‘Tick talk’:
It’s that time of year again — tick season!
‘Mews and Yips’ from the Central Aroostook Humane Society
By Denise Hamel
Board Member
Even with the use of tick preventatives, it is a good idea to check your pet for ticks daily. This is especially true if your pet has been outside in wooded, grassy areas or has had unexplained excessive scratching and itching.
A tick is part of the spider family and has eight legs. They are usually black, tan or brown in color and can turn gray or white after feeding on your pet for a spell. They can be as small as the head of a pin or get quite large and can be easily spotted once they are filled with blood from feasting on your furry friend.
Ticks can affect their host in as little as 24 to 48 hours, so it is important to be vigilant about checking yourself and your pets for these disease carrying pests. Ticks can move from host to host, whether it is from dog to person, person to cat, dog to cat, etc. Ticks can carry many diseases, the most well-known one being Lyme disease. Symptoms can sometimes be hard to spot and oftentimes it is too late before you realize your pet has been suffering.
In checking your pet, run your fingers through your pet’s fur with enough pressure to feel for small bumps on the skin. Ticks are drawn to dark hidden areas, so be sure to not forget to check between toes, ears, under the tail and under legs. Ticks bury their heads to feed and don’t move much once they have attached to you or your pet.
If you do spot an eight-legged critter on you or your furry companion, here are some tips to safely remove the invader:
• First and foremost, never use a matchstick, petroleum jelly, alcohol or nail polish remover to kill the tick on you or your pet’s skin;
• Arm yourself with a container filled with alcohol and get yourself a pair of rubber gloves — you never want to touch a tick with your hands, as there is potential for disease;
• With a pair of tweezers, or special tick-removing tool (which are very inexpensive to purchase and have good reviews) grab the tick by the head — which will be closest to the skin;
• Be sure not to grasp the body, as it may break off;
• With a good grip, pull outward with a straight and steady motion;
• Once you have dislodged the tick, put it in the container filled with alcohol, which will kill it;
• Just to be safe you may also want to put a cover on the container and date it. This will be helpful to your pet and veterinarian if your pet does contract a disease down the road; and
• After safe removal, clean the skin with warm, soapy water and apply an antiseptic.
Then it’s time to give you and your pet a special treat for a job well done!
A wealth of information can be found on the web about ticks and potential disease, symptoms and treatment options.
We want to thank all those who came out to enjoy the Presque Isle Historical Society’s guided tour of the 1875 Vera Estey House Museum. This historic house is filled with amazing history. We thank the Historical Society for the items that were generously collected to benefit our shelter.
Stop by and visit our available animals at 26 Cross St., Presque Isle. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closing for lunch noon to 12:30 p.m. Please be responsible pet owners; spay and neuter your pets.
