Tick cases are most reported during the Summer and Fall months when individuals are enjoying outside activities such as hiking, walking outside or tending to gardens. At this stage, they’re only the size of a poppy seed, which makes them easy to miss. Almost 90% of January saw temperatures above 0 ºC and almost 20% of the month saw temperatures above 4 ºC. Those that cannot find a host will likely die. Nymphs are active during the summer. Tick feeding with head embedded into skin. (Original blog post from Deerbusters.com. Once they’ve had their fill, they fall off their host & move on to their next life stage. In 2018, about 35% of backlegged ticks in the Rouge Valley tested positive for Borellia burgdorferi (the causative agent of Lyme disease). Just like humans, ticks wish to stay warm; and they will hide in leafy or wooden areas where they can escape the harsher temperatures. Please click on the "Make an appointment" icon on the home page of our Website and follow the directions -- it is EASY! Note: It’s still the case that nation- & province-wide, about 1 in 5 deer ticks carry Borrelia burgdorferi. Adult ticks have 8 legs, 2 body parts, a flat body (when their bellies aren’t full of a blood meal), & a hard outer skeleton (hard to squish but don’t even try because you might release any disease they may carry). Lyme disease is not transmitted from person-to-person; however, dogs and cats can carry Blacklegged Ticks inside and place families at risk of being bitten. #animalhospital #vetteams #borderterrier #borderterrierpuppy, A post shared by Royal York Animal Hospital (@royalyorkanimalhospital) on May 13, 2017 at 11:35am PDT, © 2021 Royal York Animal Hospital. It is solid black in black-legged ticks, more “ornate” with some white in American dog ticks, & displays a white spot in female Lone Star ticks (white spots around the margins in males). This website includes a link to the map shown below as well as data on the number of ticks found in different parts of Toronto. On warmer days, however, ticks may be out looking for a blood meal. Tick-borne diseases & heartworm disease are a much bigger issue there than in Canada, & we strongly recommend that you take preventive measures while you’re there. Nymphs pose the greater risk to people because they’re around at a time when people are wearing shorts & tee-shirts & have more skin exposed, & nymphs are so tiny (1-2 mm in diameter!) Just like humans, ticks wish to stay warm; and they will hide in leafy or wooden areas where they can escape the harsher … 4222 Dundas Street West Etobicoke, Ontario M8X 1Y6, Happiness is a new toy and maybe a belly rub says Razzle the Border Terrier ! For more information, call the Info-Line at 905-688-8248, press 7, then press 3 or toll-free at 1-888-505-6074. Not every tick carries disease. In Ontario, Lyme disease is carried by some black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks. Blacklegged ticks are spreading to new areas of the province because of climate change. The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) is advising residents that blacklegged ticks, which can spread Lyme disease to humans, are being found in a growing number of locations across Cornwall and the five eastern counties.In the EOHU’s jurisdiction, at least 20% of blacklegged ticks are carrying the Lyme bacteria, which is why the disease is now … Read on to further understand the risk ticks present, & to learn how to identify the ticks of greatest concern & take steps to reduce the risk of acquiring tick-borne diseases so you & your dog can continue to enjoy the outdoors in good health. As noted in previous Deerbusters blog posts, deer ticks do not jump or fly; but instead they crawl upward. In our part of Ontario, people & their pets need protection from March through November at a minimum. But in certain areas where these ticks have been established for a number of years, as many as 40% of them carry Borrelia. Here are some reliable places to start. American Dog ticks cannot transmit Lyme disease. It’s not the beginning of tick season per se (there is no official “season” where ticks are concerned), but rather the time of year Canadian veterinarians (& especially veterinarians in southern Ontario) revisit the subject of ticks knowing that people & their pets will be spending more time outdoors as Spring approaches. (The longer ticks are established in an area, the higher the level of disease in those tick populations. In fact, only about 5% of dogs develop symptoms of Lyme disease: a lameness that shifts from one leg to another, fever, lethargy, & a loss of appetite. Ticks are bugs that sit on tall grass and bushes until they attach themselves to a person or animal passing by. Doug Sider, medical director of communicable disease prevention and control at Public Health Ontario, recommends calling your local health authority if you’re unsure about the prevalence of blacklegged ticks in