Cheshire tick cases in dogs boom in summertime warns vet

Ticks are a form of spider which live on the blood of animals including sheep, deer, and wildlife, but they are often picked up by dogs when out walking, and even by humans.

Getting a tick is very unpleasant, but in cases when they stay in their host for longer time periods, they can spread infections like Lyme disease, which if not treated quickly, causes long-term nerve and heart problems.

And thanks to global warming, there are now new species of ticks never seen before in the UK which carry parasites responsible for babesiosis, which is often deadly in dogs, and tick-borne encephalitis, which is similar to meningitis.  

Tick numbers boom in summertime (Image: Newsquest)

Vet Christian Sadler, of Tatton Veterinary Practice, says cases of ticks increase massively in the summer months, when people are more adventurous on their dog walks.

He said: "We've been approached by worried owners coming back off longer walks, where they have been exploring a little bit in the summertime.

"In places like this, the grass is longer, and their dogs are picking up ticks, especially on their faces.

"Always check your dog, especially after off-lead activity on heathland and forested areas, and remove ticks if you find them.

"Removing them correctly is very important. The last thing we want is people just yanking them off at home, or burning them off. We’ve seen people using some quite weird methods.

"You can buy tick removers, but because ticks have a corkscrew-shaped mouth, you need to screw them out.

"There are some products that will kill the ticks in time, but keeping your dog safe is really about how fast you kill them. The longer they stay in, the higher the chance of them spreading disease.

"There’s been a drive in the veterinary community recently about ticks. It’s mostly because of the change in average temperatures, and the arrival of Central European ticks that we didn’t have in the past.

"Everyone’s heard of Lyme disease, but vets are now starting to see things like babesia in dogs, and it can be pretty awful.

"The dog usually dies as the diagnosis is very challenging, and they're usually very sick by the time we see them.

"If your dog does get a tick, it’s worthwhile keeping it in a little pot, just in case. We can send them off to be tested to see what diseases they carry."

Global warming means the UK has more species of ticks than ever before, with some carrying new diseases (Image: Newsquest)

Though the new European ticks haven’t yet appeared in Cheshire, they are present in both the Peak District and Mid Wales, according to research by veterinary drug company Zeotis.

But the threat from our native 'sheep tick' is no less of a concern, and these are widespread in Cheshire, including in Tatton Park.

Christian added: “The best way to deal with them is to use a prescription-based flea, mite, and tick treatment that kills them in the required timeframe. A lot of these worries will then go away.

"People can also get the same diseases carried by the ticks, so it’s important to be cautious when handling the ticks."