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Dr Laura Morland
Dr. Laura Morland graduated from Kansas State University in 1971 with a doctorate in veterinary medicine. Dr. Morland is very involved in her community. She has four children and two grandchildren. In her spare time she enjoys raising Yorkies, Cairns and Maltese, and being a grandma. Dr. Morland may be reached at 620-724-8054 or visit www.girardanimalhospital.com.
Animals, Reptiles & Insects
2013-04-30 08:49:12
Should I worry about ticks this year?
Q-Do I need to worry about ticks this year?
A-For a number of reasons, tick populations in many areas will likely explode this year and parasitologists say that it is not just more ticks, it is more ticks in more places. The reasons that ticks and the diseases they carry spread is warmer winters, increase in white tailed deer, migratory birds that carry ticks to new areas and the rural areas becoming suburbs which bring together people, wildlife and ticks. Without the cold hard winters that use to be prevalent there just isn't the winter kill and several ticks species that were abundant in the South have moved North. Wildlife is one of the biggest contributors to the increasing tick populations. Ticks hitch a ride to new areas on migratory birds, rodents, coyotes and the white-tailed deer. When ticks are dropped off in an area, they are moved within that area by smaller wildlife. In addition, more and more people are encroaching on wildlife as they move from urban areas into rural and suburban areas, putting themselves and their pets in harm's (the tick's) way. Ticks are the major cause of vector-borne diseases in the United States, they have been implicated in the transmission of nearly a dozen human and animal infectious diseases, including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease. One tick species is a vector in transmitting Cytauxzoonosis, a deadly cat infection, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can be deadly for both people and dogs. So should you be worried about ticks? Yes and although owners take the risk seriously enough for themselves their pets are just as important. There are many products available both from your veterinarian and in retail stores. There are several new products that have come on the market, just be sure your pets both dogs and outdoor cats are protected.
 
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