Heartworms, fleas, and ticks! Oh my!

Dr. Lesli Groshong, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Shelter Medicine)
HSBV Chief Shelter Veterinarian

It’s springtime in Colorado and we’re all eager to get back outside and enjoy nature! It’s also time for ticks, fleas and mosquitos to come out, and they love to be close to us and our pets. These pesky pests can grow and spread in a variety of ways.

Heartworms are spread by the bites of mosquitoes, fleas can transmit plague, tularemia and tapeworms, and ticks can infect with tick fever. The most common tick we find is the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, which when engorged can be the size of a plump raisin or even larger. We do NOT have the tick in Colorado that carries Lyme disease (Ixodes scapularis or deer tick). We often find ticks on dogs that hike or live in the foothills. Fleas can be found anywhere, but of most concern are fleas living in prairie dog burrows.

In addition to being aware of hosts in the form of the creepiest crawlers, warmer weather sets up environmental conditions to spread disease and infection. Wildlife droppings, rodent infestations, still water, trash, pet waste (pick it up!), and other conditions can spread parvo virus, leptospirosis, intestinal parasites, among many other infectious diseases that can be passed onto people.

Prevention

Keep wildlife wild! An important part of preventing exposure to these parasites is keeping your pets (and yourselves) away from wildlife. Even though wild animals may seem cute and cuddly, they carry bugs, and their waste spreads parasites. While different than the parasites previously mentioned, wildlife can also carry deadly viruses like distemper and rabies. Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is an excellent resource for all of your wildlife questions and support needs.

Protect your pet. There are a wide variety of products available to help prevent your pet from becoming vulnerable to parasites. These products can be administered in a variety of ways (topical, oral, or injectable), and most are administered monthly. Some breeds are sensitive to certain ingredients that can make them extremely ill. Flea and tick preventives and some medications can interfere with each other, resulting in unwanted side effects, toxicities, or even ineffective doses. Consult your veterinarian about your options and what’s best for your pet.

Some questions you can ask your veterinarian include:

  • Which parasites does this product protect against?
  • How often should I use/apply the product?
  • Is there a need for more than one product?
  • How would I apply or use multiple products on my pet?

Protect yourself and your family. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has some great information on their website about how to prevent tick bites on people.

Tick Removal

If you find a tick on a pet or person, you can participate in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) Citizen Scientist Tick Surveillance Project! Go to the CDPHE website and click on the ‘submit a tick’ link for instructions.

It is important to remove the tick as soon as possible. Follow these CDC instructions to safely remove and dispose of the tick (if you are not submitting it to the CDPHE):

  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 alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet.

Additional Resources

Below are some great websites with more information about these parasites.

Heartworm Society

AVMA Flea & Tick Resources

CDC Tick Bite Fact Sheet: What to Do