Did you know that the black legged tick (Deer tick) is the most common tick in Connecticut?

Did you also know this very tick is known to carry and transmit Lyme Disease (Lyme borreliosis)?

Lyme disease is one of the most common tick-transmitted diseases in the world. It not only affects animals but humans as well. It is caused by the spiral-shaped bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi that is carried inside the tick and then gets into the dog’s or person’s bloodstream through a tick bite. Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria can travel to different parts of the body and cause problems in specific organs or locations, such as joints, as well as overall illness. Some symptoms of Lyme Disease to look for are:

• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Reduced energy
• Lameness (can be shifting, intermittent, and recurring)
• Generalized stiffness, discomfort, or pain
• Swelling of joints
• Bullseye

Although mother nature hasn’t quite decided what season she wants it to be here in CT, tick season is among us and it’s going to be a fierce one! We have had several dogs come in for groomings with at least 5 ticks (or more) embedded in their skin! Please begin your flea and tick preventative care process to be sure to keep these buggers off your beloved pet and yourselves. The preventatives are relatively inexpensive and come in a variety of dispensing options.

Chewables
Nexgard
Bravecto
Simpara
Sentinel

Collars
Seresto
Scalibor

Topicals
Frontline
K9 Advantix
Revolution
Vectra

Over the past 2 years we have found Seresto collars to be the most effective to repel an kills ticks. They can last up to 8 months too! We carry Seresto collars in our retail store at QK.