Ticks are nasty little critters and latest research says they can make us dogs and our humans very sick.  So please take care when out walking.

Latest research from the University of Bristol shows that ticks infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease may be considerably more prevalent in

Ticks at various stages

the UK than expected.

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Transmitted by ticks, this is a debilitating chronic infection which affects a number of animals including humans and dogs.

Ticks are parasites which live on animals such as deer and sheep, they feed by sucking blood from their host and are often transferred from host to host in long grass and bracken rich areas.

Initially ticks are no bigger than a poppy seed and can be quite difficult to see, once they have sucked blood from their host, they can enlarge to become about the size of a pea. Ticks will gladly attach themselves to dogs and humans and whilst feeding, can transfer the Lyme Disease bacterium to the blood stream.

Clinical signs in humans include a characteristic circular red rash that spreads from the site of the tick bite, followed by a flu-like condition.  In dogs, the symptoms can be much more vague and difficult to diagnose.  If untreated, the disease progresses to neurological problems and arthritis; chronic forms of the disease can last for many years.

While only occasionally affecting humans, reported cases in the UK are thought to have increased more than fourfold since the beginning of the century – from 0.38 per 100,000 in 2000 to 1.79 per 100,000 in 2009.  In 2010 there were 953 reported cases in England and Wales but the level of under-reporting is likely to be considerable.

To obtain a clearer picture of the prevalence of infected ticks, Faith Smith of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences and colleagues recruited vets across England, Scotland and Wales to examine dogs selected at random as they visited veterinary practices.  Since pet dogs largely share the same environment and visit the same outdoor areas as their owners, exposure to infected ticks in dogs is likely to provide an index for corresponding risks to humans.

Of 3,534 dogs inspected between March and October 2009, 14.9 per cent had ticks.  Of the samples that could be tested, 17 were positive for the Borrelia bacteria.  Hence, 2.3 per cent of ticks were infected.  Therefore, the prevalence of infected ticks on dogs is 0.5 per cent, or 481 infected ticks per 100,000 dogs.  This suggests that the prevalence of Borrelia in the UK tick population is considerably higher than previously thought.

Avoiding ticks
Ticks will generally be found in long grass and bracken rich areas.  Keep to footpaths and ensure legs are covered when walking through long grass.

Further information
Bristol University Full article
More about Ticks – British Association of Shooting and Conservation

Reports of a mystery illness affecting dogs started in 2009 and this year it appears to be striking again.

It seems that some of our canine friends are contracting a nasty stomach bug and the humans think it may have something to do with being walked in woodland between August and November.  They are calling it Seasonal Canine Illness or SCI.

Buster enjoys trampling in the leaves

In the woods

Dogs love going for walks at this time of year in the woods, as the leaves crunch under our feet and there are lots of interesting sniffs, but it seems something nasty may be lurking!

We have not heard anything about this in Cumbria, but our Grandma lives in Lancaster and there are reports that dogs in the Lancaster and Morecambe areas are being affected.

Since the beginning of September 2011, the Animals Health Trust have been informed that cases have reoccurred at all of their study sites, along with other sites in Nottinghamshire and Suffolk.

What to look for

This illness can appear only hours after being walked and has claimed the lives of several of our four legged friends, but at the moment nobody knows what the cause is.

SCI can affect any size, shape or sex of dog and  it causes us to become very ill, very quickly.  The most common clinical signs are sickness, diarrhoea and lethargy,

If you suspect your dog is showing symptoms of SCI then it is important that you contact your vet immediately as prompt treatment is vital.

Animals Health Trust

The Animals health Trust are doing everything they can but they need your human’s help;

Their website lists the known reported areas, but there could be more!

A short video has been prepared by the AHT to help your human understand what to look for and what to do.

There is also a short questionnaire which focuses on certain areas, so if you go for a walk in these places, the AHT need to know in order to track down this awful disease.  The investigation has focused on four sites – Sandringham Estate and Thetford Forest in Norfolk and Clumber Park and Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire.

We don’t want our owners to panic, as most of the doggies that become ill do recover, but in some cases Seasonal Canine Illness can be fatal.

