Quincy Veterinarian Warns South Shore Residents About the Dangers of Ticks and Lyme Disease
(firmenpresse) - QUINCY, MA -- (Marketwire) -- 03/11/12 -- Dr. Meg Connelly, a at Willard Veterinary Clinic is warning pet owners throughout the South Shore to guard against ticks this spring. According to Dr. Connelly, this area harbors a significant tick population with a high incidence of Lyme disease transmission. Lyme disease causes painful, arthritis-like symptoms, fever, lethargy and lack of appetite. In rare cases, it can also cause heart and nervous system problems. She notes one case where the dog presented with licking its paws constantly, and this turned out to be a symptom of Lyme. Cats seem to be resistant to Lyme disease but get other tick borne illnesses and can carry the ticks into the home. She warns that animals and people can both suffer from tick-transmitted diseases, so families should take safety measures such as applying flea and for their animals.
Dr. Connelly explains that the whole Eastern Seaboard, including the South Shore, is a hotbed for ticks that carry Lyme disease. "Towns such as Milton and Dorchester, as well as many other areas have teeming tick populations, and we see several cases of Lyme disease in our weekly. Tick larvae hatch sometime in February, and they hunt all year round. So if you take your dog walking in the woods, in a park, or even the back yard, check your pet, and yourself, for ticks. The faster you remove a tick, the better. The first 24 hours a tick is cementing itself to the host and performing host adaptation. During host adaptation the tick is figuring out what kind of animal it is feeding on. It will begin to feed and transmit disease on the second day of attachment. It is critical to use preventative measures such as that repel and kill ticks and their eggs. In high risk situations, we even recommend ."
Dr. Connelly advises pet owners to call the clinic if they find a tick on their pet for removal instructions. According to the veterinarian, people often twist or jerk the tick trying to remove the parasite and this may cause the ticks mouthparts to be left behind in the skin. The can assist with removal and give further advice to pet owners that find a tick or any type of parasites.
Dr. Connelly states that pet owners should also be aware of Lyme disease symptoms, in case a tick goes unnoticed during the first 48 to 36 hours after it attaches. The most common symptom is joint pain, swelling and stiffness that may shift from one leg to the other. Some dogs experience kidney problems, difficulty breathing, fever, lethargy, vomiting, and swollen lymph nodes near the tick bite. She urges pet owners who notice any of these symptoms, to come in immediately for diagnosis. Antibiotic treatment can help the sooner it is administered. She also recommends bringing in any removed ticks tightly enclosed in a zip-top bag for identification.
Connelly adds that prevention is always the best course of action against tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease. "Dogs love to play outside, and just because there are ticks out there, you and your pet don't have to hide in the house. Just keep them on their and check them every day so you can act quickly." Willard Veterinary Clinic can work with pet owners to provide for ticks and other parasites.
For more information, visit the veterinarian's website at .
Willard Veterinary Clinic
Quincy, MA
1-888-667-5235
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Datum: 11.03.2012 - 10:00 Uhr
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News-ID 1091561
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