It has become all-too-common knowledge that ticks pose a huge risk to our health because of the diseases they carry. Lyme Disease is on at the top of this list. Take a look at these sobering statistics:

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), data suggests over 30,000 confirmed and probable cases during the last reportable year of 2012. The most alarming data indicates in 2012, 95% of those Lyme Disease cases were reported from 13 states with Connecticut and neighboring New York, being listed among the dreaded 13!
• To add more fuel to the fire, Connecticut has the highest rate of Lyme in the US with Fairfield County in particular reporting the highest number of cases of Lyme disease in Connecticut.

With the consensus among local residents to steer clear from ticks that may be harboring this dangerous illness, one must ask how our pets affected by the risks associated with Lyme Disease.

Many pet owners assume that even though ticks are bothersome and revolting on your pet there is no cause for alarm, which couldn’t be farther from the truth. Here in the U.S. there are four tick diseases that infect dogs. These are Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever and yes, even Lyme Disease. Along with infecting man’s best friend with disease, ticks can actually pose other dangers to their health such as Anemia.

According to the Parasite Prevalence Maps which are provided by the CAPC (Companion Animal Parasite Council) and can be viewed on the CDC website, in 2013 one in sixteen dogs in the US tested positive for Lyme Disease. This data also indicates that one in seven dogs in Fairfield County, CT tested positive for Lyme. This means 1,408 dogs tested positive for Canine Lyme Disease out of 9,444 which were tested. These maps are used in a new study by the CDC to predict which regions are at a greater risk of outbreaks of the disease. By keeping up with the information on canine occurrences in an area, the CDC can pinpoint which areas are most vulnerable and better warn the citizens of that area to protect themselves against ticks that may be potential carriers of the disease.

Symptoms that your dog may have a tick-borne illness, such as Lyme Disease can include

• loss of appetite
• lethargy and depression
• pain
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• edema in the extremities
• hemorrhaging
• neurological disorders such as seizures,
• and even death.

 Along with having your veterinarian advise you on the best tick protection for your dog and exercising tick safety during tick season, it is even more important to treat the areas where ticks thrive. Even the best laid plans that include spot-on canine tick treatments can falter and put your dog at risk. These products are not failsafe and should be used in conjunction with a larger scale program to reduce the number of ticks prevalent in your own backyard.

It's important to pet owners and non-pet owners alike to protect themselves from ticks and the potential diseases that they carry. One way is to take control of your property by keeping overgrowth, debris and brush to a minimum. Next, have your property protected by Mosquito Squad of Fairfield County CT and Westchester County NY. Mosquito Squad provides a season-long barrier spray control system. This spray creates an invisible protective barrier around your yard to eliminate both ticks and mosquitoes from your yard. If your yard is even more conducive to ticks based on growth, brush, and vegetation, we have an even more intense treatment cycle that may be right for you to protect your pets.

Call us today at (203) 832 - 9500 to add Mosquito Squad seasonal protection to your yard. Or, email us at fairfield.county@mosquitosquad.com.