More information

Animals Health Trust - Find out more about this mystery illness and how you can help
Reported SCI areas - Animals Health Trust list of current know locations of Seasonal Canine Illness

Being regular visitors to the Lake District, and the surrounding areas, we were interested in finding out more about a competition we had heard of to recreate a Lake District photograph.

The Lake District National Park is celebrating 60 years with a competition open to all photographers.

Here are the details:

The special “now and then” competition closes on Monday, 18 July 2011.

Lake District National Park Authority web editor, Helen Reynolds, is urging everyone to take advantage of the long summer days to get out into the national park with their cameras.

The Lake District features some fantastic scenery

Ten iconic historic images of the national park – including the Langdale Pikes in the 1940s, Wasdale in 1900 and Windermere Ferry in the 1960s – have been put on the authority’s website with the challenge of recreating all or part of the images to have a modern day makeover.

Three prizes are available:

• First prize – a money can’t buy dining experience – a once in a lifetime exclusive dinner served on the jetty at Brockhole, the Lake District Visitor Centre on the shores of Windermere.
• Second prize – indulge your inner pirate – sail away for a morning or afternoon on a self-drive motor boat, on Coniston Water which inspired Arthur Ransome’s classic children’s tale “Swallows and Amazons”.
• Third prize – foodie heaven – receive a luxury Lake District hamper packed to the brim with delicious local produce.

Details of how to enter are all available on the national park website.

Helen Reynolds said: “People can submit as many entries as they want, so give us your best shot at recreating a view from the past with a 21st century twist.”

‘Dogs and birds don’t mix’ according to the latest campaign launched this week in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Ground Nesting Birds – the Big Five in the Yorkshire Dales National Park

Dog owners visiting the area are asked to keep their pets on a lead to reduce the chances of disturbing ground nesting birds.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) has produced a free, pocket-sized leaflet showing what birds visitors may see when out on the fells.

Called ‘Ground Nesting Birds – the Big Five in the Yorkshire Dales National Park’, the leaflet gives details about skylarks, lapwings, red grouse, oystercatchers and curlews, as well as advice on ways of minimising contact with them. It is available at National Park Centres,  information points and as a download.

Five species of bird are commonly found within the park and the leaflet explains their  appearance, their calls and their favourite habitats.

The Authority’s Ranger Services Manager, Alan Hulme, said: ” The opening up of huge areas of the National Park under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act in 2005 has meant that people no longer had to stay on paths and could walk on open countryside”.

It is not often that you get a pink coloured email sent to you, but last week we did. It was from the team behind a new TV series on Sky TV.

A Different Breed from Sky 1 HD

The programme is called ‘A Different Breed’ and is devoted to dog enthusiasts and their canine companions!

According to the blurb it is:- ‘An hilarious and heart-warming dog-umentary that takes a peek into the lives of loving pet owners who dedicate themselves to their dogs!’

A dog-umentary – now that is a new phrase for the dictionary.

The blurb, from a human, goes on to say, :’ We think it’s time for our canine friends to take centre stage, so sit back, relax, put the kettle on and get ready for pamper parlours, doggie weddings and doggie dancing coming to Sky 1 HD.

But there’s more…. if the owners themselves weren’t personalities enough, their doggie compadres certainly are. Watch as the dogs give their own take on the crazy situations they find themselves in – that’s right, they Talk!’

A ‘Different Breed’ on Twitter

The producers of this programme must have swallowed the ‘Bible of Puns’ as they try and use them throughout any and all publicity.

On the Twitter page for the programme they have used the following in the biography area: -

From the makers of Pineapple Dance Studios comes a bonkers ‘dogumentary’ about the madcap world of ‘man’s best friend’. A ‘mutt-see’ show on Sky1 this April!

Facebook Competition

We can get involved in the Facebook page for the show and possibly win a modelling contract.

Just get your human to help you enter the Facebook competition which launches on 4th April on the Sky 1 ‘A Different Breed’ Facebook page.

The competition has a number of categories including, best dressed, best lookalike and cutest dog.

The more votes you get, the higher your chance of you winning a prize!

Lola wants to be a star

Lola is a small Yorkshire Terrier who is set to feature in the television series.

Her human is called Louise Harris and she is a professional business woman – but when that business involves making dogs smell nice, it’s fair to say she’s not your typical entrepreneur.

Louise is co-owner of a dog boutique and she thinks it is time for Lola to get married…..

