Here’s a scary fact. No matter where you are in America – there are ticks. Ticks – and the diseases they transmit, are now in all 50 states. While naturalists seem to know exactly how many endangered Florida Panther or timber wolves there are, no one is counting ticks. Still, experts concur, in America, tick numbers are on the rise.

Dr. Dwight Bowman, veterinary parisitologist at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine – Ithaca, NY says that a general increase in wildlife numbers - from deer, wild turkey and raccoon and all sorts of animals - intersecting with suburbia likely has the most impact.

“We once had manicured lawns with little habitat for ticks; we also sprayed our lawns with chemical pesticides,” he says. “Today, we have shrubs and gardens, which ticks like, and often even encourage the presence wildlife. And we don’t use those pesticides. I’m not arguing against having gardens, and encouraging streams in our yards with the animals who come.  And I’m not endorsing use of  those horrible pesticides. But all this is a price we pay – and the result are ticks in our yards.”

Though they can’t live on concrete, ticks are lurking in the big city. Dogs spend a weekend in woodsy upstate New York or Wisconsin, then return to New York City or Chicago – and the ticks fall off in the park or big city yards where they lay their eggs. The cycle begins.

That’s not to mention the tick-friendly weather conditions (wetter and longer springs and/or falls, and warmer winters). As a result, the range of where various tick species are today has expanded. 

All this should be enough to, if nothing else, scare pet owners into protecting their pets. Aside from familiar Lyme disease, other insidious agents are transmitted to dogs by the blood-sucking relatives of the spider, including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Hepatozoon, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis. At least there’s treatment for these nasty sounding diseases. Cats are susceptible to one known tick-borne disease, it’s called cytauxzoonosis. The only problem is that this disease is about 97 percent fatal.

The good news is the protection for your pet is available. There are various products available through your veterinarian for dogs, and only one for cats, called Frontline Plus.

For dogs, at there’s also vaccine, it’s for Lyme disease. Depending on the prevalence of Lyme disease where you live, and your dog’s lifestyle – the vaccine might be suggested by your veterinarian. But regardless, Bowman says your dog should still have tick protection. That’s because one tick may transmit several disease agents all at once, in addition to Lyme.

“Your veterinarian can help you make the right choices for your dog,” says Bowman, who is the president elect of the Companion Animal Parasite Council. “For any cat that spends any time outdoors where cytauxzoonosis occurs, I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t give your cat protection,” he adds.

And the news gets worse. Bowman believes ticks transmit diseases not yet even identified by veterinary science. Under the best of circumstances, even if the tick is not transmitting disease, it’s still secreting toxins – which make some pets sick.

What’s more, brown dog ticks like our homes. This species can actually drop off the pet, lay eggs inside our homes, and very successfully continue their life cycles. It doesn’t matter to them if they bite the pets or put the bite on people.

“Tick protection is so important,” says Bowman. “Listen, the protection against ticks isn’t perfect and some products are more quick kill than others. Ticks are tough. But to do nothing for your pet is asking for trouble. Or to use unapproved (over-the-counter) products who suggest they are all natural, or make some other (unsubstantiated) claims.”

“You can play a role in your pet’s protection,”adds Dr. Susan Little, veterinary parisitologist, Depeartment of Veterinary Pathobiology Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University College – Stillwater. “Clear brush in front of your home. Check your pet frequently for ticks; quick removal is best. And don’t bathe your dog immediately after application of a (tick) product; wait at least two or three days.”

Aside from tick numbers being on the rise, it seems the sticky blood suckers are lasting year-round in many places around the country where they pretty much once disappeared in the winter. While ticks aren’t a problem in January in North Dakota, they are now hanging out throughout much the country year-round – including states like Kansas, Oklahoma, Kentucky and many others. That’s one reason why Little says the Companion Animal Parasite Council is now suggesting year-round control.

Learn more about tick disease and prevention at www.petsandparasites.org.

©Steve Dale, Tribune Media Services