Forum Animal Health’s New All-in-one TicknerVet Aims To Remove Ticks In A Unique Safe And Efficient Manner

Forum Animal Health’s new all-in-one TicknerVet aims to remove ticks in a unique safe and efficient manner – killing and extracting them in less than 20 seconds. Using a rapid freezing spray, the non-toxic tool instantly kills the tick and then removes it using a mechanism built into the TicknerVet tool operated by a simple one-push button. It is the only product available in the market that enables the tick to be removed without touching it. These small blood-sucking parasites become more active between April and October and use dogs (and other animals) as intermediate hosts during their lifecycles. Although normally found in rural areas, ticks are now increasingly found across all areas of the UK - even in cities. As ticks become more prevalent, the problems associated with them also dramatically rise. Where ticks attach themselves to a dog to feed they bite through the animal’s skin and can cause anything from mild irritation to painful inflammation and infection. Also if too many ticks attach themselves to a dog, it can cause anemia through loss of blood. After a tick has been on a dog for 24 hours it begins to feed rapidly and can be seen to visibly swell or ‘engorge’. It is from this stage of feeding onwards, through its exchange of saliva with the host, that the risk of disease transmission increases greatly. This is why it is important to regularly check your dog for ticks and remove them as soon as they are found. Conventional, topical parasiticides can take up to 24 hours to kill and still leave the tick on the dog’s body therefore the risk of infection is still present. Also, when ticks are removed manually (using tweezers etc.) the mouthparts of the parasite are often left embedded in the dog. If the mouthparts are left it will continue to pose an infection risk – even if the tick’s body has been removed. Forum Animal Health is also warning of the risk of dangerous infections such as Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis and Babesiosis transmitted through ticks. These can be passed from ticks to humans and, in some cases, cause serious illness. The most common of these diseases in the UK is Lyme disease, which can also be the most dangerous for humans. Symptoms include drowsiness, headaches and painful joints. In severe cases this can develop into a serious illness affecting the nervous system and the heart. In fact the Department of Health recently sent out a bulletin to all GPs warning about the rise in the number of cases of Lyme disease and reminding them of the risk from tick bites. Vets and veterinary nurses are often at risk as they are often asked by clients to remove ticks from dogs free of charge. The TicknerVet not only offers them an efficient method of removal but also provides the opportunity for an additional revenue stream. Forum Animal health is also providing a range of support material to help vets and veterinary nurses to educate their clients on where ticks are most commonly found. This is designed to educate owners to check their dogs more regularly so they can spot and remove even small ticks as soon as they attach the source so minimising disease risk. Another important reason for responsible pet owners to check for and deal with ticks is its requirement in the UK Pet Passport scheme which states that they must do this both before and after travel abroad.. Foreign ticks can bring additional disease risk than their British counterparts and it is a constant fear that pets bringing these foreign ticks over will cause infestations in the UK. According to the National Lyme Disease Testing Laboratory, during the months of July to September the incidence rate can double. With rising levels of tick incidents and the dangerous viruses being transmitted by them, the growing tick problem in the UK has the potential to pose a serious threat to both humans and pets. Therefore, removing them sooner and increasing animal owner education is crucial moving forward. Forum Animal Health’s Tickner Vet is available from all major pet stores and veterinary practices from £18 rrp.

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