Further information

Filming for the TV series has been going on now for many months.

K9 Freestyle dancing dogs have been filming since August and are set to feature in the opening sequence of the tv programme.

Let us know if you are taking part – via the comments area below

Many of the animal charities start to struggle at this time of the year as demands for their services increase.

Help an animal charity

Christmas, coupled with the cold weather, saw the charity’s services throughout England and Wales in high demand, with its national call centre dealing with thousands of enquiries every day.

Between 23rd and 27th December, RSPCA inspectors investigated 329 complaints about abandoned animals, which is nearly three an hour around the clock.

The RSPCA, as with many other animal rescue and welfare organisations, rely heavily on donations from the public to keep running.

Animal charities

Although the RSPCA is possibly the most well known animal charity in the UK, many others exist to help.  Here are details of a few of the main UK based charities for your information.

Dogs Trust

Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity and is dedicated to ensuring the welfare of dogs everywhere.

It was founded in 1891 and was formerly the National Canine Defence League.

Their slogan “A Dog is for Life, Not Just for Christmas” is famous in the UK and has helped to significantly reduce the number of dogs given as gifts and then abandoned once the novelty has worn off.

PDSA

The PDSA has issued a stark warning about charitable donations as they enter 2011

They report that a 28% drop in charitable donations are being taken into their stores compared to last December.

70,000 fewer bags of donations have been collected from supporters’ homes in 2010 compared to 2009.

The PDSA fears their shelves could be bare by January if the decline continues.

PDSA Director of Business Services, Andrew Holl, said: “It’s not just the temperature that has plummeted – donations have dropped significantly too. The heavy snowfall has led to police issuing warnings not to travel, preventing supporters from bringing in their donations.”

Nearly 400,000 pets were treated in 2010. This represents a staggering 50% rise over the last five years. In turn, the cost of delivering this vital service topped £50 million this year.

Many vets accept donations to the PDSA.

Blue Cross

The Blue Cross is one of the UK’s leading animal charities and has been a champion of animal welfare for more than 100 years.

Veterinary services are available to pets whose owners are on certain means-tested benefits or low incomes.

Charlie asks that you help your local charity protect his friends.

The Blue Cross is not government or local authority funded, but relies on money raised through donations, legacies and other fund raising activities.

They therefore ask that clients give a contribution towards the cost of their animals’ treatment, vaccination or microchipping.

Scottish SPCA

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Scottish SPCA) is Scotland’s animal welfare charity.

As an animal welfare charity, they receive no government or lottery funding and rely on public donations to continue vital work rescuing and rehoming Scotland’s abandoned, neglected and defenceless animals.

Scottish SPCA Inspectors save thousands of domestic, farm and wild animals from harm and danger every year, while vets and staff in wildlife and animal rescue and rehoming centres look after, rehabilitate and rehome thousands more.

Many more animal charities are available

Throughout the country many more animal charities are available and many, if not all, would welcome some of your time, or money or donations.

If you are involved in one of these local groups then let us know about your organisation via the comments box below.  Don’t forget to let us know how people can help and how they can get in touch.

Please don’t abandon us

Abandoning an animal is a criminal offence. Under the Animal Welfare Act, those found guilty face a fine of up to £20,000 and/or six months in prison. Anyone with information on these incidents should contact the RSPCA in confidence on 0300 1234 999.

Canine athletes will be limbering up to take part in one of the country’s newest sports,  as it visits Grizedale for the first time later this month.

A two day CaniX event is being held in The Forestry Commission’s Grizedale Forest  on Saturday, 23 and Sunday, 24 October  2010.

CaniX, which is short for canine cross country running, involves running or cycling whilst attached to your dog, and is becoming increasingly popular as a great way to have fun and exercise out in the open air.

Details of the CaniX event in Grizedale Forest, Cumbria

All fitness levels are catered for and events usually attract serious competitors, as well as those who want some muddy fun and exercise in the great outdoors with the family pet.

Three different types of race will be held at Grizedale,  CaniX, 5XC and Bikejor .

CaniX

From your dog’s point of view, CaniX is getting out with their best friend and doing what they love best – running. For a dog it is never a chore and this enthusiasm is what makes CaniX infectious.

