Some people
think that their pet dogs having parasites is no big deal since all they need
is a dash of flea powder. However, with recent news from CNN.com citing that
300,000 Americans are now diagnosed each year with Lyme disease, Buster
constantly scratching himself could be a real cause for alarm. It is possible
that the cause of his itchiness is the blacklegged tick, a known carrier of
Lyme disease.
The
blacklegged tick is sometimes referred to as deer tick because it commonly
attaches itself on deer that thrive on grasslands and heavily wooded areas.
However, this type of tick can often lurks in the leaves and grass right in
your own lawn or garden, and here, they rest in a position called “nesting”
until they find a new host. Despite their name, they feed on the blood of
species other than deer, including dogs, reptiles, rodents, and humans.
When a person
is infected with Lyme disease, the symptoms are similar to flu and are thus
often ignored. However, according to the Centers
for Disease Prevention and Control, about 60 to 80 percent of the
time, the first symptom is an unusual rash that is similar to a bull's eye
patch; in most cases, this rash isn't itchy at all but is warm to the touch. In
extreme cases, the symptoms of Lyme disease include severe headaches, painful arthritis,
and heart and central nervous system troubles.
0 comments:
Post a Comment