The University of Guleph is undertaking a pet tick survey which will provide private veterinary clinics from across the country with the ability to submit ticks from client-owned dogs and cats for a one-year period beginning April 1, 2019.
Tick identification and pathogen testing will take place at the University of Guelph and data will be analysed to asses the risk of ticks and tick-borne pathogens for Canadian pets. Additional collaboration will take place on a North American scale and data will be shared with provincial and national public health organizations.
The objectives of the study are to:
- Establish a baseline for the distribution of ticks on Canadian dogs and cats across space and time
- Assess the patterns of tick species infestation on cats and dogs in Canada
- Determine the pathogen risks from ticks on cats and dogs in Canada
- Understand the broader tick and pathogen risks on pets across North America
For owners, when an animal presents with a tick or an owner brings in a tick that has been removed from their pet, they are asked to read and sign consent form and fill out a short questionnaire. Then their tick will be sent (in a batch) to the University of Guelph for identification and pathogen results.
If tick identification is required immediately, a photograph can be taken and e-mailed directly to the doctor in charge of the study at Guelph, Dr. Katie Chow.
The benefits of doing this is, at the conclusion of the study, all clinics will receive a report with the specific results from their clinic which will provide Virden Animal Hospital with local data. Also, that date will be put into context as findings will be reported from across the country.
All costs of the survey will be covered by Pet Trust Research Fund.
Virden Animal Hospital feels it is very worthwhile to take part in this study as there are large amounts of ticks in this area and it can be very serious if animals don’t have them removed on a regular basis.
Please ask any of our doctors your questions regarding ticks or visit the new Canadian Veterinary Medical site, http://ticktalkcanada.com