Any breed of dog (large or small; pedigree or cross) can do CaniX. Whether your best friend is a ball of fluff or a honed hound, all dogs love to run and tapping into their natural instinct means CaniX requires very little, if any training.

Bikejor

Bikejor adds a mountain bike into the mix with the dog doing his/her best to stay up front. It is a much faster sport than CaniX.

5XC

5XC is cross-country running (without a dog) over +/- 5km distance. To enter you must be 17+ with races divided into male and female classes.

Have fun with your dog

Running with your dog is now a sport. Credit www.chillpics.co.uk

The Grizedale course is 5km long, although there are shorter courses for those between the ages of 7 and 10, as well as a ‘have a go’ class for newcomers and all ages.

Tania Crockett, from the Forestry Commission at Grizedale says:

“CaniX is a great way to have fun and exercise with your dog, and the forest trails at Grizedale are an ideal location for the first event of its kind in the Lake District.”

Eileen Cook from CaniX UK says:

“Not only is CaniX and Bikejor enormous fun, it also helps promote a healthy lifestyle for you and your dog. Although harnesses are available, no special equipment is needed and we cater for all fitness levels and any size shape or breed of dog.”

For more information about CaniX, as well as online entry for events, visit www.canix.co.uk

Entries to the Grizedale event close on Monday, October 18 2010.

More information about CaniX and the Keep Fit with Fido campaign.

Dog owners are being urged to clean up after their pets to help stop the spread of a virulent parasite.

Cattle must be kept away from dog waste to avoid infection

The parasite, Neospora, is found in dogs’ faeces and, if they foul grazing land and pregnant cattle ingest the parasite, it will cause them to abort or give birth to calves infected for life.

Farming organisations and landowners, including the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, are trying to raise awareness of the Neospora parasite.

Alan Hulme, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Ranger Services Manager, said: “We are urging all dog owners to make sure they clean up after their pets when they are walking in the National Park.

Just one incident of a cow eating some of these parasite eggs can have a huge impact on a whole herd – and a farmer’s future livelihood.”

Cattle and dogs could die

Farmers are becoming concerned at the increasing number of cattle infected by this parasite and the resultant abortions in herds.

NFU Scotland Vice-President and qualified vet, Nigel Miller said in a recent article: “Dogs, whether working animals like the farm collie or pets whose owners are taking access on grazing land, are presenting a growing threat to the well-being of farm animals.

For those walking or working with dogs in the country, there is a need to recognise the danger that their animal may pose to the health of farm animals and ask them in particular to collect and deposit all faeces.

Link to raw meat

Research seems to indicate that problems observed in cattle may only be part of the story, as the life cycle of the Neospora Caninum parasite also involves other canids and raw meat.

Initial infection can be acquired by ingesting food and water contaminated with oocysts excreted in the feces of dogs, or by ingesting infected tissues, or trans-placentally.

Transmission may therefore occur from dogs to cattle and vice versa.

Clinically the dog, or other canid,  is what is called the definitive host and cattle are the intermediate host.

There are no effective control measures against the parasite so it is essential that dogs are not allowed to foul farm land which could be grazed by cattle.

Dogs should also not eat raw meat as this could complete the circle of infection and contamination.

Working dogs at high risk

Dogs, especially hunting dogs, can also die as a result of infection as can goats, deer and horses.

Puppies and young dogs seem especially susceptible to fatal infection.

Farmers should also ensure that they clean up after their own dogs to avoid spreading the parasite. High risk areas include feed and bedding stores and water troughs.

Neosporosis is often misdiagnosed as Toxoplasma Gondii.

Infected dogs often display muscle weakness, paralysis  and other neurological symptoms within a few days of infection.

No danger to humans from Neospora Caninum

Skipton vet Andy Barrett, from the Kingsway Veterinary Group, stressed that there was no danger to humans from eating meat from an infected cow or drinking its milk.

But he said: “Just one infected cow can have dire consequences on the profitability of a farm.

If cattle are infected during pregnancy, the result can be abortion, birth of a weak calf or birth of a normal-looking calf that is infected for life. These calves then transmit the parasite across the placenta to all their offspring for the rest of their lives and these offspring are themselves up to seven times more likely to abort.”

Abortions are very costly and they deprive beef farmers of a calf from the affected cow and in the case of dairy cows, lead to the loss of milk and a calf.

