Bozeman, MT (406) 587-5537
Baxter Creek Veterinary Clinic
  • Home
  • Meet Our Team
    • Doctors
    • Staff
  • Services
    • Acupuncture
    • Anesthesia
    • Dentistry
    • End of Life Care
    • Imaging
    • Health Certificates
    • Laboratory Services
    • Microchips
    • Pharmacy
    • Preventive Care
    • Referral Care
    • Surgery
    • Working Dog/Sports Medicine
  • Client Center
    • Clinic Tour
    • Emergencies
    • New Clients/Forms
    • Pet Portal
    • Referral Program
    • FAQ's
  • Blogs
  • Training
    • Clickerama
    • Reading Dog
    • Fear, Part 3
    • Fear, Part 2
    • Fear, Part 1
    • Jump
    • Let Us Prey
    • Right to Peak
    • Left to Peak
    • Building Blocks - Remo
    • Walter
    • Training Seminars
  • Resource Library
  • Contact

Tick Borne Disease by Dr. Jessica Bienapfl

5/16/2018

 
Picture
Brown Dog Tick
Picture
American Dog Tick
Picture
Rocky Mountain Wood Tick
Picture
​Tick Borne Disease
 
Spring is here, the grass is green, the creeks are high, and the ticks are out!  Springtime is the time the ticks are most actively questing for food sources after a long winter.  Ticks attach via their mouthparts and will take a blood meal and engorge (swell up) before detaching.  After coming out of dormancy in the spring, the ticks are hungry and eager to feed.  This means that early spring is the time we see more ticks on our domestic animals. 
​
According to the CDC, the primary species of tick found in Montana are the Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), Rocky Mountain Wood Tick (Dermacentor andersoni), and the American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis).  The American Dog Tick is primarily found in eastern Montana, whereas the Brown dog tick and the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick are found throughout the state. 
 

Aside from being a nuisance and a parasite, ticks are known to transmit bacteria, viruses and protozoa to other animals, including humans.  In Montana, the disease we worry about the most is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF).  All three species of ticks found in Montana can transmit RMSF.  RMSF is transmitted after a tick has attached and has begun to feed.  The tick needs to fully attach before transmission can occur.  Additionally nymphal ticks (immature stages of development) can also transmit disease.
These immature stages can be extremely small and difficult to see. 


Ok, so what do we do about it?  Prevention:  Several products are on the market to prevent ticks from attaching or to kill them when they bite the dog or cat.  Talk to your veterinarian about medication options and what is right for your pet. 

​Avoid folklore remedies such as "painting" the tick with nail polish or petroleum jelly, or using heat to make the tick detach from the skin. Your goal is to remove the tick as quickly as possible–not waiting for it to detach.
Resources:
https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/rmsf/
 
                


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    Archives

    August 2019
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    October 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014

    Categories

    All
    Obesity
    Outdoor Temperatures
    Toxic Substances

    RSS Feed

Hours of Operation

M - F  7:30AM-5:30PM
Select Saturdays 8:30AM-1:30PM

Connect With Us

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Contact Us

Baxter Creek Veterinary Clinic
710 Stoneridge Dr.
Bozeman, MT 59718
Phone : 406-587-5537 
Fax : 406-585-0462
email: baxtercreekvet@yahoo.com

© Copyright 2015 Baxter Creek Veterinary Clinic
Bridger Panorama:  andyaustinphoto.com