If you love and care for dogs like we do, you are probably already aware that your tick exterminator is dealing with two types of ticks that are dominant in the United States. These species are the American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis), and the Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus).
Our tick exterminator will tell you that the American dog tick is the most widespread species in the United States, and the most likely to be found on your dog. They attach themselves to a wide variety of blood sources from dogs and cats to people. It’s rare to find this tick infesting homes. They are usually a reddish brown in color, and have white markings on its back.
Why You Need An American Dog Tick Exterminator
These pests are responsible for the transmission of the majority of reported tick diseases in the United States. This blood sucker belongs to the “hard tick” family. They aren’t generally believed to be transmitters of Lyme diseases, but are thought to be the tick that’s primarily responsible for the transmission of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Being a blood feeder, it’s also responsible for transmitting other types of diseases like Tularemia. These can be transmitted between animals or between animals and people.
Tick nymphs and larvae feed primarily on rodents. When they become larger, the adults prefer bigger animals like horses, cattle, dogs, and people. Although they are more abundant in the spring, they can be a problem for the tick exterminator or other pest control company, year round in the southern United States.
These creepy little vampires like to attach themselves to the base of the skull or the spinal column area. Unfortunately, the American dog tick has been known to cause paralysis in both dogs and children. It is believed that the paralysis is a temporary result of a toxin that the feeding tick produces. Removal of the tick normally results in full recovery within 8 hours. This can depend on size, weight, age, and the number of ticks on the affected person.
The American dog tick can be found in tall grass and field environments. Be sure to check both your dog and yourself if you spend any time in this type of environment.
Why You Need A Brown Dog Tick Exterminator
These little brown ticks are often referred to as kennel ticks. Brown dog ticks like to take up residency in kennels, doghouses, and various other dog habitats like your house. Although this tick species feeds on the blood of dogs and are not known to feed on people, they’re still very dangerous disease spreaders. All stages of life from larvae to adult, feed on dogs exclusively. Brown dog ticks can sometimes be found crawling on people, but not to feed.
If you find an infestation of brown dog ticks on your dog or in your home, the services of a professional tick exterminator will be necessary. However, as a homeowner you are allowed to try a tick treatment to eliminate a small infestation with legal pesticides.
To keep your property and pet tick free, the best methods are to keep the grass cut and the dog out of tick habitats. Since we both know that this is highly unlikely, you should consult a vet about the best products to repel ticks.
Your veterinarian should be able to advise you on how to deal with a tick infestation on your dog. Our local tick exterminator will assist you with any tick infestation in your home.
Always contact your doctor if you find that a tick has bitten you or your children. A tick bite is serious, but easily treated.
Ticks Carry Pathogens That Can Cause Human Disease
In the United States, some ticks carry pathogens that can cause human disease. These include:
- Anaplasmosis is transmitted to humans by tick bites primarily from the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) in the northeastern and upper midwestern U.S. and the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) along the Pacific coast.
- Babesiosis is caused by microscopic parasites that infect red blood cells. Most human cases of babesiosis in the U.S. are caused by Babesia microti. Babesia microti is transmitted by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and is found primarily in the northeast and upper midwest.
- Borrelia mayonii infection has recently been described as a cause of illness in the upper midwestern United States. It has been found in blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Borrelia mayonii is a new species and is the only species besides B. burgdorferi known to cause Lyme disease in North America.
- Borrelia miyamotoi infection has recently been described as a cause of illness in the U.S. It is transmitted by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and has a range similar to that of Lyme disease.
- Bourbon virus infection has been identified in a limited number patients in the Midwest and southern United States. At this time, we do not know if the virus might be found in other areas of the United States.
- Colorado tick fever is caused by a virus transmitted by the Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni). It occurs in the the Rocky Mountain states at elevations of 4,000 to 10,500 feet.
- Ehrlichiosis is transmitted to humans by the lone star tick (Ambylomma americanum), found primarily in the southcentral and eastern U.S.
- Heartland virus cases have been identified in the Midwestern and southern United States. Studies suggest that Lone Star ticks can transmit the virus. It is unknown if the virus may be found in other areas of the U.S.
- Lyme disease is transmitted by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) in the northeastern U.S. and upper midwestern U.S. and the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) along the Pacific coast.
- Powassan disease is transmitted by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the groundhog tick (Ixodes cookei). Cases have been reported primarily from northeastern states and the Great Lakes region.
- Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis is transmitted to humans by the Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum).
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is transmitted by the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni), and the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sangunineus) in the U.S. The brown dog tick and other tick species are associated with RMSF in Central and South America.
- STARI (Southern tick-associated rash illness) is transmitted via bites from the lone star tick (Ambylomma americanum), found in the southeastern and eastern U.S.
- Tickborne relapsing fever (TBRF) is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected soft ticks. TBRF has been reported in 15 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming and is associated with sleeping in rustic cabins and vacation homes.
- Tularemia is transmitted to humans by the dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), the wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni), and the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum). Tularemia occurs throughout the U.S.
- 364D rickettsiosis (Rickettsia phillipi, proposed) is transmitted to humans by the Pacific Coast tick (Dermacentor occidentalis ticks). This is a new disease that has been found in California.
If you are being invaded with ticks, call our San Jose tick exterminator!
