Caution in Winter: Infected ticks are cold-resistant
ESCCAP recommends: Dogs in vulnerable areas in the winter to protect against ticks
Dog friends know to responsible dog ownership is a useful parasite prevention. In the cold months of the year, but few think of protection against ticks. But recent studies show: with dangerous pathogens infected ticks are more resistant to cold and heat – and therefore reinforced the move in winter.
A – supposedly – is the advantage of the cold season: Dog owners are less concerned about the pesky bloodsuckers than in the early or late summer months. When the days get shorter and the nights are getting longer, ticks are finally on the retreat. But is that really true?
During the winter months are more infected ticks move
Not quite, according to current studies. For above all ticks that carry dangerous pathogens in itself, seem to be more resistant to large temperature differences than those that are not infected. In the U.S., a study was conducted on so-called Ixodes ticks. The result: The ticks, which carried the anaplasmosis agent in itself, formed an anti-freeze in the cold-protective enzymes. In this way, the infected parasites survive low temperatures better.
Scientific investigations in Switzerland came to a similar conclusion: ticks that are infected with the dreaded Lyme disease pathogen, showed itself more resistant to heat and drought. Obviously, a total of ticks infected resistant than ticks that pose less risk. The logical consequence: In very cold months, but even in extremely dry and hot periods, the percentage of ticks that can transmit diseases dangerous dog on four legs, much bigger.
Tick ??protection for dogs in winter in areas at risk
The independent expert organization parasitological ESCCAP (European Scientific Counsel Animal Parasites) recommends that, especially in areas where infected ticks are known to occur to keep the ticks prophylaxis even in winter.
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