Tick Identification
Unfortunately, tick identification is of the utmost importance when you fear that either you or a family member has been bitten or infested. Your pets are susceptible to the dreaded Lyme Disease carried by the smaller species of ticks, and these tiny, burrowing insects can be nearly impossible to find in an animals thick fur. Repellents and prevention are helpful, but when you are faced with tick identification, there is one all important rule of thumb to go by. Though you should always save any specimen that you may encounter in order to be absolutely sure, the rule is as follows: If you can clearly see the tick, you don’t need to worry too much. If you have a hard time making out the tiny insect, it’s time to worry and seek medical attention.
That’s right, the smaller the tick, the bigger the risk of fatal Lyme Disease. Our common dog tick is larger than the black-legged or deer tick, though it can still be difficult to pinpoint until it has become engorged. In this engorged state, the common dog tick will resemble a grayish to greenish blob with three little brown stick legs poking out of its sides. These gluttonous blood suckers tend to be easy to remove, but infestation is a pain for both you and your pet, and a strong tick repellent medication from your veterinarian’s office will do wonders for all of you.
Most importantly, tick identification needs to be made for the safety of your family. Even if you haven’t been bitten or embedded, but have only seen a tick in your yard or home, you may want to capture it for research and eventually destruction. Certain ticks have a higher tolerance to pesticides and find it easier to hide safely until the poison has passed. Knowing exactly what you’re dealing with is the key to fighting infestation and the dangers involved with it. The deer tick, the number one carrier of Lyme Disease in the United States and Canada, can be miniscule, and therefore extremely difficult to identify and fend off.
The deer tick nymph is by far the most dangerous parasite to find within your living quarters, or worse, upon your person. They are tiny, and they imbed into the skin where the supply of food is always fresh and readily available. If you fear that you have an infestation, or that you have been bitten by one of these tiny ticks, you will need to seek medical advice and treatment right away. Doxycycline is the most common and powerful prophylactic used for the early prevention of Lyme Disease, and the earlier you seek this pharmaceutical, the better your chances of nipping this disease in the bud.