Deadly tick-borne disease now in UK
ATOP vet has warned Runcorn dog owners to protect their pets from a potentially lethal parasite following a major study into ticks in the UK.
Dr Ian Hopkins, principal vet for the Willows Veterinary Group which owns The Laurels veterinary surgery on Victoria Road one Runcorn, was among the experts on an advisory taskforce for the national research undertaken by Bristol University.
His role was to advise on the most effective way of delivering preventative warnings to pet owners across the UK.
The Big Tick Project, led by Professor Richard Wall, examined almost 15,000 dogs from across the UK through participating veterinary practices.
One third (31%) of the dogs examined had at least one tick present suggesting the distribution of ticks had risen across the country with climate change believed to be a factor.
The study, which involved the largest survey of dog ticks in the UK, found that canines were at risk regardless of whether they lived in urban or rural areas.
A Willows spokesman said that ‘most worryingly’, it identified evidence of the dermacentor reticulatus tick in 10 of the dogs randomly examined – a known carrier of the lethal parasite babesia canis, which destroys dogs’ red blood cells, causing severe anaemia, organ failure and even death.
The babesiosis disease killed two dogs in southern England earlier this year and th ree needed blood transfusions. It was the first time the illness had been reported in the UK in animals that have not travelled abroad. Dr Hopkins said wild deer populations pose the greatest risk of spreading the disease, but also walking in woodland and long grass, especially in sheep or deer country. He said pet owners tempted to remove ticks – which can look like a wart or small peanut-sized lump – themselves should use a special tick hook as mistakes can be made such as accidentally squeezing the tick’s body which forces the bacteria in its intestines into the dog. Infection symptoms can include weakness, lethargy, pale gums or red urine in the early stages and anaemia or jaundice and rapid deterioration later on. A blood transfusion and medication are used to treat it.
Dr Hopkins said waiting for symptoms of tick infestation and infection to manifest could prove too late for affected pets.
He said: “Expecting people to check and screen their dogs is going to be impossible, especially with the big furry breeds.
“There are a lot of tick products out there on the pet shop shelf but there are concerns that some of them take two to three days to kill a tick and with babesiosis this wouldn’t be quick enough.
“The ticks will be spreading the disease before they’re killed.
“Repellents are not guaranteed to stop every tick from attaching – we need a product that kills the tick rapidly.
“Some spot-on products are monthly and involve using a liquid on the back of the dog’s neck for effective tick control.
“Some tick control tablets last for three months while there are tick collars that provide protection for eight months.
“If in any doubt of the solution required, pet owners should seek the expert advice of their local vet.”