ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE RELEASES NEW FINDINGS
What Designer Breeds Are At Risk?
In a recent study that involved more than 900,000 dogs over a five-year period in the United Kingdom, the RVC found that designer breeds and/or poodle mixes were at an elevated risk of flea infestation. (The study was released in April 2024 in the Journal of Small Animal Practice and can be read here.)
With the great popularity of these designer breeds that have poodle in their heritage, the study highlights the heightened risk of tick infestation with those luxuriously curly-coated pups.
Designer breeds with the highest 5-year frequency of tick infestation included: Cavappo, Goldendoodle, Cockapoo, and Cavachon.
Designer breeds with the highest overall risk included: Goldendoodle, Cavapoo, and Cockapoo.
But, there are some purebreds on the list...
Established breeds such as the Cairn Terrier, Standard Poodle, Jack Russell Terrier, Golden Retriever and Miniature Schnauzer were also found to be at "high tick risk."
What Breeds Are At Lower Risk?
Breeds with the lowest odds of tick infestation, according to the study, included Staffies (Staffordshire Bull Terrier), Rottweilers, Chihuahuas, English Bulldogs, and French Bulldogs.
Also, older dogs showed a reduced risk of tick infestation, as did female dogs vs. male dogs. Additionally, dogs with erect ears (i.e., German Shepherd Dogs, Huskies) had lower odds of tick infestation compared to breeds with V-shaped dropped ears (i.e., JRTs and Vizslas) and pendulous ears (Cocker Spaniels).
What Does This Mean For Pet Owners?
Ticks are, unfortunately, found year-round in Florida, and we have several types: Brown Dog Ticks, American Dog Ticks, Lone Star Ticks, Gulf Coast Ticks, and Black-legged Ticks.
Yuck.
According to the AKC Canine Health Foundation, the most common tick-borne diseases for dogs includes: Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Hepatozoonosis, Babesiosis, and Lyme disease.
Double yuck.
If there is a positive, a tick must feed for several hours to transmit disease organizms, though the AKC CHF says that disease can be transmitted in as little as 3 to 6 hours. (Of note, the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine says, "a tick must be attached at least 1-2 days before the bacteria causing Lyme disease can spread to a dog.")
Vigilance and Prevention Are Key
Vigilance...
- Close examination: if you and your dog have been out in a tick prone area, such as wooded trails, long grasses, etc., carefully comb through your dog's coat, check ears, and examine paws and between toes.
- Remove ticks and bag: If the tick is feeding, use a tweezers to grab it as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out. Bag for identification, if needed.
- Vector-borne disease (VBD) screening: Symptoms of tick-borne disease can be vague and often dogs may suffer without the owner realizing it. Fortunately, veterinarians can test for six VBDs with a simple blood test. Many practices run this test annually when they test for heartworms.
Prevention...
- Keep grasses short: Ticks thrive in wooded areas, as well as tall grass.
- If appropriate, consider a tick preventive: Topical and oral preventives are available; however, they are not without risk of side effects, so it is always wise to sit down with your veterinarian and discuss these options.
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