VetxChange: Tick Tidbits: Ticking off the 5 W’s on These Tiny Troublemakers
.50 CE Credit Hour / Veterinarians & Veterinary Technicians
Overview:
Ticks pose a significant health risk to companion animals, both as blood-feeding parasites and as vectors for numerous pathogens. Over the past few decades, tick populations have expanded and intensified due to factors such as increased globalization, greater movement of humans and animals, and climate change. In the United States, common tick species—including the blacklegged tick, lone star tick, American dog tick, and brown dog tick—have the potential to transmit a range of bacterial, protozoal, and viral pathogens.
Serological data indicate that tick-borne pathogens are a persistent challenge for dogs, with U.S. canines frequently testing positive for agents of anaplasmosis, Lyme disease, and ehrlichiosis. Many of these same ticks and pathogens also pose a public health risk, as the tick species that commonly bite dogs can also transmit these same pathogens to humans. As a result, dogs can serve as valuable sentinels for tick-borne disease risks of their human families.
Despite awareness of the risks ticks pose to pets, ticks are often and easily overlooked. Given that ticks are a year-round threat in most regions, annual testing and the routine use of fast-acting tick control products play a critical role in protecting pet health by killing ticks and reducing pathogen transmission risk.
This presentation will cover:
- The geographic distribution of common U.S. tick species
- Factors driving the expansion and intensification of tick populations
- The speed at which ticks can transmit pathogens
- Best practices for tick prevention, treatment, and control in dogs to mitigate disease risk
Additionally, we will explore resources where veterinarians and pet owners can access up-to-date local, regional, and national information on ticks and tick-borne diseases, helping to guide optimal parasite prevention strategies for pets.
- Learning Objectives:
- Identify the most common tick species in the U.S. that pose a risk to companion animals and suggest resources where for investigating local tick and tick-borne pathogen risk.
- Explain the key factors contributing to the expansion and intensification of tick populations, including environmental and human-driven influences.
- Outline pathogens commonly transmitted by ticks to dogs and humans, including agents of anaplasmosis, Lyme disease, and ehrlichiosis.
- Discuss the speed at which different tick-borne pathogens are transmitted and the implications for timely intervention and prevention.
- Advise on effective tick prevention, treatment, and control strategies for dogs, including the importance of annual testing.
Kathryn E. Reif, MSPH, PhD
Dr. Kathryn Reif is an associate professor and the inaugural holder of the Bailey-Goodwin Endowed Professorship in Parasitology in the Department of Pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University. Dr. Reif’s research interests broadly revolve around vectors and vector-borne diseases of veterinary, medical and agricultural importance, with a primary focus on ticks and tick-borne pathogens of public health and veterinary concern. Some of Dr. Reif’s on-going research projects include: i) developing new approaches for real-time monitoring of tick feeding behaviors, ii) evaluating antimicrobial efficacy to control tick-borne pathogens, iii) evaluating efficacy of ectoparasitcide products, iv) investigating transmission dynamics and control strategies for bovine anaplasmosis and theileriosis; v) examining tick-borne pathogen prevalence; and, vi) tick-borne pathogen vaccine development. Dr. Reif enjoys engaging veterinarians and clients/producers in research projects and developing and delivering presentations on the importance of ticks and tick-borne pathogens to clinicians.
Moderator Adam Christman, DVM, MBA
Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, is the chief veterinary officer for dvm360®—an MJH Life Sciences Company™—who oversees content strategy and development and is the brand voice and personality for dvm360®’s multimedia channels. As a charismatic leader, he brings wit, humor, and authenticity to animal health care as the host of dvm360 Live!™ a new web-based talk show, The Vet Blast Podcast, continuing education webinars, and live media broadcasts.
Christman has also been in private practice and shelter medicine for 18 years and is currently a member and Treasurer of the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association. He received his DVM degree from Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and his MBA from Aspen University.
Christman is a national thought leader, speaker and author on practice management, social media, and rehabilitation, and co-authored, Honey, Have You Squeezed the Dachshund? A Pet Owner’s Guide for Owners Who Are Terrified of IVDD—a book on dogs with disabilities. He has been featured in multiple publications and appeared on various multimedia shows throughout the country sharing his expertise and passion on all things veterinary medicine.
As an avid social media influencer for animal health care, he has over 800K followers on TikTok and 53K followers on Instagram. He loves to engage with fellow pet parents and veterinary professionals across social media. Christman is an advocate of Pride VMC and Pawsibilities. He is also the proud dog dad to 4 dachshunds and believes no one should be deprived of the incredible human-animal bond.
This course is RACE-approved for .50 continuing education credits hours in jurisdictions that accept RACE-approval.
This activity is sponsored by Elanco.
