Climate change among factors that influence tick season, geographic spread of ticks

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Tick season is between May and September, right? That has been the conventional wisdom -- until recently.

Two recently published studies found that deer, or black-legged, ticks -- the ones that spread Lyme disease -- are emerging earlier and expanding their range, thanks to warmer spring temperatures and milder fall weather. Based on data collected over 19 years, researchers concluded that milder weather allowed nymphs -- immature ticks -- to feed as much as three weeks earlier in spring. The change in activity may presage a spread of tick-borne diseases, one that's already being seen in some areas.

Tick populations have moved northward into Canada, making Lyme disease endemic in southern Ontario, says Susan E. Little, DVM, who teaches veterinary parasitology at Oklahoma State University and is president of the Companion Animal Parasite Council. Ticks have also moved up in altitude and are now found at higher elevations in Appalachia than in the past.

"It used to be that ticks weren't at 3,000 or 4,000 feet, and now they are," Dr. Little says. "That's a change that we think is due to warming trends."

Ticks are also moving farther south. From its origins in the Northeast, Lyme disease is now established down the Virginia coast and into North Carolina. In the Midwest, ticks are moving southward across Iowa, through the northern half of Illinois and most of Indiana, and into the lower peninsula of Michigan. One or more species of tick can now be found in every state, including Alaska.

Climate isn't the only culprit. Ticks piggyback on wildlife such as white-tailed deer and coyotes, which spread them to new habitats; they can also be carried away by migratory birds. Habitat modification, such as increasing development in formerly rural areas, also contributes to the expansion of tick territory.

"We're seeing a general expansion of range," Dr. Little says. "It's probably facilitated by longer, warmer periods in most of the country."

If you're still digging out from the snow that buried much of the Northeast this winter, you may have your doubts about that. But even if ticks aren't active all 365 days of the year, they are active every month of the year. There will always be a few days that are warm enough for them to make an appearance.

A tick begins the disease transmission cycle when it inserts its sharp mouthpiece into a rodent or deer and feeds on its blood. In the process, the tick takes in bacteria, protozoa and viruses that it later passes on to cats, dogs and humans.

Yes, cats, too. They don't appear to get Lyme disease -- yet -- but ticks can transmit a deadly disease called cytauxzoonosis to cats, as well as ehrlichia and anaplasmosis.

What can you do to ward off the beastly bloodsuckers?

-- Start thinking about tick prevention before May. Dr. Little recommends year-round protection, no matter where you live.

-- Talk to your veterinarian about the best tick preventive measures for your pet's lifestyle, as well as about the species of ticks found in your area. Products include oral preventives that kill both ticks and fleas on dogs, and long-lasting anti-tick collars for use on dogs and cats.

-- Keep grass short and foliage trimmed back to reduce tick habitat.

-- Discourage deer from grazing near your yard.

-- Indoor pets can be at risk, too. You can bring ticks in on your clothing or body -- it's happened at my house -- and the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) prefers to live indoors.

Pets don't directly spread tick-borne diseases, but they can bring you into contact with ticks -- and vice versa. If your cat goes outdoors or your dog hikes or hunts with you on a regular basis, tick prevention can help protect all of you from disease.

Q&A

Canine liver disease

affects several breeds

Q: My Labrador retriever has been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis. He's being treated, but do I need to worry that he could pass on the disease to family members or friends? What can you tell me about this disease?

A: First things first: The good news for you is that canine chronic hepatitis is not a disease that can be transmitted to people.

Canine chronic hepatitis is a weird disease. It's not actually a single disease, but a group of liver diseases, none of which we understand very well. Some forms appear to be autoimmune-related, while others are associated with high levels of copper in the liver. Sometimes, cases are associated with infection or drug toxicity. When the cause is unknown, the disease is referred to as idiopathic chronic hepatitis.

Clinical signs tend to be vague -- poor appetite, weakness, yellow tinge to the whites of the eyes -- and may not become apparent until the condition is far advanced. Vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and excessive thirst and urination can also be signs of chronic liver disease. Canine chronic hepatitis usually affects middle-aged dogs, male or female, but adults of any age can be affected.

It may also impact certain breeds more commonly, including cocker spaniels, Doberman pinschers, Dalmatians, Labrador retrievers, Skye terriers, standard poodles and West Highland white terriers. In Bedlington terriers, chronic hepatitis is caused by a buildup of copper that eventually damages the liver.

Depending on the apparent cause and stage of the disease, treatment may involve antibiotics, medications to help support the liver, anti-inflammatory drugs or drugs that treat or prevent the buildup of copper in the liver. Your veterinarian may also recommend certain dietary changes or vitamin supplements to help reduce the level of copper in the body or help the body excrete copper more effectively. It's a good idea to test dogs at high risk for chronic hepatitis early in life. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Dog's nose for cancer

may improve treatment

-- A scent-trained German shepherd mix named Frankie had an 88 percent success rate in detecting thyroid cancer in human urine samples. A study presented earlier this month at the Endocrine Society meeting in San Diego found that the accuracy of the canine "diag-nose-tician" is only slightly less than that of the more invasive fine-needle aspiration biopsy, not to mention less expensive.

