Your
dog running in the woods, or a walk in a garden or yard, creates all
the possibilities of encountering with those hundreds of
blood-sucking creatures known as ticks. These parasites can create
problem for the whole year but during the warmer months, they are
more active. The diseases spread by them are not only harmful to pets
but even to humans, if not prevented and treated.
However,
numerous myths go around pertaining to ticks. Let us look at some of
the most astounding ones and find what is the reality hiding behind
them.
Common Myths About Ticks & Find Truth
Myth#1
Tick
is an insect.
Absolutely
incorrect. Tick is an arachnid, a close relative to a spider. Ticks
do not belong to insect group but falls under spider genesis. They
have 8 legs unlike insects that have 6 legs. There are about 400 to
500 species of ticks and nearly 90 % of those species live in North
America. People fear ticks because of the deadly diseases they
transmit.
Myth#2
Tick
can fly and jump.
Absolutely
wrong. Ticks cannot fly or jump. The structure of their body is not
fit to fly or jump. Rather they crawl through the long distances to
reach their host. They crawl through the grass over the edge of the
blade and when the host pass through them, they just stick to them
and crawl through the body upwards.
Myth#3
All
animal tick repellants are effective.
There
are different species of ticks and the same product does not apply
for all. Therefore, it is essential to talk to your vet to find the
most effective tick product for your pet according the infestation.
Not every product works in the same way as different ticks respond
differently to different compounds. Therefore, it is crucial to find
which product suits your pet and which product is effective to
particular tick species, and depending on this you need to do the
selection.
Myth#4
Applying
repellants and spraying the yard is not helpful.
Due
to the changing climatic conditions and different environment, ticks
vary in population, and it may seem that repellants do not work.
However, to keep tick problem at bay, it is crucial to use repellants
to protect your pets from direct infestation. Moreover, spraying the
yards also keep the tick population in check and limit their influx
outside your arena.
Myth#5
Bodiless
Ticks can survive
This
is another myth implying on the mortality of bodiless ticks. There
are numerous ways through which ticks can survive, but body detached
from its head is not the one. Many people think that if head of the
tick is not removed, it will feed on. But, that is not the reality.
If by case, tick head got stuck, there is no need to worry. Just
don’t forget to use the disinfectant on the skin to keep out the
germs.
Myth#6
Ticks
Die during Winter
The
cold not necessarily kill ticks. They do become less active during
these months and hence the existence is not noticed. They are still
attached to your pet and transmit potentially deadly disease.
Therefore, it is essential to treat the pets even in the colder
months.
Myth#7
Use
treatments only when ticks are seen
Protecting
your pet before infestation strikes is essential. Using treatments at
the last moment is deadly as it may be too late by the time you must
have noticed ticks as by that time, the parasite might have already
transmitted any of deadly diseases. Therefore, waiting for ticks to
attack your pet may be tricky. Get all those tick protecting tools
and set your pet free from any tick infested diseases.
Myth#8
Vaseline
suffocates ticks
In
no way this is possible and it’s also another myth around with the
people. Many people think that Vaseline will cause ticks to let go
which is not proven or not seen yet. Moreover, leaving the tick for
longer increases the risk of transmit of disease causing germs.
Instead of using Vaseline, tick treatments like frontline plus and
revolution are highly beneficial.
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