Ticks found on 'one third' of dogs, researchers say
By Claire MarshallBBC Environment Correspondent
'Just under a third (31%) of these dogs checked at random during a visit to the vet were found to be carrying a tick'
Prof Richard Wall, who led the Big Tick Project team at the University of Bristol, said: "The work that we have carried out shows that ticks are extremely widely dispersed. The records that we have got appear to show that we have had an increase in tick numbers right across the country.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37252925
'Just under a third (31%) of these dogs checked at random during a visit to the vet were found to be carrying a tick'
Prof Richard Wall, who led the Big Tick Project team at the University of Bristol, said: "The work that we have carried out shows that ticks are extremely widely dispersed. The records that we have got appear to show that we have had an increase in tick numbers right across the country.
Prof Wall said pet owners should be aware of the risk in woodland or areas of long grass, but urban areas were also affected.
Reacting to the new data, conservationist Chris Packham said the "good solid hard data" which was a "tremendously significant project" had revealed "some very shocking and surprising things about the distribution, the population and potential that ticks have to give diseases to our pets and ourselves".
It was surprising ticks were not just found in isolated parts of the UK, but all over the UK, he said.
Number of tick-infested dogs doubles in a year
In the study, 89.2 per cent of the dogs with ticks were found to be infested with the species Ixodes ricinus which is the principal carrier of Lyme disease and Anaplasma.
"The advice is very clear, go to your vet and speak to them about the most effective tick control for your pet."
Lyme disease in dogs can lead them to being lethargic, have swollen joints and nodes and can result in fatal kidney disease.
Third of dogs carrying ticks, researchers claim
'As there seems to be a rise in tick numbers, we need to be concerned and be aware of the potential for increasing problems.'
– PROFESSOR RICHARD WALL
Nearly one in three dogs has ticks, UK survey finds
Researchers find big increase in tick numbers across Britain, prompting fears over infections such as Lyme disease
Ticks and the diseases they carry have become a rapidly growing problem across the UK, according to the project, with the distribution of ticks estimated to have expanded by 17% across Britain in the last decade.
Just some of today's media coverage on the release of The Big Tick study previously mentioned -
and
My Pet On Line summarises the information well here -
The Big Tick Project is back - for more information
