Tag: Brown Dog Tick

  • Understanding the Brown Dog Tick

    Understanding the Brown Dog Tick

    As a dog owner in the United States, you probably have heard the name of a brown dog tick, which is are small and annoying parasites that carry actual risk to every living being. The brown dog tick becomes particularly infamous compared to other ticks as it not only survives, but can flourish, inside the comfortable living rooms or high activity kennel. It is not limited to any one area of the U.S., though it can be more prevalent in warmer areas in the U.S., but, due to its peculiar adaptive nature, it can easily spread all over an area as soon as dogs and humans begin to interact.

    Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Brown dog ticks are reddish-brown, and they do not have flashy body patterns and swell to a dramatic size after feeding. Adults reach up to 1/8 inch long, but burst up to 1/2 inch after engorgement. The fact that they can draw their entire life cycle in the house advantageously places them in homes, and their control becomes even harder.

    Brown Dog Tick on Dogs: Risks & Identification

    The brown dog tick lives on dogs. Since each of the stages of active life (larva, nymph, and adult) is a predator that mostly feeds on dogs, such locations as kennels, dog parks, grooming salons, etc., could infested with relative ease. Conduct a thorough inspection of your dog, but just devote a little more attention to the ears, in between the toes, and at the nape of the neck; these are the most favoured places to hide. These pests can occupy dozens of dogs, and the tick can move quickly to other hosts. Should they go untreated, infestations will ensue inside carpets and behind baseboards and furniture cracks, and brown dog ticks will be able to grow even during winter in colder months when other species perish.

    Brown-Dog-Tick

    The symptoms of a tick bite in a dog may be local redness and swelling, itching, and, in case of high infestation, even anaemia because of the loss of blood. When you find a tick on your pet, ask your veterinarian if you detect pale or bleeding gums or an inexplicable energy loss in your pet.

    Brown Dog Tick Diseases: What You Need to Know

    The brown dog tick is not just any problem. The real hazard is that it is a carrier of more than a few significant diseases in dogs, which is a collective group of illnesses call brown dog tick diseases, and in some unusual cases, humans. Such diseases are:

    1. Ehrlichiosis: It is an infection cause by bacteria, which causes fever, dullness, loss of appetite, and in chronic instances, severe bleeding problems as well as weight loss.
    2. Babesiosis: The red blood cells are almost destroy by the bacteria called Babesia, which cause fever, weakness, and sometimes, jaundice. Some dogs may turn into lifelong carriers, the sources of new infections.
    3. Anaplasmosis: Carried mostly by ticks, it is usually less prevalent in these ticks, but may cause pain in joints, fever and even neurological symptoms.
    4. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), which is more commonly transmit by other types of ticks; in some parts of the US, the brown dog tick is capable of transmitting this disease. When it affects the dogs, it results in exhaustion, vomiting, swelling of the limbs, and neurological disorders, among others. Brown dog ticks can also transmit this potentially fatal disease to humans, and this is yet another reason why they should remove promptly.

    It is imperative to prevent it. Apply tick preventives approved by veterinarians to your pet and examine your dog frequently to be sure it is free of this parasite.

    Brown Dog Tick Symptoms in Humans

    The brown dog tick favours dogs, but human beings, too, can fall prey to these ticks, particularly in infested households. The symptoms of brown dog ticks in humans are normally portray by the localised redness in the bite site and irritation. But the real danger is the possibility of spreading brown dog tick illnesses, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The first signs in individuals might display the following:

    Brown-Dog-Tick-on-Dogs
    • Sudden chill and fever
    • Aches in the muscles and headaches
    • Malaise and tiredness
    • Rash (severe in the case of RMSF, which is severe)
    • Enlargement of lymph nodes

    Although you may not notice an immediate reaction, you should watch out in case you develop an illness following a tick bite. In case you have a progression or worsening of the symptoms, fatigue, fever, or rash, go to the doctor’s right away and advise the staff of the possible exposure to a tick, especially with the brown dog ticks.

    Conclusion

    The brown dog tick is not some other pest but actually an adaptable but strong foe to animals and humans. Although these ticks are primarily dog-centred, they can potentially cause damaging brown dog tick disease, and though difficult, they are capable of attacking human beings since they would too have developed a full-scale infestation. If you learn brown dog tick symptoms in people, you will know how to conduct yourself when you are bitten and get immediate assistance.