"Frankie is the first dog trained to differentiate benign thyroid disease from thyroid cancer by smelling a person's urine," says study co-author Arny Ferrando, Ph.D., of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, where the study was conducted.

-- Have you ever wondered which cat breeds are largest and smallest? Compared to dogs, cats don't vary a great deal in size: There might be a feline equivalent to the Chihuahua, but not to the Great Dane (lucky for us!). Among the heaviest breeds are Norwegian forest cats and Maine coons, weighing 7 to 22 pounds; Siberians, 10 to 20 pounds; Turkish vans, 7 to 19 pounds; and Savannahs, 20 pounds or more. Falling into the featherweight category are the singapura, 4 to 7 pounds; and the Cornish rex, Devon rex and Japanese bobtail, all weighing 6 to 9 pounds.

-- Genetic testing isn't enough to improve the health of purebred dogs, say scientists at the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute. To improve genetic diversity, they recommend a combined approach using DNA analysis, health screening, limiting the use of individual stud dogs, and cross-breeding -- an approach that has been successful in breeding Dalmatians lacking a genetic defect that causes kidney stones, a common problem in the breed. Screening dogs for health problems before breeding them has helped to reduce the prevalence of some diseases, and DNA tests may help to eliminate disease-causing genes, but relying solely on tests and screening can reduce the gene pool. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

CAPTIONS AND CREDITS

Caption 01: Help protect yourself from tick-borne diseases by wearing gloves when removing the nasty bloodsuckers from your cat or dog. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Dogs trained to detect cancer could lead to cost savings in diagnosis and prevention of unnecessary surgeries. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 1

EXPERT TIPS ON RUNNING WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Let's say it up-front: I'm not a runner. If you see me running, it's most likely because something scary is chasing me. But one of the reasons I love having dogs is because they are an incentive to get outdoors and go for long walks or hikes every day. And if you are a runner or jogger, there's no better partner than a dog. He's not bound by work or family obligations, and he most likely has energy to spare. This is one running buddy who'll always push you to keep going. Most important, running will help keep your dog fit both physically and mentally.

Like any athlete, though, dogs need gradual conditioning. You can't just start them out on a three-mile run. They'll be tired and achy and run the risk of injury. I talked to some canine sports experts to get the skinny on the best dogs for runners and how to prepare them for the activity.

-- What kind of dog? With some exceptions -- short-faced dogs, dogs with crooked legs and tiny dogs -- most dogs can make good running companions. The best dogs are attentive and obedient. They don't veer off to chase a squirrel or run in front of you and trip you. Hunting breeds, hounds and working dog breeds generally make good running companions, says Michael Davis, DVM, who studies sled dogs and exercise physiology at Oklahoma State University. Other good choices include herding breeds and certain non-sporting breeds such as Dalmatians and standard poodles.

-- When to start? We always hear that the best time for dogs to start running is when they reach skeletal maturity, but what does that mean? It varies by breed and may also depend on whether the dog has been spayed or neutered. Large breeds generally reach skeletal maturity at a later age -- usually 18 months to 2 years -- than smaller dogs. Growth plates close at 14 months for intact (unaltered) dogs and 20 months for dogs who are spayed or neutered, says Chris Zink, DVM, a canine sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist. Have your veterinarian give your dog the once-over before you start running with him.

Dr. Davis believes that brief periods of running prior to skeletal maturity can help "train" a dog's skeletal system for the types of forces encountered during running, but emphasizes that to avoid the risk of injury, it's important not to overdo it.

"The best bet is to keep the time of exercise to a modest level, not substantially fatiguing the dog," he says.

-- How far? It's not a hard and fast rule, but if you plan to run more than three miles at a time, it's best if your dog is taller than 16 inches at the withers, Dr. Zink recommends. Shorter dogs have to work harder than taller dogs at the same speed. Start with short distances of no more than a mile. Increase distance gradually so that distances of more than three miles are not reached until the dog is at least 2 years old.

-- Keep him hydrated. Dogs are highly athletic, but one area where humans outpace them is thermoregulation. Dogs lose large amounts of water as their body attempts to stay cool.

"It is not uncommon to cause heat injury in a dog, but not a human, when the two are exercising side by side," Dr. Davis says. "In moderate conditions, less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit, I recommend stopping at least hourly to let the dog drink. In warmer conditions, every 30 minutes, at least." Avoid running on hot or humid days.

