The Reality of Tick Borne Illness in our area

The Reality of Tick Borne Illness in our area

Living in South Jersey, you know there is a huge bug population like mosquitoes, fleas, spiders, ants and ticks. With the amount of deer we have gnawing at our hostas and prized plants in this area, deer ticks are one of the most feared - for you and your pet. Did you know there are over 200 species of ticks in the U.S.? Ticks can spread infectious diseases to humans and animals, including cats.

Diseases like Lyme, Ehrlichiosis, Typhus and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (you don't have to live in the Rockies to get it!) and tick paralysis are transmitted through bacterium in the bite.

In Lyme disease - carried specifically by the deer tick (otherwise known as the black-legged tick) the hallmark "bulls-eye" is a clear sign you have been bitten by an infected tick - but that only lasts in most cases about an hour. This explains why Lyme often goes unrecognized and undiagnosed. Plus its symptoms - fatigue, joint aches and pains, swollen glands, headache, chills and fever - mimic so many other illness symptoms - there is a lot to rule out! In Dogs, the effects are seen as listlessness, lack of appetite, stiff joints and muscles, as well as fever.

Ehrlichiosis (carried by the american deer and the lone star tick) has similar symptoms but also includes nausea, diarrhea and fine, pinhead points of bleeding and in only 50% of the cases a flat rash. In dogs, symptoms include pain in the joints, fever vomiting, diarrhea, and possible nervous system disorders.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (wood and dog tick) for the most part is found in the northeast US - not where you'd think by its name - and mostly in children. Symptoms include chills, fever, nausea, hallucinations, confusion, extreme thirst, muscle pain, rash that starts at the ankles and wrists, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and light sensitivity. In dogs, it causes fever, sudden bleeding from the nose and/or in the stool, vomiting, loss of appetite, difficulty walking, swelling in the extremities, blood in the urine, often spots on the body that look purple or like bruises on the skin, and pain in the eyes. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can be contracted from March through October. Very often this is fatal for animals.

There is hope for animals however with Lyme disease. A vaccine has been developed. Originally created for human use, it never quite got to that level (politics?)and is now only used for animals. It's about 80% effective and I'm sure every vet has a specific opinion on its efficacy. If there are ticks in your area, I would consult with a veterinarian to determine the best defense for your pet and you!

The Reality is, once diagnosed , the are so many variables involved it is hard to say how you or your pet will be affected. The length of time you have had it, the severity of the disease, at what point medical intervention arrives; these are all factors has to how debilitating it is and how your body reacts to it. Also note that for us humans, there is a clinic in West Chester, PA that specifically and only deals with Lyme disease.

Typical flea and tick season around here I'd say is April through October but I honestly keep prepared year round. We've just come off a very wet summer with the previous winter mild for the most part. I use products to keep the deer out of the yard and gardens faithfully. I also use lawn sprays that are not harmful to animals and humans but help to get rid of the insects. Makes an afternoon of being outside with your pet so much more enjoyable and safe!