Ticks are blood-sucking, external parasites and are efficient hunters widely distributed in the countryside but can also be found in gardens and neighbourhood parks. They live in low vegetation and scrub and when they sense a passing animal or human, they climb aboard, attach and start to feed on its blood. Once ticks begin to feed, they can transmit any infectious agents that they are carrying to you or your pet.

Examples of diseases that ticks may transmit in Ireland and the UK include:

• Lyme disease, a bacterial disease of dogs, horses and people - a growing problem in Ireland and the UK.

• In dogs it may cause lameness, fever, anorexia, lethargy, swollen joints and rarely kidney failure.

• In humans it may cause a rash and flu-like symptoms, but may eventually produce abnormalities in the joints, heart and nervous system.

• Babesiosis, caused by a microscopic parasite that invades red blood cells of infected dogs. The disease can manifest with high temperature, increased respiratory rate, muscle tremors, anaemia, jaundice, weight loss and may be fatal.

While tick numbers tend to spike in the spring and summer months, ticks may be seen year-round in most areas in Ireland, perhaps due to climate change. Ticks are not restricted to rural woodlands however and are often seen in city dogs that have been out for a wander in a grassy area.

Detecting ticks:

Ticks are easiest to spot once they have started to engorge or increase in size. They are most commonly found on the head and limbs but can be found anywhere on the body.

If you find a lump:

• Part the hair and look at it more closely or with the help of a magnifying glass, if necessary.

• The place where the tick attaches may or may not be painful and there may be skin swelling

• It is distinguished from other skin swellings and growths because close scrutiny can reveal the tick’s legs at the level of the skin.

If you find a tick on your pet’s skin:

• The ideal device for tick removal is a specially designed hook with a narrow slot which needs to be slid with care under the tick at skin level so as to grip the head of the tick, and then rotated until the tick comes away intact.

• When attempting to remove a tick avoid handling the parasite directly without gloves - remember ticks carry unpleasant infections!

Do not attempt to burn, cut or pull the tick directly off - If you do so it is likely that parts of the tick’s head or mouthparts will be left behind.

Controlling ticks

Prevention is better than cure as an attached, engorged tick may already have transmitted any disease that it was carrying. Some types of topical or oral products used to control flea infestations are also effective against ticks. It is important to note that some products that are effective against fleas DO NOT WORK against ticks. For those products that are effective against ticks, the duration will vary from 4 weeks to many months. Using a longer lasting product will reduce the number of times you must remember to treat your pet and so reduce the opportunity for you to miss doses. Such treatments should be combined with daily examinations and tick removal for those pets, especially dogs, which are frequently outdoors in areas with high tick populations. Clearing long grasses and removing leaves, grass clippings and other organic debris will also help reduce the presence of ticks by disturbing their natural outdoor habitats.

For more information on ticks and the diseases they transmit please go to www.bravopets.ie

You can get your own Tick Twister/Remover here ...