Veterinarians in Windsor-Essex say tick cases on the rise

A mild winter has proven to bethe perfect environmentforticks, whichare showing up much earlier this year and in larger numbers.

SomeWindsor and Essex County veterinarians are warning the public after seeing theblacklegged ticks embedding themselves on dogs morethan ever before.

Last month Mehma Saini, a veterinarian in Tecumseh, said a dog came into his clinic, fully covered in ticks.

"Some were attached in the ear canal, some were on the forehead and face and on the neck area," he told CBC News.

One dog had30 ticks

He pulled 30 ticks that had already dug themselves deepbeneath the dog's skin.

"When we removed them with the tweezers, they were all moving and alive." he said.

While this particularlong-haired dog wasn't showing any visible symptoms, Saini sees an increasinglylarger number ofdogs turning up to the clinic with ticks. The animaltested positiveforLymedisease.

"Mostly long-haired breads ... are more affected because people cannot see the ticks easily," he said. "They are hiding under the hairs."

Now, Saini is warning people in Windsor-Essex to be more diligent when they go outside, especially in wooded areas, near lakes, or dog parks.

"We are not safe, so when you go outdoors with your pets, you should check yourself," he said.

Don't get ticked... check yourself!

Saini says as soon as you come in from outside, be sure to check yourself for ticks.

"Especially under armpits, groin area, where they have more chances to stay," he said.

According to the Centrefor Disease Control and Prevention, in most cases, the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours, or more, before the Lyme disease bacteriu.m can be transmitted.

Saini saysmost humans are infected by smaller, hard-to-see ticks, called nymphs, but he says,ifyou see a tick on yourself or a dog, go to a medical professional to be tested as a precaution.