Ticks Be Gone! Flower-Power Repellant
Spring is FINALLY springing in the Okanagan. We are so grateful to see the sun, but spring ticks are also just around the corner.
The last few years the tick population has been crazy - ticks have been populating shrubs from the trestles to Kelowna's urban parks. No-one likes dealing with ticks, and we all want to protect our pets against Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
NATURAL TICK SPRAY REPELLENT
That's why we developed our organic, botanical tick spray five years ago. Our Pandosy Village Veterinary Hospital tick spray uses the power of rose geranium, lavender and lemongrass to repel ticks with a potent floral aroma.
Hundreds and hundreds of bottles later, it's now the BC Interior's favourite tick repellent! We even have hikers and dog parents ordering it across the country. Come in today and pick up a fresh bottle (it has a one year expiry) for your warm weather adventures. This year, we've got a new hand-friendly spray nozzle, which will help even more with application, and a fresh new look for the labels.
TICKS AND LYME DISEASE
The following is summarized from the BC Centre for Disease Control website. Check out the full article on Lyme disease here and additional information on Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever here .
Lyme disease takes its name from where it was first identified: Lyme, Connecticut. It is the most common tick-borne disease in North America. It can cause serious, long term disability if left untreated.
Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi which is spread by ticks. B. burgdorferi has been found in two species of ticks in B.C.: Ixodes. pacificus and Ixodes angustus. The ticks that spread Lyme disease are tiny bugs , about the size of a sesame seed, and they feed on blood.
Ticks live in tall grass and wooded areas and attach to people or animals as they pass by. Ticks burrow part way into the skin, bite, draw blood, then drop off. Different ticks prefer different types of animals. The Ixodes ticks found throughout BC tend to bite rodents and small animals. While most tick bites do not result in disease, some do. Dogs are particularly susceptible to contracting Lyme disease from tick bites and exhibit symptoms similar to those seen humans, such as fever, swelling, fatigue and neurological changes, but also excessive drinking.
WANT A 100% PROTECTION SOLUTION AGAINST TICKS?
Bravecto chewable tabs protect your dog against ticks for 3 months - if a tick lands on them and attaches, Bravecto kills the tick dead, before it can transmit disease. Bravecto is also available now for cats, with just a drop between the shoulder blades.
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!
Questions about ticks, Lyme disease testing, or other blood-bourne illnesses? We are more than happy to help.