Submitted by Cathy Chaw
You can hear the screams echo down walking trails and at dog parks sometimes, high-pitched cries and hollers of, “Get it off me! It’s biting, get it off me!” And there’s nothing worse than getting back home or to your hotel room and finding multiple ticks, either crawling or attached. Ticks are repulsive blood suckers that are horrifying to look at, even though they are quite small. Creepy crawly legs and biting pincers make me want to run from the hills back to the city.
The ticks are out in the Columbia Valley. I was bitten by what looked like an American Dog Tick in the Canal Flats area. But let’s be realistic, the ticks are there almost everywhere when you get outdoors, from the prairies to the forests. Ticks are no joke, and neither is Lyme disease, which is carried by some ticks and can be transmitted to both dogs and people. Basic antibiotic treatments are usually effective, but the diseases carried by ticks are often not well understood. Most of the time, experts and major treatment centers are in the USA and Europe. Diagnosis can be difficult, and some of the problems the many diseases carried by ticks can be terrifying. Best not to get bit in the first place!
Ticks can carry a number of diseases, and so if you’re headed out on your next wilderness adventure, stay safe and use your choice of repellents. Both natural and chemical repellents are available specifically for ticks and other pests. And even though I would love to be able to fully depend on natural solutions like lavender, lemon, and peppermint oils, the diseases that certain ticks carry are so scary that I prefer the nuclear option. I personally prefer non-natural repellents because experience has taught me they are more effective at repelling ticks specifically. Make your own choices and do your own research. Relating specifically to dogs, a lot of essential oils and natural repellents are toxic to dogs. Contact your veterinarian for accurate information. My dog hates peppermint so much that she digs holes to flee from it and holds a two-day grudge if she gets near the stuff. Yes, dogs are smart enough to sulk.
For our dog, our vet recommended a pill that repels ticks for a period of time. Some people also recommend a flea and tick medicated collar, but for some reason, our dog hated that specific collar and would roll around and do anything to get the collar off. If you’re going to be spending any time outdoors, talk to your vet and see what works for your dog. Because of your dog’s personality or breed, one or another repellent might be preferred.
Lastly, follow the instructions laid out for tick removal on the Health Link BC website, but in the most basic form, don’t handle the tick, use tweezers to remove the tick from its head, pull straight out, and disinfect the area. Tweezers specifically for ticks are available and helpful if you are going to be outside. Fear and nervousness are your enemies. Having the tick tweezers and consciously checking for ticks can reduce a lot of the anxiety around these tiny vampires!
Common sense and a quick read go a long way, and so does a healthy dose of prevention.
Although every attempt has been made to relay practical information, this article is not a substitute for professional advice and only provides general information. Contact your doctor, vet, and www.healthlinkbc.ca for exact and up to date information. The BC Centre for Disease Control is another great resource at www.bccdc.ca.
