Do you know that ticks can carry diseases that affect you, your family and your pets? Let's take a few minutes to discuss ticks, where they are located, common tick-transmitted diseases, what to do if you find a tick on your pet, and how to protect yourself and your pet from ticks.

Ticks are blood-sucking insect parasites that can be found worldwide. Out of over 800 known tick species, less than 100 are important to man and animals because of disease. Fortunately in the United States, only about 12 of these species are found. Some of the most common ticks found in the United States are the brown dog tick, the deer tick, the lone star tick, the Rocky Mountain wood tick and the American dog tick.

Ticks prefer temperate to tropical climates and are found less often in dryer desert-type conditions. Habitats include woods, beaches, grass, lawns, forests and even urban areas. However, they prefer to live in weeds, tall grass and brush. They climb onto low vegetation, such as tall grass or weeds, and attach themselves to people or animals as they pass by.

Ticks are seldom a problem in well-maintained lawns, but do pose a threat at the edges of property where weeds and taller grass grow. Free-roaming pets are at a higher risk of coming into contact with ticks than confined pets. Pets are an important source of transmission because they can carry ticks into your home.

There are many diseases that ticks can carry. However, the most common are Lyme disease (Borreliosis), Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis and Tick Bite Paralysis. These diseases can be transferred to people and animals while ticks are feeding.

Research has shown that ticks often must be attached for several hours before they can transmit disease; therefore it is extremely important to check yourself, your children and your pets promptly after having been in tick-infested areas.

What do I do if I find a tick on my child, my pet, or myself? There are recommended and non-recommended ways to remove ticks.

The recommended way to remove ticks is by using a sharp pair of tweezers or forceps, flip the tick over on its back, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, and slowly pull. The tick does not burrow under the skin, but it does insert its mouthparts into the skin. Pulling too fast and hard will break off the mouthparts leaving them in the skin. You may want to wear gloves when handling the tick to prevent contaminating your hands with bacteria.

After removing the tick you should wash the site thoroughly, apply an antiseptic and cover with a band-aid. If you are unable to remove the tick or think that you pulled to hard and left some of the mouthparts in the skin, you should contact your doctor—or veterinarian, if your pet is affected—and have the area examined.

Do not remove ticks by burning them off with a lighter or match, placing alcohol on them, or painting them with paint or nail polish. These techniques can lead to further injury to the person or pet and can cause the tick to release toxins or organisms that can cause illness or disease.

After removing a tick, you should watch the area closely for the next two weeks. If there is any abnormal colorization, pain or discharge, you should contact your family doctor or veterinarian immediately. If you or your pets have fever, dizziness, vomiting, loss of appetite or weakness, contact your doctor or veterinarian immediately to schedule an examination. Clinical signs of tick-borne diseases can be vague and confusing. If you have any concerns about a tick bite, do not hesitate to contact your family doctor or your pet's healthcare provider.

Prevention is the key to keeping you, your family, and your pets safe from ticks and the diseases they carry. Here are some of the recommended preventative measures:

• Avoid walking through uncut fields, brush or other areas that are likely to harbor ticks. If hiking or picnicking in these areas, wear long pants tucked into socks and consider using tick repellents.
• DEET is an example of an effective repellent. DEET concentrations should not exceed 15 percent for small children and 30 percent for adults.
• Walk in the middle of cut trails to avoid brushing vegetation along the sides.
• Wear light-colored clothing so that ticks are easily detected.
• Inspect family members and pets after being in infested areas and remove ticks as soon as possible using the previously mentioned technique.
• Keep grass and shrubs in your yard trimmed and clear overgrown vegetation from the edges of your property. Ticks avoid direct sunlight and will not infest areas that are well maintained.
• Treat your pets with approved tick preventatives; the base Veterinary Treatment Facility or your local veterinarian can give suggestions for safe and effective products.

Remember that ticks are important reservoirs for disease. Protect your family and pets by routinely checking for ticks after being outdoors, using repellents for you and your family, and using approved tick-control products for your pets.