your region. ), by Jenn Smith A sticky tape lint roller is excellent for picking ticks of any size off your skin and clothing. Travelling to the United States with your dog? “The number of ticks that are coming in on migratory birds has increased. (Brown dog ticks don’t have a distinct scutum.) But given the consistent warm spells we’re seeing during our winter months, we recommend year-round protection. RYAH Accessibility Standards & Privacy Policy, Veterinary Acupuncture, Laser Therapy & Management of Pain, Surgical, Anesthetic and Patient Monitoring, Prescription Refill & Prescription Diet Refills, Backlegged tick surveillance – City of Toronto, https://www.petsandticks.com/ticks-submissions, https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/lyme-disease/blacklegged-tick-surveillance-results/. The scutum covers the entire back of males but only the upper back of females. Depending on the species, and stage of life of the tick, they become dormant or latch on to their host - like a warm-blooded human or deer. they’re hard to spot. People can also develop serious complications of Lyme disease if it’s not treated. After any outdoor activity, it is best to perform a thorough tick-check on yourself, your family, and your pets. Ticks expand their territories at a rate of about 46 km/year. And where there’s a black-legged (deer) tick, there’s the potential for that tick to carry the bacterium (Borrelia burgdorferi) that causes Lyme disease. DO NOT put oils, Vaseline, or other concoctions on the tick (we worry that it’ll cause the tick to regurgitate into its host – exactly what we don’t want!). According to Lyme Ontario, those various “home remedies” for tick removal have not been proven effective and can potentially do … Those that find a host will overwinter on it, holding onto its hair when they are not feeding. It’s not the kind of map any city wants to be on, but the deer tick has been found in sufficient numbers in parts of Toronto, to put us on it. Which tick species should you worry about this time of year? They can sense a potential host through body heat & vibrations. 2) Engage the tick between the prongs of the tool approaching it from the side. What are the symptoms of a tick … Instead, they “quest” when they’re hungry for a blood meal. While Lyme disease is serious, it’s also entirely preventable if you take the appropriate precautions. Remove ticks on dogs with a pair of fine-tipped tweezers, pulling slowly straight out. Due to COVID-19, tick submissions are suspended. Tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease are preventable! 12% of deer ticks carry Lyme, but in Lyme endemic areas (lake Ontario, Long Point etc) up to 60% of deer ticks carry Lyme disease. By the way, you’re invited to be a citizen scientist & help Dr. Scott Weese of the University of Guelph with his tick surveillance efforts by submitting information about ticks you find on your pet here: https://www.petsandticks.com/ticks-submissions. Instructions for downloading the app: Flea and Tick app Instruction Sheet_EN. Toss your clothing into a hot dryer for 10 to 15 minutes to kill any lurking ticks. 3) Gently lift & turn (clockwise or counterclockwise) until the tick releases its hold. In a 2017 study by the Government of Alberta, only about 2% of all ticks they tested were positive for B. burgdorferi , the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. To learn about the parasites of concern in the U.S., see the maps provided by the Companion Animal Parasite Council at https://capcvet.org, The easiest way is by looking at the shield on their backs called the scutum. Unlike fleas & mosquitoes, ticks can’t jump or fly onto their hosts. You will have approximately 24-48 hours to remove the deer tick before the possibility of Lyme Disease transmission occurs; 3) Deer ticks may look like freckles, or poppy seeds on your skin. But, now that the cold weather is here, you may be thinking that you are in the clear of getting bit by a deer tick or being infected by Lyme Disease. You'll know if you've been bitten by a tick. As more information becomes available about the numbers of ticks carrying Borrelia in our area, we’ll keep you posted, but in the meantime, you can assume that at least 20% of our deer ticks are carrying the bacterium. There’s an app for that! Although there may be a lack of potential hosts available during winter, ticks can live without a host for a very long time. Not all adults and nymphs carry disease, but some do and their numbers are increasing. Some ticks carry diseases (such as Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever) and can pass them to people. They’re most active in the spring and at the beginning of fall. After feeding on a host animal’s blood, the adult female lays eggs -- from 1,500 to as many as 5,000. They’re pretty hungry at this point & literally do a face plant when they feed, embedding their heads into skin & sucking