Ticks are small, flat, oval critters related to spiders that feed on the blood of humans, dogs, cats and other animals. Ticks are extremely small so they can be difficult to spot, which is why they can unknowingly pass along diseases.

Ticks live almost everywhere in the US, southern areas of Canada, and many areas in Europe and Australia. Ticks can be found in wooded, grassy and bushy areas.

Ticks spread a number of diseases by passing along bacteria, viruses and parasites in humans and their pets. Symptoms of tick-borne diseases in humans include flu-like symptoms like chills, fever, headache and muscle aches. The most common tick related diseases include babesisis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, Lyme disease and more.

Tick-borne diseases in dogs and cats can include skin irritation, loss of hind leg coordination, change in voice, vomiting, coughing, loss of appetite, rapid retching, lethargy, and in extreme cases can be fatal.

The best way to prevent tick-borne diseases is by removing loose ticks prior to attachment or promptly removing ones that have attached. Check yourself and your pets multiple times after spending time in nature.

1. Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. If you cannot remove the mouth easily with tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal.
3. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
4. Never crush a tick with your fingers. Dispose of a live tick by:

• Putting it in TiCK MiTT’s mesh bag and placing it in the dryer for 10 minutes on high heat
• Putting it in alcohol
• Placing it in a sealed bag/container
• Wrapping it tightly in tape
• Flushing it down the toilet

If you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, see your doctor:

• Tell the doctor about your recent tick bite,
• When the bite occurred, and
• Where you most likely acquired the tick.

The most widely known tick-borne disease is Lyme disease, which is typically carried by ticks in the Northeast, Upper Midwest and West Coast. Symptoms usually begin within 3 to 30 days after a tick bite with a rash and flu-like symptoms. Recent studies estimate there are over 450,000 people a year who may get Lyme disease in the United States, with only 30,000 of those cases being reported to the CDC. While Lyme Disease is usually treated with antibiotics to diminish symptoms, there is no cure.

If not treated, Lyme disease can lead to severe problems including brain and nervous system problems, incurable joint pain, heart issues and memory problems.

Yes, Lyme disease can be prevented by taking measures to avoid tick bites, such as wearing protective clothing, using insect repellent, and performing tick checks after spending time outdoors.