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Ticks Pose Health Threat To Pets And Humans

April 22, 2014 - You can't spell "ticks" without "ick." Disgusting critters, ticks not only suck blood from your dog (and you, given the chance), they also spread dangerous diseases to both animals and humans, including Lyme disease. With warmer weather spreading across the nation, tick season is coming into full season. Removing ticks from your pet can be difficult, but Jennifer Kvamme, DVM has some helpful tips.

Identify ticks at tickinfo.com
"It’s no fun having to remove ticks from your dog during the spring and summer months," writes Dr. Kvamme at Philly.com. "Not only are these blood-suckers nasty to look at, all filled up with your pet’s hard won blood as they are, they are also notoriously difficult to dislodge, making it so you have to get up close and personal in order to assure success. Because left too long or not removed entirely, these buggers can cause some serious diseases. So, what can you do to keep your dog tick-free this season?" Dr. Kvamme looks at spot-on treatments, oral medications, shampoos, tick dips and tick collars. Read the full article at Philly.com.

Cats Too: Ticks love your feline friends, as well. Ticks can jump from one animal to another. As noted by The Humane Society, "Don't limit tick checks to your canine family members. Dogs can't directly transmit tick-borne illnesses to people, but ticks can move from host to host. A tick may enter your home on your dog's back and move on to another pet or human, or a tick could hitch a ride on you and then move on to one of your pets. A good tick prevention strategy includes checking all family members for these parasites, especially after outdoor activities in wooded, leafy, or grassy areas."

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