Here Are Tick Information That You Must Know And How To Prevent Them.
Here Are Tick Information That You Must Know And How To Prevent Them.
What are ticks?
Ticks are small arachnids, part of the order Parasitiformes. Along with mites, they constitute the subclass Acari. Ticks are ectoparasites (external parasites), living by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians. Ticks had evolved by the Cretaceous period, the most common form of fossilization being immersed in amber. Ticks are widely distributed around the world, especially in warm, humid climates.
Both ixodid and argasid ticks have four life cycle stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.
Ixodidae
Ixodid ticks require three hosts, and their life cycle takes at least one year to complete. Up to 3,000 eggs are laid on the ground by an adult female tick. When the larvae emerge, they feed primarily on small mammals and birds. After feeding, they detach from their host and molt to nymphs on the ground, which then feed on larger hosts and molt to adults. Female adults attach to larger hosts, feed, and lay eggs, while males feed very little and occupy larger hosts primarily for mating.
Obk Bikeshop posted this for people who are raising dogs to let them know what a tick is capable of.
This Video Has Gone Viral In Social Media It Serves As A Warning For Pet Owners Of What A Tick Is Capable Of:
This Video Has Gone Viral In Social Media It Serves As A Warning For Pet Owners Of What A Tick Is Capable Of:
Tick Paralysis
Tick don't usually live on humans they are mostly found on our pets, especially our dogs. But there are cases that ticks wander off and climb on our children's hair especially the girls because they have long hair.
Here is the video of a girl who went viral because of tick paralysis:
This video was posted by Facebook page ATTN to warn others on what a simple tick can do to you.
Tick paralysis results from injection of a toxin from tick salivary glands during a blood meal. The toxin causes symptoms within 2–7 days, beginning with weakness in both legs that progresses to paralysis. The paralysis ascends to the trunk, arms, and head within hours and may lead to respiratory failure and death. The disease can present as acute ataxia without muscle weakness.
Although tick paralysis is of concern in domestic animals and livestock in the United States as well, human cases are rare and usually occur in children under the age of 10.
Lone Star Tick
There is also a case of a tick bite that will make you allergic to meat. It’s named the Lone Star Tick, scientific name: Amblyomma americanum. It is so powerful it can alter your diet preferences immediately. Whether you want it or not.
Recent studies have revealed that one bite from this tiny red tick causes a severe allergy to meat that you’ll permanently take it off the menu. The Lone Star Tick’s saliva bears an alpha-gal that invades the bloodstream. Its bite can free an antibody into its victims that make them allergic to alpha-gal, a sugar found naturally in meat and products made from mammals.
Lone star ticks tend to have a more rounded body shape than other traditional tick species. Adult females are about ¼ inch long and up to ½ inch or longer when fully engorged. Coloration varies from reddish-brown to tan, with adult females being distinguished by a single white spot on the back. The color of this spot can range from white to cream or bronze/gold and may take on an iridescent look at close range. Adult males typically have bright colored patterns along the outer margins of the body.
When this alpha-gal from the tick enters our bodies via our blood stream, our immune system recognizes it as a threat and releases antibodies to combat the intrusion. This results in an allergic reaction that involves hives, swelling, and vomiting. In severe cases, some people choke and lose their breath.
Watch this video about the tick and the meat allergies it can cause:
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Here are methods you can use to prevent/kill/repel those pesky tick and also fleas.
Ticks are getting viral on social media so here ways to keep those pesky ticks and fleas away.
Spot-on medications can be purchased from your veterinarian, pet store, or via online. They are very effective for controlling both ticks and fleas. These medications are effective at keeping those pesky parasites away for up to a month. But keep in mind that you still need to read the precautions of every product you use and if you have doubts always ask for advice from your veterinarian before application.
Oral Medications
Also, pills are available in your pet stores or veterinarian. These medications can work to kill both ticks and immature fleas and will disrupt the life cycle of fleas. These pills are easy to give and you won't have to be worried about small children and cats coming into contact with dogs after the application, as you might with spot-on treatments.
Shampoos
Shampoo with medicated ingredients will generally kill ticks on contact. But you will need to repeat the process more often because this won't last long unlike the oral medication and spot-on, about every two weeks would do.
Tick Dips
Ask your veterinarian for advice before treating puppies, or pregnant or nursing pets. A dip is a concentrated chemical that needs to be diluted with water and applied to the animal’s fur with a sponge or poured over the back. This treatment is not meant to be rinsed off after application. The chemicals used in dips can be very strong, so be sure to read the labels carefully before use. You should not use a dip for very young animals (under four months) or for pregnant or nursing pets.
Tick Collars
These collars are made of chemicals used to repel ticks, though they are only useful for protecting the neck and head from ticks. The collar needs to make contact with your dog's skin in order to transfer the chemicals onto the dog's fur and skin. When putting a tick collar you must make sure that there is enough space for your two fingers so the dog can still breath and preventing your dog from chewing on it. Also, watch for signs of discomfort in case an allergic reaction to the collar occurs.
Powders
Tick powders are made to kill and repel ticks from your dog. Always put this powders with caution and care. Be sure that the powder you are using is labeled for dogs, as well as for your dog's specific age. Also, check the label if the powder you are using is made for killing ticks as well as fleas. This powder can be an irritant to the mouth or the lungs if inhaled, so use small amounts and slowly rub it into the fur/skin of your dog. Keep the powder away from the face and the eyes when applying. You will need to reapply the product more often, about once a week during peak season. Some powders can also be used in areas where your dog sleeps, and in other parts of the household your dog frequents.
Tick Sprays
Be careful when using tick spray or any other tick prevention products, around your dog's face, and do not use them on or around any other animals in the home. Tick spray kills tick quickly and provides residual protection. This spray can be used in between shampoos and dips.
Treat the House and Lawn
The home of the tick and fleas are on trees, wooden areas, and grasses so you better trim them to reduce the population. If there are fewer areas for these parasites to live and breed, there will be fewer of them to be concerned with. If that isn't enough you can use some of the various household and yard sprays that are available from your veterinarian, pet store, or local garden center. If you are concerned for the proper handling of this tools you might consider hiring an exterminator to apply it to your yard.
Check your Dog(s)
When you go for a walk with your dog ticks or fleas might get attached to them without you noticing it. So it's advised that you check every nook and cranny of your dog if there are ticks attached to them if so a removal should be done immediately and carefully, making sure to get all parts of the tick's body removed from the skin.
Keep Dog(s) Indoors
Always keep our dogs indoors for the night. This will help prevent those pesky ticks and fleas from sticking to your dogs. As already mentioned tick and fleas live on grasses and wooded areas. So keeping them inside will surely help.
If you have other suggestion to prevent those pesky ticks and fleas, Let us know in the comment section located down below and we will include it if we find it effective. Thank you for reading and spread to give awareness.
