Checking for wood ticks is rite of summer outing

By Marty Metzger
North Forty News

It's just possible that the dog days of summer have gone to the ticks. An abundance of the blood-sucking pests have benefitted from northern Colorado's wetter-than-average weather earlier this year.

One Fort Collins dog and his owners discovered the hard way that a particular type of tick can cause an alarming ailment.

In early June, Leonard and Cherry Sokoloski worked on pine beetle-infested trees in the woods of Crystal Lakes. Their 4-year-old Lakeland terrier, Brandy, eagerly supervised their sylvan efforts. After a long day of manual labor, the Sokoloskis forgot to inspect their canine buddy for ticks. Eight days later, it became apparent something was wrong with Brandy.

First thing that morning, he exhibited signs of neurological distress. His hind legs were unsteady and he had difficulty walking and climbing stairs. Cherry's meticulous examination of her pet quickly yielded a possible culprit as the cause of Brandy's floundering gait: an engorged tick attached along the dog's spine. Leonard carefully removed the insatiable parasite with needle-nose pliers.

By the time the Sokoloskis and Brandy reached Cache la Poudre Veterinary Clinic for a 10 a.m. appointment, he was showing some signs of improvement. Ann Little, DVM, immediately diagnosed Brandy's propulsion problem as tick paralysis. She treated him with a broad-spectrum antibiotic and chlorhexadine antiseptic wash because the tick's entry point was infected. But once the nasty critter had been removed, no additional neurotoxin could enter the dog's system. No further treatment was required and by that afternoon Brandy was back to normal.

Dr. Little said that the offending species common to our area is the Rocky Mountain wood tick. Only females, and not all of them, produce the vexing neurotoxin. Typically, initial symptoms appear about a week after the bite. The longer the tick remains embedded, the more toxin is discharged into the host and the greater the severity of symptoms. It's critical that dog owners frequently check their animals for ticks.

Complications can be long-lasting and include respiratory distress or neurological involvement that mimics stroke symptoms. Dr. Little noted that wherever the substance enters the canine's system, it targets nerves. She cautions owners to not try to remove ticks, but rather to take a pet to its veterinarian for treatment. If a tick is pulled out but its mouthparts remain lodged in the dog, infection can result.

Also, the vet can identify the type of tick, advise what problems it presents, and suggest preventive measures to best thwart subsequent tick attacks. Cache la Poudre Veterinary Clinic prefers Revolution, a topical application. Dips are available, as well as tick repellant collars. Dr. Little thinks the effectiveness of collars is minimal.

Mountain Vet Supply and Ranch-Way Feeds both recommend Frontline, Frontline Plus and Advantix. Poudre Feed Supply also offers those three permethrin-based products, as well as natural products that include neem oil, eucalyptus and Cloud Nine Herbal Dip.

Owners of other species (cats or horses, for example) can breathe a small sigh of relief. Although there are sundry voracious ticks and other biting nasties out there seeking an easy meal, the paralysis produced by the Rocky Mountain wood tick's neurotoxin is species-specific to canines, said Dr. Little. Dog owners should be vigilant for any ticks that step up to the all-they-can-eat barking buffet.

Make it a happy, healthy season for your dog's days of summer