Enjoying the Manx countryside, preferably in the company of a dog, is the perfect way to spend a summer’s day, but this is the peak time of year for ticks and so walkers need to take extra precautions to protect both themselves and their four-legged friends.

Lyme disease can be passed onto humans if they are bitten by an infected tick.

Recent research indicates that the total number of Lyme disease cases in the UK in 2019 could be as high as 8,000. If caught early the disease can be successfully treated by the use of antibiotics, but if left untreated it can cause serious, permanent damage to joints and the nervous system.

The disease has many symptoms which makes it difficult to diagnose. In about a quarter of cases a circular, red rash develops around the bite, and in many cases a person develops ’flu’ like symptoms such as lethargy, aching joints and a high temperature. If you have been out in the countryside and you show these symptoms, you must seek immediate medical advice.

Prevention is better than cure, and the advice given by Lyme Disease UK is to:

Spray yourself and your clothes with insect repellent during outdoor activities

Avoid walking through long grass, and stick to pathways (ticks climb to the top of long blades of grass and wait for a passing mammal to latch on to)

Wear long sleeves and tuck trousers into socks (not the best look, but worth it!)

Take a shower and check for ticks when you get home. They can look like tiny black dots if they haven’t fed, but can grow to the size of a coffee bean when they’re full of blood.

Dogs, too, can suffer from Lyme disease and it could prove to be fatal if left untreated, particularly in very young or very old dogs.

Long-haired dogs and those with short legs are also particularly susceptible, but any dog is at risk and should be checked over after a walk.

There are a range of tick and flea repellents available for dogs, either from your vet, pet shop or supermarket, with ’spot-ons’ being the easiest to apply.

What should you do if you see a tick?

Importantly, don’t panic and just pull the tick straight off. Ticks need to be removed slowly and carefully to avoid the mouth parts being left embedded in the skin. Special tick removers are readily available in pet shops, but a pair of tweezers will do.

Put the tweezers as close to the tick’s head as you can, and then pull the tick straight up with a slow, steady movement. You should then clean the bite area with antiseptic.

There are lots of old wives’ tales about tick removal such as twisting the tick in a particular direction, burning it with a flame, covering it with nail polish, or suffocating it with petroleum jelly.

These are not effective methods and could result in the tick becoming ’stressed’ and regurgitating its bloody meal back into the host, along with any disease it may be carrying.

We have several perfect walking companions in our kennels at the moment, just waiting for new owners to explore the countryside with them (ticks or no ticks!) - Blue, for example, will wag his tail extatically as soon as his harness and lead come out. He’s a four-year-old cross breed - we think there’s a bit of Labrador and Staffie in him - who is shy when he first meets people but once he gets to know you he’s loving and affectionate.

Blue’s new owners will need to have patience, and take their time with him, giving him a calm and stable environment so that he can develop his confidence.

He’ll need to be the only pet in his new home, initially at least, until he’s found his feet and settled into a routine.

If you would like to meet him, please contact the kennels on 851672, option one, or visit Ard Jerkyll between 1pm and 4pm any day apart from Thursdays.