Timing is everything in life. Chance encounters, quirky twists of fate, being in the right place at exactly the right moment. Perfect timing is often the difference between success and failure.
The same principle holds true for tick bites on your pet.
Removing a tick in a timely manner is your pet’s best chance to prevent tick-borne disease transmission. Letting an attached tick linger increases the odds of dangerous infections. Timing is indeed everything; specifically, the 36-hour mark. If you can locate and remove a tick on your pet within this timeframe, there’s a good chance the parasite won’t be successful in transmitting tick-borne diseases, including:
- Lyme disease
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever
- Babesiosis
- Ehrlichiosis
- Anaplasmosis
- And many more…
The life cycles of ticks is another key piece of information for pet owners. Knowing which types of ticks are common to your area, or, areas to which you may be travelling– and how far along in their life cycle – arms you with information to assist you in dealing with these pesky pet pests. We always recommend that pet owners do a thorough tick check on their furry friends after time spent outdoors. Ticks like to hide in hard-to-see places, but a thorough tick inspection – and knowing where to look for ticks – gives you a big advantage in the never-ending battle against ticks.
This article will help explain the life cycle of ticks that spread disease, along with more details on the importance of having the right “timing” – namely, the timely removal of ticks from your pet!
Speaking of tick removal, the TickZapper® is simply the best tick removal tool to have on hand – at all times. Our tick removal tool is self-energizing (no batteries required), portable, and lightweight (1 oz.), making it ideal for use at home, or, on the go. The patented TickZapper® removes ticks – and their mouthparts – quickly, safely, and effectively. Thanks to a clever and innovative design, there is no risk of human contact. The tick is fully captured and securely contained within the tick encapsulation chamber. The TickZapper® contains ticks for easy disposal, or, for analysis submission. Either way, you will not never touch a tick using the revolutionary TickZapper®.
The Tick Life Cycle and the Importance of Removing Ticks Within 36 Hours
Ticks generally have four stages of life, and each one can posses various threats to your pet’s health…depensing on the type of tick.
- Eggs. Yes, ticks start out like many other living things – they’re hatched from eggs. But the typical “batch” of tick eggs can number into the thousands!
- Larva. This early-stage tick has only six legs, compared to the more mature eight-legged ticks. If larva are unable to find a host to feed on, they’ll die.
- Nymph. The nymph is the transitional stage between larva and adult. Some nymphs look for a different host than the larval stage, while others – like the brown dog tick, for example – prefer a single host for their entire lifespan.
- Adult. Full-grown ticks are the easiest to spot, simply based on their size. Some adult ticks can exceed a quarter-inch in length. Similar to larva and nymphs, adult ticks require a blood meal to continue their life cycle.
Larva, nymphs, and adult ticks are most active from June through August across the United States. During the autumn months, ticks tend to slow in activity. Although spring and summer are regarded as the official ‘tick season’, all seasons have the ability to present various tick issues. Pet owners should be aware of ticks on a year-round basis. Ticks can survive extreme temperatures outdoors, even water won’t necessarily deter these pet parasites.
So what about the timing of tick-borne disease transmission? How long does a feeding tick take to actually infect your pet? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says ticks must be attached at least 36 hours before disease transmission takes place, and scientific studies back up this claim.
A day and a half – 36 hours – is the key point at which ticks (usually nymphs) can transmit tick-borne diseases to your pet. Here’s a good habit to implement: every time after your pet has been outdoors, conduct a thorough tick check, remove ticks immediately with the handy, lightweight TickZapper®.
It’s Always a Good Time to Keep a TickZapper® On Hand!
Timing is everything – and our tick removal tool is ready at all times for quick & safe tick removal. By regularly inspecting your pet for ticks, and having an effective tick removal tool nearby, you’ll drastically reduce the chances of your beloved pets becoming infected with a tick-borne disease.
The TickZapper® helps keep your pets healthy, and also provides some extra peace of mind during tick season – so buy one (or a few) today! Thanks for visiting the TickZapper® blog, and check back for more info on tick-borne diseases, optimal strategies for maintaining your pet’s health, and much more!
