Flea, Tick & Pest Center

With their bloodsucking ways, thinking about ticks is enough to get your imagination going.

It can also get your skin crawling. But they also pose more serious problems by spreading diseases.

Lyme Disease. Bacteria spread from the bite of an infected tick causes this disease. While it can be treated with antibiotics, left untreated it can be fatal to humans, dogs, cats, horses and cattle. Symptoms in humans include a bull’s eye rash, one-sided facial paralysis, headaches, fever and swollen glands and joints.

Tularemia. This disease is caused by bacteria and spread by fleas and ticks. It is reported about 150-300 times in the US each year. Symptoms include an open ulcer near the flea bite, swollen lymph nodes, sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches and fatigue.

Here are two more diseases spread by ticks...and two more reasons preventing ticks from attaching to your pet is so vital.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. This disease is spread by fleas and ticks. It is potentially fatal and infects both dogs and humans. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, nausea, and vomiting. A rash is usually seen around wrists and ankles.

Texas Fever. This is also known as Redwater Fever and Tick Fever. It mostly infects cattle, but is rare in modern times.