European Meadow Tick Warning
We at Animal Friends Pet Insurance have learned of a species of tick which has become established in the UK from continental Europe.
The European Meadow ticks were found in south-east England and west Wales during a study involving 173 veterinary practices.
The study, carried out by the University of Bristol, collected data from the veterinary practices who checked more than 3,500 dogs for ticks. The dogs were checked at random, regardless of the reason for their visit, and any ticks found were sent to a lab for identification. Although only five of the ticks were found, they are known to carry tick-borne infections that are not yet found in this country, including tick-borne encephalitis.
The study also showed that almost 15% of dogs in the UK had ticks attached at one time during the summer. Longer haired dogs are most susceptible to picking up ticks as well as gundogs, terriers and pastoral breed groups.
"Studies have been done to show that the distribution of Ixodes ricinus (the sheep tick) has shifted northwards in continental Europe in the past few decades and that the species has been found at higher altitudes, so it is possible that climate change will affect certain species of ticks." said Faith Smith from the University of Bristol.
Miss Smith also added that "The longer the tick is on, the higher the chance of a tick-borne disease. Ticks don't actually start to transmit infections until 24-48 hours post attachment, so the sooner it is removed cleanly, the smaller the risk of getting a disease it might be carrying."
Regular checking of your dog's coat should prevent any problems, paying particular attention to their ears and between their toes. It is also wise to keep your grass cut as short as possible in the summer months. A special tick removal hook can be purchased from pet stores and some veterinary practices and make sure your dog's flea treatment also contains a tick treatment (most of them do nowadays, but check with your vet if you are unsure).
If you do find an embedded tick, pull it straight out from your dog without squeezing or twisting and use some clean tweezers if part of the head remains (please use latex gloves when you do this). Clean your dog's skin with mild soap and water and keep an eye on the area for any signs of infection. If you are worried that your dog has become ill and the tick could be the cause, it may be a good idea to keep the tick in an airtight container to show your vet.