up blood through a feeding tube for several days. It’s not the beginning of tick season per se (there is no official “season” where ticks are concerned), but rather the time of year Canadian veterinarians (& especially veterinarians in southern Ontario) revisit the subject of ticks knowing that people & their pets will be spending more time outdoors as Spring approaches. There’s a nifty 2-pronged tool for the job (pictured left) that we can give you. When hiking or walking through areas that are likely to be infested with ticks, individuals should wear long-sleeve shirts and pull their socks over their pant legs to keep the pests off. The ones of greatest concern are the black-legged (deer) tick & American dog tick. And because we worry about Lyme nephritis (a rare but typically fatal complication of Lyme disease that affects kidneys) and we still don’t know enough about subclinical & long-term effects of the disease, your best bet is to take appropriate steps to avoid disease transmission. For year-round tick prevention (as well as coverage for other parasites for the months of the year they’re of greatest concern), we recommend a monthly chewable in the NexGard® family of preventives: Note: At some point, we’ll be looking at whether it’s also appropriate to introduce the Lyme vaccine in our area. 4) Disinfect the bite site and wash your hands. We’ve been monitoring weather patterns for a number of years now, & it’s become clear that while the weather is unpredictable. They’re a greater concern if you’re spending time in parts of the U.S.) The incidence of most tick-borne diseases is still pretty low in Canada. If you find a tick on your dog, we can run a quick blood test to check for exposure to disease. Hosts include birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals, like you. Larvae seek out a host between September and November. When snow falls, they will bury themselves in debris or whatever they can find. August 17, 2020, Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more …, Phone: 888-594-0602Email: sales@deerbusterscanada.ca, Pick a currency: After a period of up to 10 days of drawing blood from your body, an engorged tick can detach itself and fall off. The ticks are known to feed on migratory birds and can be carried throughout the province. Ticks remain most active when temperatures are above 45 degrees Fahrenheit; but they do not go away in the winter, nor do they die because of the cold. Tick-borne diseases are serious, but they’re also entirely preventable if you take the appropriate precautions. Need reminders to give your pet flea & tick preventives? In a study on black-legged ticks put through residential washers and dryers, the temperature needed to be above 130°F (54°C) for every single tick to die. But black-legged ticks that transmit Lyme disease in particular are growing in numbers, including in the GTA. Tick activity is temperature-driven, not seasonal. Powered by Shopify, FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $349 CAD | ALL CANADA PRICES INCLUDE DUTIES AND TAXES, Keeping Climbing Animals Away From Gardens, 8' x 330' Heavy Duty With Reinforced Bottom Edge, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals, Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council, chronic wasting disease cases 2018 canada, deerbusterscanada cat fence conversion kits, economy fence with reinforced bottom edge, government less support for canadian farmers. However, ticks can get established in new places. Our complete primer on ticks follows, but here’s a summary of key points that are top of mind. Think again. Blacklegged “Deer” Tick (Ixodes scapularis) This tick is most easily identified by its reddish-orange … However, if a deer tick attaches to your skin, you must remove it immediately with a tick remover tool; and get tested for Lyme by a doctor. Gananoque, Kenora District, & Wainfleet Bog have some of the highest level of disease in their tick populations.). What You Should Do Your parent or another responsible adult should check you for ticks after you've been playing or hiking in the woods, especially on your head (including your scalp), back, neck, armpits, and groin area. Unfortunately, they do not. We’ve been monitoring weather patterns for a number of years now, & it’s become clear that while the weather is unpredictable, you can count on ticks being active through the winter. Click here for a chart that can help you identify the four ticks of concern in Canada: Identifying Adult Ticks. Given that Toronto is on the map as a risk area for Lyme disease, & winter months here continue to see temperatures that support tick activity, we recommend year-round tick protection to ensure your dog is covered during those warm spells that are becoming a norm through the winter. As Kingston & gananoque, up to 10 days of drawing blood from your body, an engorged can. 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