This week, another new Sunny Saint, Sophie was rescued from a sad situation also. Covered in ticks and fleas, and unable to get up and walk, she was rushed to the vet’s, where she’s now clinging to life. Her illness could be a paralysis or Lyme Disease, caused by the tiny tick.
These cases have been real eye openers for Sunny Saints. While we tend to think of ticks as an “east coast” problem, the truth is, infected ticks are found in nearly every county in California. Dr. Laura Weatherford of Tustin Santa Ana Vet Hospital said that dogs are most likely to encounter ticks in the canyon areas, but in parks and scrubby areas as well. Your best bet is to protect your dog with flea and tick preventatives, and be sure to check with your vet for the best product for your dog. Comprehensive resource information can be found at http://www.capcvet.org/capc-recommendations/ticks, which also includes good prevention and control information.
Invest some time in finding the best flea and tick products for your dog, but also treat your house and lawn, keeping bushes and trees trimmed back; check your dog even after short walks, and keep him indoors during the height of tick season.
Ticks may be common, but they can really make your dog sick if left unchecked, so you may want to read up! More resources to keep your saint safe include:
While preventing tick bites and infestation is the best way to prevent disease, if caught early, it can be treated with antibiotics. We try not to pass judgment, and focus on saving saints, but could this information save some lives? It didn’t have to be this way. If you agree, please share this information by passing it along.