Animal Clinic Northview

Tick Explosion Puts People, Pets At Risk

PITTSBURGH -- Many pet owners might not think twice about taking their dogs for a walk in the woods.

But an unusually wet spring and hotter temperatures have created a booming population of a pest that poses a danger to people and pets.

Ticks are being found in higher numbers this year and the insects can carry Lyme disease. Humans can get the inflammatory disease, caused by bacteria, by being bitten. Channel 4 Action News Anchor Sally Wiggin reports that humans can also get the disease from an infected pet.

Dagmar Salmieri told Wiggin that she loves to walk her dogs in the woods. But some of those walks had to stop after she was diagnosed with Lyme disease.

"I was diagnosed in 2009 April. I had symptoms like my joints were swollen, my knees. I was depressed," Salmieri said the disease also left her exhausted.

After three weeks of antibiotics, she got better. But two years later, the symptoms returned.

With vets and animal hospitals reporting what seems to be an increase in tick population, there is a need to be vigilant, Wiggin reported.

"(There are) a lot for this time of year. We just had a kitten come in and stopped counting at 30," said Dr. Todd Blauvelt of the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society Clinic.

Other vet clinics also told Channel 4 Action News that they have seen an increase in ticks, although some said it was too soon to tell if it meant more Lyme infections.

"Most years, we start seeing ticks in March or April. This year, we started seeing them in February and it was still cold," said Dr. James Bebe of VCA Northview Animal Hospital.

At Harts Run Veterinary Hospital, located in Indiana Township, where there are woods and deer, Wiggin reported that more ticks are pointing toward more Lyme positives. Staff there said last year there were over 1,200 tests, and 78 positives. This year, there are already 694 tests and 55 positives.

"If a dog has been exposed and you have been in the same area as the dog, you potentially have been exposed as well," said Dr. Sherwood Johnson.

Vets say there is only one way an owner can actually get Lyme disease from their pet and that is when the bacteria that causes the disease gets from the tick's blood into the human bloodstream.

Veterinarians warn that removing a tick without gloves can expose you to the disease.

Our Adventure to Northview Animal Hospital! « iFeathers

I am not by any means a confident driver.  I hate driving in places I don’t know, I hate city driving, and I hate being pressured by other drivers.  And getting to Northview involved all three!  I’m surprised Taylor didn’t die on the way there from fear of my poor driving or my screaming and cussing.  Mapquest lied and said I would be there in a half an hour and its a good thing I left an hour ahead of time, because I arrived just on time.  Dr. Denise Pleban saw Taylor and I’m pretty sure she is my angel from heaven when it comes to finding an avian vet.  For the first time since I’ve started looking for an avian vet, I didn’t feel rushed with my time with the vet, I didn’t feel cheated, and I didn’t feel like I knew more than the person seeing my animal.  I was pretty surprised that it was  yeast infection, because Taylor is 3 years old, and yeast infections are usually common in baby birds!  However, Dr. Pleban said he may have  a compromised immune system due to his rough beginnings.  He could also have a mechanical problem keeping his crop closed and away from bacteria.  If that’s the case, Taylor will have to be on medication for the rest of his life to keep him safe from infections in his crop. As for right now, Taylor is on medication for ten days that I have to give him twice a day.  I also was advised to change his pellets from Kaytee to either Harrisons, Roudybush, or Zupreem.  So, I picked up a bag of Zupreem from the store on the way home, and amazingly, it seems like Tay really likes them!  Even better, I offered some to Erin to see if I can get them both on the same pellet, and she seems to like them as well!  Erin NEVER likes any other pellets than Lafaebers, which is a good brand, but expensive and messy.

AAHA membership

Fairborn Towne and Country Animal Clinic (1983) 801 North Broad Street 45324 ... Richard A North Ridgeville Animal Clinic Northview (1978) 34910 Center ...

Veterinary technician

Send resume to Personnel, Animal Clinic Northview, Inc.. 34910 Center Ridge, N. Ridgeville, OH 44039. OHIO— Veterinary technician wanted for an AAHA ...

Veterinary practice news

Randy Hutchison, DVM, of Animal Clinic Northview in North Ridgeville, Ohio, has been performing laparoscopic- assisted spays for nearly three years, ...

Pets Welcome, Mid-Atlantic and Chesapeake Edition : A Guide to Hotel, Inns and Resorts That Welcome You and Your Pet

Chelwayne Animal Hospital 5524 Wayne Avenue Philadelphia, ... PA 15237 412-821- 5600 Northview Animal Hospital 223 Siebert Road Pittsburgh, ...

AVMA directory

44039 17-O6-02-0SU721 KNOX David R NORTHVIEW ANIMAL CLINIC 34910 CENTER RIDGE RD . 44039 17-07-02-OSU84-1 KRONE Gary R NORTHVIEW ANIMAL CLINIC 34910 CENTER ...