Experts like Dr. Kirk Holland say tick season is stretching longer as the days heat up, with animals being the number one target.
DOTHAN, Ala. - A walk in the grass could lead to a trip to the emergency room or the veterinarian as warmer months arrive.
Experts like Dr. Kirk Holland say tick season is stretching longer as the days heat up, with animals being the number one target.
“In pets, we see Rocky Mountain spotted fever and those type of diseases and a disease called rickettsia,” said Holland, co-founder and lead vet at Southern Oakes. Humans aren’t off the hook. Ticks like to attach themselves to both dogs and humans, often in hidden areas like armpits, between toes, on the neck and behind ears.
“If ticks are on there for more than 36 hours or accompanied by rash or fever, all those things, you need to be seen by your doctor,” Holland said. Dr. Michael Ramsey of Dothan Pediatric Clinic said the best way to remove a tick is to use tweezers and grab the head as close as you can.
“A lot of people talk about using matches or Vaseline, but those are really not safe and cause more diseases,” Ramsey said. For pets, Holland said there are oral medications available from veterinarians, topical meds and specialized collars that will help.
“Within the last year or so, they released a new injection that works for 12 months that prevents fleas and ticks, so that’s a great option,” Holland said. Download the WTVY News4 app to get alerts and stories the moment they are published. Available for FREE in theEnterprise Police Arrest 6 in Online Child-Solicitation Sting, Operation INTERCEPTADOC cancels billion-dollar healthcare contract with YesCare, selects Birmingham companyFlorida Panhandle school shuts down for deep clean after GI illness outbreak
Tick Season Alabama Tick-Borne Diseases Tick-Borne Diseases Treatment Pet Health Ticks Tick Removal Dr. Kirk Holland Dr. Michael Ramsey Dothan Pediatric Clinic Southern Oakes
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
8 Most Important Sci-Fi Shows That Define the GenreWilliam Shatner as Captain Kirk in 'Star Trek: The Original Series'
Read more »
Parents raise alarm over tick surge at Middle Country Schools as district plans sprayingSeveral parents report their children are coming home with ticks after spending time outdoors at school, particularly at early education centers surrounded by wooded areas.
Read more »
Charlie Kirk’s Widow Erika Kirk Breaks Silence After Seen Crying at WHCD Shooting: ‘Traumatic’Erika Kirk breaks her silence after a viral video showed Charlie Kirk's widow crying during the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting
Read more »
Erika Kirk’s TPUSA Event With JD Vance Hits New BlockOrganizers said the cancellation had nothing to do with the D.C. shooting attack.
Read more »
70 Years Later, This Sci-Fi Masterpiece That Shaped ‘Star Trek’ Officially Needs a RebootSpock (Leonard Nimoy) and Kirk (William Shatner) in an episode of 'Star Trek: The Original Series'
Read more »
Tick Bite Surge Raises Concerns for Chronic IllnessesExperts warn that a recent increase in emergency room visits for tick bites, as reported by the CDC, could lead to chronic illnesses like Lyme disease. Survivors like Ali Moresco share long-term struggles, while doctors emphasize the rapid transmission of tick-borne diseases. New cases of Powassan virus and Lyme disease have been detected in Illinois, with unusually high tick activity this season.
Read more »