It’s Spring time, tick- borne diseases are coming!

It’s Spring time, tick- borne diseases are coming!
We love spring, but with it come some disease we’d rather not have…
img c/o pixabay

img c/o pixabay

Lyme’s  disease is pretty common during spring. It’s a disease you get from blacklegged tick bites. These blacklegged ticks usually live in tall grass and woody areas.  They are the usual

carriers of bacteria that causes Lyme’s  disease. Aside from Lyme’s, they can cause illnesses like Bartonellosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, and Anaplasmosis.

It’s time to shield yourself from these nasty creatures. Here are ways:

Make sure to wear protective clothing

Wear long sleeves and pants to cover the body when you go outside and walk on thick vegetation. Wear socks and boots maybe and make sure there is no space in the lower ankles where these ticks can attach themselves.

Shower right away after being outdoors

Check for ticks on your body and inspect your pets and clothes and remove the ticks. Shower thoroughly if you can’t find them and wash clothes right away to kill ticks inside.

Check for symptoms

Look out for symptoms of Lyme disease like an unusual skin rash, joint pains and fever.

Be on the lookout for any circular rash coming from a central point, that’s the usual indicator of Blacklegged tick bites.

Avoid walking through the greens

Since these infectious ticks live mostly on thick vegetation and tall grasses, avoid walking directly through these plants. Walk on a clear path and if possible stay on the road.

Use repellants to protect yourself

Apply repellants with 20% DEET to the skin and if you will apply it to children, make sure to avoid the eyes, mouth and hands.

You can use permethrin as a spray on your clothes and outdoor gear.

Shield your pets from ticks

Block access of your pets to tick-infested areas. You can also spray repellants on them to prevent tick bites. You can use permethrin as a safe tick repellant for your pets.

Here’s your checklist for a healthy tick free pet:

  • Inspect your pets every day especially after going outdoors
  • Remove ticks  right away when you see one
  • Visit the vet regularly for tick check on your pet
  • Ask vets if there are cases of tick related diseases in the area
  • Look for ways to kill ticks living in your yard
  • Get advice from a vet on preventive measures you can take against ticks

Design your place to be a tick free area

  • Cut the tall grasses and shrubs around your yard.
  • Put cemented 2 feet barriers between the wooded area and your yard. This will help in limiting ticks into going further to your house through the plants.
  • Clear out damp areas where rats may live. Rats are carriers of ticks as well.
  • Get rid of trash, old appliances, furniture, equipment that can be a breeding ground for ticks
  • Keep your porch and basement away from thick vegetation
  • Apply acaracide, a tick pesticide, to your yard. Make sure to abide by the local laws regarding applying pesticides in residential areas. Or even better hire a professional exterminator to get rid of ticks in your home and yard.

So now Lyme’s disease should be the least of your worries this spring since you now have the knowledge to prevent it from happening.