Originally published in the April 19 issue of The Mountain-Ear Newspaper.

Deb D’Andrea, Nederland.

Ticks are starting to surface, with several individuals reporting finding ticks on their dogs. Last year, a 15-year-old dachshund was misdiagnosed by the emergency room veterinary as being paralyzed from genetic issues, when actually it was tick paralysis. After ticks were discovered and removed from the dachshund, within 24 hours the dog’s condition returned to normal. The couple mentioned their regular vet had witnessed the exact same thing three weeks earlier with another client. The dachshund couple had been camping in Nederland.

Unfortunately, our current weather pattern has made 2018 a perfect storm in the tick world, increasing their populations and thirst. Ticks, a member of the spider family, date back to the Cretaceous period from 65 - 146 million years ago, so they’re here to stay.

When ticks bite, they inject an anesthesia, so you don’t notice the initial bite; and their salvia contains a toxin causing tick paralysis.

Ideal tick habitats are sandy soil, hardwood trees, rivers and anywhere there is a deer or moose population. Though, migrating birds and other animals have been found to spread ticks upon their routes. ‘Questing’ is when ticks lie awaiting their next meal, clinging to leaves or grasses as they outstretch their front legs to grab a host. Some ticks will attach immediately while others will crawl in search of softer, thinner skin. If not removed, ticks can feed for days or weeks.

It is essential to find and remove ticks within 36 hours and disinfect the bite area. Be sure to remove everything, including mouthparts if they break off and try not to squeeze the tick while removing it, pushing all the ick inside your pet or youself. A pair of tweezers is a must-have in your emergency kit, they will be handy. I always travel with my tick tool.

With tick paralysis, your dog is able to feel but is unable to react in response. The nerve impulse affected is the brain thought to the muscle action. That action thought could be wanting to walk or jerk away from a situation but finding themselves immobile or paralyzed. Rather horrifying. Interestingly, this is exactly what my Tiki experienced; but in her case she had a tumor where her brain connected to her spinal cord blocking the electrical signal; and once the tumor was removed, she regained her ability to communicate with her body.

While there are many products claiming to assist in repelling ticks, several of those products only work once the tick has bitten; and some of these products have side effects equally as heinous a tick bite. I heard an advertisement for a flea and tick product with the list of side effects that included neurological issues for your pet. No thanks. As a benchmark regarding how far people have gone, the Soviet Union used DDT to control their tick population. The key is to prevent the tick from biting your dog in the first place. There are many pet and human safe natural topical sprays and other products you can use to deter ticks from finding your dog as a host. I highly recommend researching these alternative safe solutions for you and your pet.

While our pets are at risk for a variety of diseases spread by ticks, humans are at risk also. So as spring continues, a gentle combing or brushing of your dog after a hike will help catch any ticks prior to them attaching; and help with the winter coat shedding!

Till next time. Deb D’Andrea, founder of 4TheLuvOfDogz & the Caribou Dog Ranch, is recognized by the State of Colorado as a Certified Canine Massage Therapist and will visit your home or Vet’s office to work with your dog. Canine Agility may be offered at the Caribou Dog Ranch in 2017 if there is interest. Deb currently has limited availability for new Petz Nanny Clients; and she bakes up fresh dog treats & doggy birthday cakes per order. For information contact Deb at 720-675-7078 or email: info@4theluvofdogz.com.