-- How often? Dr. Zink recommends limiting runs to three or four times a week. Intersperse runs with walks or play. Remember that for both of you, rest is essential for your bodies to recover and perform even better the next time out.

Q&A

Easter lilies

deadly to cats

Q: Every year my mother-in-law sends us an Easter lily. I think she's trying to kill our cat. Could you please print some information about how dangerous they are for cats so I can share it with her? -- via Facebook

A: You are absolutely right! We don't know why, but cats are highly sensitive to all parts of the lily: leaves, flowers, stems and possibly even the pollen and the water in which the flowers are placed. A cat who nibbles even a single petal or leaf of an Easter lily can go into severe kidney failure and die unless he receives aggressive treatment right away. That usually means a two- or three-day stay in the hospital receiving intravenous fluids and other supportive treatment to keep the kidneys functioning and flush the toxins out of his body. Even with extensive treatment, the prognosis is guarded. That all adds up to big bucks and lots of heartache!

Lilies of all kinds, not just Easter lilies, are popular ornamental plants that you can buy just about anywhere. It's very common to see them in bouquets and flower arrangements. The Pet Poison Helpline says to beware of tiger lilies, day lilies, Asiatic hybrids, Japanese show lilies, rubrums, stargazers, red, Western and wood lilies and lilies of the valley.

Normally if people are having problems with cats chewing on ornamental plants, I advise them to keep the plants out of reach, but I don't think that's a safe enough method to prevent lily toxicity. If you are a cat lover or love someone who is, you should never allow lilies in your home or yard or send them as gifts, no matter how beautiful and fragrant they are. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Search dogs dig

seeking buried skiers

-- If you're skiing in Alaska, avalanche search-and-rescue dogs have your back. At Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, outside of Anchorage, three Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers are specially trained to seek out people buried beneath the snow and help dig them out. The dogs begin training as puppies, encouraged to chase and find people, work over increasingly longer distances and times, and work in difficult conditions, such as heavy rain and snow. They become certified after two to three ski seasons. Two more dogs are currently in training, a Mudi -- a Hungarian herding breed -- and another duck toller.

-- Ohio may join 25 other states and the District of Columbia if legislators there pass a proposed ban on tethering animals. The bill would fine owners who tether animals outdoors in extreme weather conditions, overnight or while they are away from home. Tethers may not be shorter than 20 feet or used with choke or prong collars. It would also be illegal to tie an animal up for longer than six hours at a time. First offenders would be fined. Fines for subsequent violations can go as high as $1,000. Violators whose dogs become ill or injured while tethered could also receive jail time.

-- Cats rule on Aoshima Island in Japan. More than 100 felines populate the island, which is primarily a fishing village. Their presence has begun to make the island a popular stop for tourists, according to a photo essay by Alan Taylor in The Atlantic. The cats live in abandoned houses and schools -- or wherever they want -- and thrive on a diet of fish as well as cat food left for them in a designated area. Residents must shoo them away if they don't want to trip over them as they leave their homes. Apparently, a cat underfoot is a universal experience. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

CAPTIONS AND CREDITS

Caption 01: Running is great exercise for dogs, but it needs to begin gradually at an appropriate age. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Dogs chained outside are at risk of attack by other animals and are more likely to behave aggressively toward people. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2

VETERINARIANS TRAIN TO SAVE AMERICA'S COMMUNITY CATS

They live on our streets, in fields and barns, behind shopping centers and in our neighborhoods. They eat on back porches and in city parks, fed by dedicated cat lovers. They're the felines now called "community cats," and while many of them are feral, some are strays or abandoned former pets who have adapted to life outdoors.

Some estimates suggest there are as many unowned as owned felines in the U.S., most of them unvaccinated and never spayed or neutered. Left free to reproduce, they'll create the next generation of community cats, and the next, and the next.

Operation Catnip aims to change that, says founder Dr. Julie Levy, director of the shelter medicine program at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. The trap-neuter-return (TNR) organization has been running free high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter clinics for community cats in Gainesville, Florida, since 1998. In 2014 alone, they helped 2,693 cats and prevented the births of an estimated 6,142 kittens just in the first year following surgery.

Now, thanks to a grant from PetSmart Charities, they're throwing open their operational model and training program to veterinarians, veterinary students and veterinary technicians from all over the country.

"Our vision is to train an army of veterinarians to spay and neuter America's community cats," said Levy. "This approach, along with vaccination, will allow us to reduce cat population, control infectious diseases and improve the lives of the cats."

Operation Catnip clinics are run MASH-style, with each cat tended by volunteer veterinarians, technicians and veterinary students. Each cat receives a medical examination and, if healthy, is spayed or neutered, treated for fleas and other parasites, and returned to the same place she or he was trapped.

It's easy to tell if a cat has been treated at the clinic, because of the distinctive "ear tip" each one receives during their surgery. This means those cats can easily be identified as having already been sterilized, so they won't be trapped again, putting them through unnecessary stress and taking the place of cats who still need care.

