|
Tick Bite Prevention Week 2012 Defence against tick-borne disease 26th March to 1st April 2012.  The Tick Bite Prevention Week website aims to provide information that you, your family, public organisations and groups can use to reduce the risk of being bitten for you and your pets. Tick Bite Prevention Week promotes awareness about the potential health risks from tick bites and the simple, sensible, preventative measures which can be taken against them. Tick Bite Prevention Week also provides advice on what to do if ticks do attach. Don't panic but be 'Tick Aware'. The campaign week is held in early spring when the weather gets warmer, people begin to spend more time outdoors and ticks start to become more active. Ticks are more abundant in late spring to early summer, and again during autumn. However, they can be active all year round during milder weather (above 3.5°C). The Pets Zone page will be of particular interest to pet owners. The page explains: Ticks are an increasing problem in the UK and can cause serious health issues. They are second only to mosquitoes in transmitting infectious disease to humans and animals. For your pets, tick bites can: - Cause irritation - Lead to abscesses - Transmit diseases, such as Lyme disease (Borreliosis), Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Bartonellosis and the Louping-ill Virus (LIV), which are all present in the UK and Ireland. "Ticks are often not fussy about their choice of host and will happily attach to your dog, cat, horse or you to take a blood meal" the website explains. What does a tick look like? There are so many myths about ticks and many people don't realise what a tick actually looks like because they only see the big, fat, balloon-like ticks often shown. Ticks can be as small as a poppy seed and are flat prior to feeding. You can see lots of examples and find out exactly where they are found and how they end up on you or your pets here What does a tick look like? What if my pet has a tick? The Tick Bite Prevention Week website explains: "Not every tick is infected and not every bite will transmit disease. However, the longer the tick is allowed to feed, the more likely it is that an infection will result. Incorrect removal of ticks can increase the risk of disease transmission or leave the tick's mouth parts behind in the skin which may result in localised infection. There are many myths about tick removal (such as turning it clock-wise or anti-clockwise, or burning, suffocating, or twiddling the tick until it is dizzy) but most of these methods are likely to do more harm than good, even if the tick does detach. Make sure you visit the page on safe tick removal to get up-to-date, official advice. There are only two safe ways to remove an attached tick:  - With fine-tipped tweezers. - With a tick removal tool. The O'Tom Tick Twister is recommended. The best way to avoid contracting a tick-borne disease is to avoid tick attachment in the first place. You can help raise awareness by downloading a banner if you have your own website and there are fact sheets, leaflets and presentations for all ages available for download. The great outdoors is there to be enjoyed by you and your pets, so please do take the time to visit The Tick Bite Prevention Week website and find out the facts about ticks and the diseases they can transmit, so that you can do so in increased safely. And please do spread the word. With no vaccines available for UK tick-borne diseases, awareness is the best defence. You may also be interested in our article The Best Way to Remove a Dog Tick. Back to list of Dog News and Events 2012
© D for Dog www.dfordog.co.uk |
     |
