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a host. Some tick species can be active on winter days if the ground temperatures are above 32 ° F( 0 ° C).
ARE THERE CERTAIN TICKS THAT I SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT?
Although there are at least 15 species of ticks in North America, only a few of these species are likely to be encountered by your dog. They include American dog tick, lone star tick, deer or black-legged tick, and brown dog tick.
Other tick species may be encountered in various regions. Ask your veterinarian if you need additional information about a specific species.
AMERICAN DOG TICK
The American dog tick feeds on a wide variety of hosts, including humans and dogs, but rarely infests homes. Adults are chestnut brown with white spots or streaks on their backs.
Engorged females become slate gray and may expand to a length of 1 / 2”( 10-12 mm). Larvae and nymphs feed mostly on small rodents, while adults feed on dogs, cattle, other animals, and humans.
These ticks are widely distributed throughout the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, and eastern United States, as well as eastern Alberta through to Nova Scotia, in Canada. They are attracted by the scent of animals, and humans most often encounter them near roads, paths, trails, and recreational areas. Although present all year round, American dog ticks are most numerous in the spring.
The female dog tick lays 4,000 to 6,500 eggs and then dies. The unfed larvae crawl in search of a host and can live up to 540 days without food. Nymphs can live without food for up to 584 days- over a year-and-a-half.
Adults crawl in search of dogs or large animals for a blood meal. Adult American dog ticks can live for up to two years without food. They can be found in a waiting position on grass or other low vegetation along roads, paths, and trails. As an animal passes by, the tick will crawl onto it and soon start feeding. The males remain on the host indefinitely, alternately feeding and mating. The females feed, mate, become engorged, and then drop off the animal to lay their eggs.
The American dog tick requires from three months to three years to complete a life cycle. It typically is dependent on climatic and environmental conditions for its eggs to hatch.
LONE STAR TICK
Adult lone star ticks are various shades of brown or tan. Females have single silvery-white spots on their backs and males have scattered white spots. After feeding, females may be 1 / 2-inch( 10- 12 mm) long. Larvae and nymphs parasitize small wild animals, birds, and rodents, while adults feed on larger animals such as dogs and cattle. All three stages of the lone star tick will bite dogs and humans.
These ticks live in wooded and brushy areas and are most numerous near animal resting places and in the underbrush along creeks and river bottoms. Lone star ticks are present throughout the year, but peak populations may occur from March to July.
Regionally, they can be found in the Midwest, and eastern and southeastern United States. The range of the lone star tick may be expanding with the re-introduction and increased populations of whitetailed deer in many areas of the eastern US. It has also been reported in Ontario and Quebec in Canada.
DEER TICK OR BLACK- LEGGED TICK
All three active stages of the deer or blacklegged tick feed on a variety of hosts, including dogs and people. After the eggs hatch in the spring, the tiny larvae feed primarily on whitefooted mice or other small mammals. The following spring, the larvae molt into pinhead-sized, brown nymphs that feed on mice, larger warm-blooded animals, and people.
In the fall, they molt into adults that feed primarily on deer, with the females laying up to 2,000 eggs the following spring. Adults are reddishbrown and have a dark brown or black shield-like shape between their mouth parts and body.
These ticks are usually found in wooded areas along trails. They are distributed throughout the Midwest and eastern United States, as well as throughout Canada, with the highest proportion in Ontario. The larvae and nymphs are active in the spring and early summer; adults may be active in both the spring and fall.
The deer or blacklegged tick can transmit Lyme disease and possibly ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis to dogs and people. The deer or blacklegged tick can also transmit Powassan virus to people.
BROWN DOG TICK
The brown dog tick( also known as the kennel tick) is found throughout most of the United States and Canada and can transmit Ehrlichia. This tick feeds on dogs, but rarely bites people. Unlike the other species of ticks, its life cycle allows it to survive and develop indoors, which means it can establish itself in colder climates. The brown
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