One graduate of the program, Dr. Amy Karls, was so inspired by her training with the Operation Catnip program that she now volunteers her services with four different community cat organizations near her North Grafton, Massachusetts, home -- all that on top of her full-time career as a veterinarian.

"I wasn't taught the high-volume, high-quality surgical techniques now commonly used in TNR programs while I was in veterinary school," she said. "We learned new surgical skills, colony management and trapping techniques, and feline medical and behavioral pearls."

America is a nation of cat lovers. One 2007 study found that 81 percent of us would prefer to see cats left where they are rather than killed, if those were the only two choices. Programs like Operation Catnip offer something better than either: reduced population over time, vaccination to help prevent infectious disease, and a chance for healthy feral cats to return to their homes in our communities without adding to the feline population.

It also offers a chance for veterinarians to become better surgeons, and for all veterinary professionals to learn innovative strategies for managing community cats in their hometowns.

"I was able to bring everything I learned back to our local rescue and TNR groups," said Karls. "It was truly wonderful to see so many people united for the common goal of improving the lives of the homeless cat population."

To learn more about Operation Catnip, or to sign up for one of their upcoming training sessions, visit operationcatnipclinic.org.

Q&A

Bladder cancer

concerns in dogs

Q: My dog keeps having urinary tract infections, and our veterinarian wants to do a biopsy to see if the cause may be transitional cell carcinoma. What can you tell me about this disease? -- via email

A: Invasive TCC is a rare disease overall, but it's the most common cancer of the urinary tract in dogs. Certain breeds are at higher risk: Scottish terriers, Shetland sheepdogs, beagles, West Highland white terriers and wirehaired fox terriers. We don't know exactly what causes the disease, but researchers suspect a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors, including exposure to lawns treated with herbicides and insecticides. At highest risk are obese female dogs.

The disease occurs when a malignant tumor develops from the transitional epithelial cells that line the bladder. It invades the deeper layers of the bladder, including muscle layers, and affects the dog's ability to urinate. Symptoms can mimic those of urinary tract infections: blood in the urine, straining to urinate and frequently recurring urinary tract infections.

The disease is diagnosed through a tissue biopsy, obtained with a fiber-optic scope inserted into the bladder. If the tissue sample is determined to be cancerous, your veterinarian or the oncologist (cancer specialist) can follow up with radiographs (X-rays), ultrasound or a CT scan to determine the location and size of the tumor and whether the disease has spread to other areas of the body.

If possible, the tumor is removed surgically. Otherwise, chemotherapy drugs and cox inhibitors may help to shrink it or prevent it from growing. With treatment, dogs have a good chance of living two years or more.

Researchers hope to find ways to prevent the disease or detect it earlier as well as better ways to treat it. Fascinating fact: One study showed that dogs who ate vegetables at least three days a week had a reduced risk of bladder cancer. Bring on the carrots. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Boxer makes history

in working events

-- An almost-10-year-old boxer recently became the first breed from the Working Group to earn both herding and tracking championships awarded by the American Kennel Club. The only other dogs to hold both titles are two border collies and one Australian shepherd. Handled by her owner, Reegan Ray of Encinitas, California, some of Pip's other accomplishments include two advanced titles from the American Herding Breed Association, a Companion Dog (CD) title in obedience, a Rally Advanced (RA) title in Rally, and an Excellent Agility Jumper (AXJ) title in agility, plus multiple High in Trial awards.

-- Can you purr a few bars? Cats like music that incorporates the same frequency range and tempos as their natural vocalizations, according to a new study accepted for publication in the journal Applied Animal Behavioral Science. Researchers Charles Snowdon of the University of Wisconsin, his colleague Megan Savage and composer and musician David Teie created music that was about an octave or more higher than human voices and referenced tempos of purring and suckling. While the music was on, the listening cats turned toward or approached the speaker, often rubbing against it, Snowdon told Discovery News. The researchers hope their work can benefit shelter cats by helping them feel less anxious.

-- The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine is seeking dogs with chronic gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and vomiting to participate in a clinical study. The goal is to determine the composition of the micro-biome (naturally occurring bacteria in the gut) and how it changes during and after treatment. Eligible dogs will receive standard diagnostics for canine chronic enteropathy (CCE) and standard treatment for up to eight weeks. Owners must commit to four visits to Penn Vet and to collection of stool samples at home. For more information, call 215-573-0302 or email vcic@vet.upenn.edu. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

CAPTIONS AND CREDITS

Caption 01: Fluffy is one of Operation Catnip's "graduates." Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Volunteers are a key component to Operation Catnip's efforts. Position: Main Story

Caption 03: In a recent herding trial, boxer Pip earned 200 points more than the highest-scoring border collie. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 1