other tick-borne diseases, although many dogs infected show no signs of disease. Signs may include depression, fever, weight loss, lethargy and general malaise, but in some cases can be more severe.

CHECK FOR TICKS.

It is important to check your pet regularly for ticks, particularly if they are travelling abroad, or have recently come back from abroad. Carefully check every part of your pet, particularly around the head, ears, legs and paws.

It is possible that your pet may have had a tick attached without you noticing, particularly in long-haired breeds. So watch out for any of the warning signs, which could indicate a tick-borne disease. If your pet shows any of these signs, contact your vet:

Fever
Lameness
Loss of appetite
Sudden onset of pain
Arthritis or swelling in their joints
Lethargy or depression
Cough.

If your pet develops any of these signs after having travelled abroad, it is particularly important to tell your vet where your pet has travelled as some tick-borne diseases' clinical signs can be delayed.

TAKE CONTROL.

Preventing tick-borne diseases in dogs and cats means killing ticks before a disease is transmitted. Whether you're at home or travelling in Europe, it is important to treat your pet regularly to kill ticks. To ensure effective tick control for your pets:

Kill ticks within 24-48 hours to minimise the risk of disease transmission
Use a product to kill the main UK and European tick species
If your dog swims or is shampooed ensure you have waterproof tick control
Apply regular preventive treatment to maintain control.

Talk to your vet. Ask your vet for advice on the most suitable tick control product for your pet.

Brought to you by
Merial Animal Health, manufacturers of FRONTLINE^® and FRONTLINE Combo^®

THE FACTS ABOUT FLEA AND TICKS