    The most important thing is vigilance. Periodic examination of your pets, regular cleaning at home, and early treatment by a veterinary doctor can prevent cases of brown dog ticks and your family. Whether you see ticks or want professional recommendations on how to get rid of this pest, do not hesitate to contact SayNoPest to provide you with solutions and recommendations.

    Be safe, be tick-free and keep your loved ones safe from the unknown perils of the brown dog tick.

  • Tick Types: Most Common in America

    Tick Types: Most Common in America

    Several Tick Types in America can be the carriers of dangerous diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis. The knowledge of the most common Tick Types and the signs of tick growth in pets can be a certain protection for pets from these tick bites.

    5 Common Tick Types in the United States

    5-Common-Tick-Types-in-the-United-States

    5 Tick Types that are currently in the United States, and that are most likely to come into contact with your dog are-

    1. American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

    • The American dog tick has always been one of the most common Tick Types in the US. Adult specimens are about to be found just at first glance due to the combination of their brown bodies with white or silver markings on their backs. When engorged, female ticks change color to gray.
    • American dog ticks are well known for causing diseases like tularemia to dogs and humans. Dogs seem to be their preferred victims but they can easily switch to other species. For example, people in addition to cattle and wildlife.
    • These ticks are mainly seen in the spring and early summer. After a feast, the female tick may spawn thousands of eggs, hence an infestation is hard to be rectified. Ticks virtually never infest buildings but are quite a threat where there is a little canopy of trees outdoors.

    2. Blacklegged Tick

    • Western regions know it by the name blacklegged tick, and in the east, it goes by the name deer tick. The black-legged tick is tinier than the dog tick yet it is very dangerous. The adult black-legged tick is about 0.9×0.5mm in size and is almost two times smaller than the adult dog tick. They are usually found in grassy and woodland areas.
    • Due to global warming, the ticks are increasing. They are mostly present in the Midwest and Northeast and along the Pacific Coast. They are predominant in areas where the rodent reservoirs are and later transmits to humans.
    • These ticks are well known for being the transmitters of Lyme disease, as well as babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis. Nymphs of these species are dangerous since they can hardly be detected. These tick species are active from spring to the end of autumn, and one bite can transmit Lyme disease if the tick is not removed in time.

    3. Lone Star Tick

    • This tick has a single white dot on the back of the adult female. Lone Star ticks are not only aggressive biters but are also very likely to bite dogs, humans, and wildlife. They cause red and itchy rashes and transmit ehrlichiosis, tularemia, as well as another disease-STARI.
    • Important- Some people, that have been bitten by the Lone Star ticks, become allergic to meat, and this disease is called alpha-gal syndrome. These ticks are most active during early spring and late fall.

    4. Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)

    • Brown dog ticks are bicolored and have a conical, elongated form. The larvae, nymphs, and adults of this species are the cause of a theoretical illness called erliquiosis, amongst the symptoms of which are: headache, sore muscles, fever, etc. Toddlers, seniors, and the one with weaker immunity are the most likely to catch the infection.
    • Brown dog ticks are only found indoors, so their hosts are strictly limited to dogs, and they survive by remaining in one place an entire life-cycle. The ticks can move from a pet to its owner and cause severe symptoms. The transmission of the pathogens to the bloodstream can lead to the growth of the disease.

    5. Rocky Mountain Wood Tick (Dermacentor andersoni)

    • Rocky Mountain wood tick can be found in the states near Rocky Mountains and in the parts of the Pacific Northwest. These are similar to the American dog tick, which has a red-brown body with silver spots.
    • Mostly these ticks are active during the spring and the beginning of the summer. Their preferred habitats are grassy, bush, or forest areas in highlands. The infection by Rocky Mountain Wood Tick from one host to another can be Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, and tularemia.
    • Moreover, they have the potential to cause tick paralysis in canines and humans-a rare but very serious condition. If you go hiking or camping in the Rockies, don’t forget to check your dog (and yourself) in time after every outdoor adventure!

    Conclusion

    If you’re a pet owner, one of the responsibly common things to do is get yourself familiar with the Tick Types in America for dog protective measures and for the safety of your family.

    The thorough understanding of a species individual behavior, and risky diseases is quite crucial when it comes to seeking the best preventative measures while some other strategies like regular tick checks, unstoppable prevention, and on-time extraction will give the results. The constant protection of your pet (and yourself) against ticks is important.