As you know, the practice has been heavily involved with a study conducted by Bristol University and the drug company, MSD.

I have received an update of very interesting results today. Over 1300 practices across the UK (you can see on the map below) are currently participating in the study, over 10,000 questionnaires have been returned and Bristol University are receiving the equivalent of four domestic fridges, full of ticks every three days, that’s 4000 ticks! It is worth bearing in mind that these ticks may not have been found were it not for the Big Tick Project.

The results make for compelling reading: there have been three cases of non-UK ticks have been identified in dogs that have travelled in France and Spain. This is a very significant finding. A Mediterranean tick can carry other diseases such as Babesiosis, and other nasty diseases that are a worry for human health. It can also transmit Mediterranean Spotted Fever to people. Changes to the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) mean that dogs entering the UK no longer have to be treated for ticks.

If you are travelling abroad this year, please do make provision for parasite control to avoid bringing ticks and their bugs back into the country, for the sake of your pets, but also your family and friends. We have a novel treatment that lasts for three months and starts to kill ticks within 12 hours. Speak to us for further information.