Voted Best Veterinary Clinic
Ixodes scapularis (Photo from the CDC)
Rivertown Animal Hospital invites you to join us at our hospital in Stillwater’s Liberty Village, for the second in our educational series for pet owners. Our April 8th seminar is especially timely as we are heading into the spring tick season. Dr. Rick Alleman, a clinical professor from The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine will be speaking on: Tick-Borne Disease: the Role of Your Veterinarian as a Public Health Advocate for You and Your Pet. Dr. Alleman has been studying tick diseases in animals and humans for over 20 years. This is a rare opportunity to learn more about these pesky and dangerous creatures and the diseases they transmit as well as how you can protect yourself and your pet from harm. Dr. Alleman is an exceptional speaker and should not be missed.
As much as we are yearning for spring and warm temperatures there are some advantages to the cold. Ticks are a huge problem. In the United States ticks are responsible for causing more disease than any other insect. Minnesota and Wisconsin and the Northeasten United States are especially vulnerable to tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease and Anaplasmosis.
With tick season is just around the corner, it is important to understand that while ticks may affect those of us living in the more rural areas including the Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes regions, they are also found right in our backyards. Everyone has a story about having had Lyme disease or knows someone whose life has been greatly impacted by Lyme and other tick-borne disease. Pets are especially vulnerable. By nature, they love to wander through the tall weeds and roll in the grass. The ticks are attracted to the CO2 given off by our bodies and easily latch on for a feast of a warm blood meal. They will often transmit one or more of many dangerous pathogens that can affect both animals and people. Understanding and awareness is the key to prevention.
We have all heard of Lyme disease but ticks are responsible for many other serious illnesses including Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichia, Babesia, Tularemia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and others.
For more information on ticks visit one of these great websites:Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Pets and Parasites, DogsandTicks.com.
I hope to see you at our April 8th Seminar. Preregister by calling us at 651-430-2229. Cost is $10. Click on our flyer for more information on this and other upcoming events at Rivertown.
Dr. Ginger Garlie