An abortion in a dairy cow has been estimated to lead to a financial loss of £1,200.

In addition, infected cattle can only be identified by expensive blood tests and there is no treatment for the infection.

Once introduced into a herd, the parasite is spread very efficiently to calves and the involvement of dogs is no longer necessary.

Dogs should not be fed raw meat

Some studies indicate one possible transmission route to dogs and other animals is via infected raw meat.

Cooking or freezing raw meat can kill off the spores.

Humans can not be affected due to the acid and other agents in the human stomach killing off the nasty bug. However, medical laboratories are constantly vigilant to the possibility of human infection.

Neospora discovery

Parasitologist Jitender P. Dubey is credited with the identification and naming of  Neospora caninum in 1988.

He showed it could induce a severe toxoplasmosis-like disease in dogs and that the two diseases are often confused.

Research suggests that around 4% of dogs are hosts for the neospora parasite.

The first recognized outbreak of neosporosis abortion occurred in a New Mexico dairy and was reported in 1989.

Neospora warning signs

Infection in dogs is often via the placenta causing foetus death or infected pups. Older dogs can also become infected and exhibit symptoms which once observed can quickly prove fatal.

Some dogs may however just be carriers exhibiting few if no signs of infection.

Dog owners should seek immediate professional advice if their dog becomes lethargic, confused, unusually stiff or paralysed. Further details are available on the Helium website.

Further information

• Merck Veterinary Manual – Neosporosis
• University of Liverpool – Test for infection
• Neosporosis in Beagle dogs – Clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment
• Neospora caninum Sequencing – The Neospora caninum genome project at The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
• Lack of Serologic Evidence of Neospora caninum in Humans, England – Report
• NFU opens debate on dog threat to animal health – NFU Scotland
• NFU briefing note (.pdf) on Neospora

Dog owners are being asked to keep their pets on the lead when they go for a walk into the countryside.

The breeding season for wildlife and for farm animals is underway during this period and dogs can cause long-term damage if they are allowed to roam free.

Young lamb and mum

According to Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Ranger Services Manager Alan Hulme.“The breeding season lasts until July 31 and it’s a very sensitive time for domestic and wild animals, especially ground-nesting birds – for which the Dales are renowned,” he said.

“We hear dog owners say all the time that my dog never chases or attacks sheep and lambs – which unfortunately does happen – but what a lot of owners don’t appreciate is that dogs can cause just as much harm unintentionally by keeping parents away from their young, which leaves eggs, fledglings and lambs vulnerable.

“Dog owners are entitled to keep their pets off the lead on public paths but they must be under close control. However, to be on the safe side, we would urge them to keep their pets on a lead in an effort to reduce the risk of wildlife and farm animals being unintentionally disturbed at this crucial time.

“There are some simple rules under the Countryside Code that pet owners must remember, the most important being that, in most areas of open country and common land – known as ‘access land’ – you must keep your dog on a short lead between 1 March and 31 July, and all year round near farm animals.”

National Park Rangers and National Park Centre staff are only too happy to give advice to anyone who is concerned about going into area that may be used as a breeding ground by wild animals.

Malham farmer and Local Access Forum member Neil Heseltine, who was recently featured on the BBC2 Lambing Live Programme, stressed the need for extra care on the part of dog owners.

Neil, who has about 400 sheep, said: “We do get problems and it isn’t always from visitors letting their dogs off the lead.

“I think the main message to get across is that you can’t be too careful when you are out in the countryside with a dog.

“It doesn’t have to be physically chasing sheep – just its presence can cause upset. It may cause a ewe to stumble or fall and that could be enough to kill the lambs inside her.

“And every lost lamb impacts on someone’s livelihood.

More information about the Countryside Code can be found on the National Park website at www.yorkshiredales.org.uk.

Just spotted this website where you can learn all about working sheepdogs.

A fantastic instructional Border Collie sheepdog handling experience in Cumbria

This would make an ideal Christmas present for that ‘not sure what to get ‘ person.

http://www.lakedistrictsheepdogexperience.co.uk

Details are Troutal Farm
Seathwaite
Duddon Valley
Cumbria
LA20 6EF
United Kingdom
01229 716235

More details when we get them  - but the website is worth a visit

Please mention you spotted the link on ablogfrommydog.com