Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Deer Hunters Reminded of South Texas Fever Tick Quarantine

Good morning. I am forwarding a joint release from the Texas Parks
and Wildlife (TPWD) and Texas Animal Health
Commission (TAHC) regarding fever ticks and hunting.

Carla Everett, director of Public Info, TAHC.
My contact info: 800-550-8242, ext 710
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

State officials are reminding hunters and meat processors in South
Texas that additional precautions are required when handling deer
carcasses due to concerns about spread of fever ticks in the region.
The general deer hunting season opens Nov. 1.

Portions of Zapata, Starr, Jim Hogg, Maverick, Dimmit and Webb
counties are under preventive quarantine for livestock by the Texas
Animal Health Commission due to heightened levels of fever ticks
outside the permanent quarantine zone along the Rio Grande border.
The total affected quarantine area covers more than 1 million
acres. Contact the land owner or manager to determine the current
fever tick status, if you are hunting in these counties.

Cattle, horses, white-tailed deer, nilgai and elk can act as a host
for the tick, perpetuating its population.If not contained, according
to TAHC officials, the fever ticks will continue to spread northward
outside the permanent fever tick quarantine area and could become
re-established in other areas of Texas and throughout much of the
south, southeast and parts of California.

"We're telling hunters to use common sense and take precautions when
handling and transporting deer taken on ranches within the quarantine
zone," said Mike Berger, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department director
of wildlife.

According to the TAHC, fever ticks can affect the condition and
general well-being, but are unlikely to cause death in deer. It is
safe to eat venison from fever tick-infested deer.
Deer harvested on infested, exposed, adjacent and check premises must
be inspected, treated and permitted prior to being removed from the premises.
If you kill a deer on other properties within the temporary
quarantine areas, you have three options:

1. Remove the hide completely and leave it on the ranch. If the skull
is needed for proof of sex, seal it in a bag, then dispose of the
skull away from livestock or wildlife after the carcass is processed.
2. Freeze the hide for 24 hours.
3. Have the hide/cape inspected and treated by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Fever Tick Force before removing it from the ranch.

A permit for movement issued by a representative of the Commission
must accompany the shipment of the hide and cape.

"There is too much at stake here to take a chance on inadvertently
carrying this deadly parasite outside the quarantine zone and we are
asking hunters to be vigilant to help keep this tick from spreading,"
Berger stressed.

Fever ticks are capable of carrying and transmitting a protozoa or
tiny blood parasite that destroys red blood cells, causing the deadly
livestock disease, "Texas Fever." Cattle are highly susceptible to
"Texas Fever," and the disease may kill up to 90 percent of infected cattle.

"It took more than 50 years to eradicate fever ticks from the U.S.,"
said Dr. Bob Hillman, TAHC executive director and Texas' state
veterinarian. "We have taken extraordinary precautions against
expansion of fever tick infestation into other counties or other
areas of the Texas. Compliance with these measures is extremely
important to prevent the spread of this dangerous tick." A permanent
fever tick quarantine zone runs through eight South Texas counties
along the Rio Grande to prevent the reintroduction of the ticks into
Texas and the U.S.

Additional information on fever ticks may be found on the TAHC web
site at http://www.tahc.state.tx.us

Protect Your Pets from Food Hazards During the Holidays and Beyond

Below is an article taken from Pet Talk:

Sweet treats and family meals are a hallmark of the holidays, but
for many of our furry friends, these same indulgences can be
dangerous.Dr. Mark Stickney, Director of General Surgery Services at the
Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical
Sciences, tells us how we can keep our pets safe while enjoying the
holiday season.
One of the major food dangers to our pets during the holidays and
beyond is chocolate. Eating chocolate, especially dark chocolate, can
cause toxicity in dogs and cats, which can result in death.
“While chocolate is toxic to both dogs and cats we see
chocolate toxicity much more often in dogs. This is simply because dogs
are much more likely to eat it. However, it is important to keep it
away from all pets just in case,” notes Stickney.
Although chocolate has long been a known toxin for dogs, other foods
and vegetation can also be very harmful.
“Few people know this, but both grapes and raisins can cause
renal failure in dogs,” states Stickney. “Another thing to note is
that Easter lilies, or really any flower from the lily family, can cause
kidney failure in cats.”
While these foods are especially dangerous, feeding any table
scraps to your pets can cause them harm in the long-run. Because of
this, Stickney stresses the importance of keeping your pet’s diet
regular year-round.
“During the holidays it is common for friends and family
members to slip your pets food under the table. While they think they
are giving them a nice treat, the high fat content of most table scraps
can not only cause weight control problems, but can also cause
pancreatitis,” says Stickney.
In order to avoid these situations, Stickney suggests that you ask
any guests to avoid the temptation of feeding your dogs table scraps and
explain to them the risks associated.
“Most people are more than willing to respect your wishes,
especially when they know the health concerns,” Stickney notes. “Of
course children are another story. The only thing you can do is watch
them like a hawk.”
Even if they are not given food, pets can sometimes find it
themselves. It is not uncommon in the commotion and food preparation of
the holidays to find your animal knee-deep in your trash can.
“It’s important to remember to always keep you trash closed
with a lid or put somewhere your animal cannot reach it,” states
Stickney. “If they do get into it you may have a sick animal on your
hands and no way of knowing what and how much they ate.”
While it is best to keep your animals on their regular diet,
Stickney does say that there are some foods that are safe for pets to
eat.
“If you absolutely have to give them something off of your
plate, hand them a green bean,” says Stickney. “Plain vegetables and
unbuttered, unsalted popcorn are both pretty harmless since they are
mostly fiber and don’t contain a lot of extra calories.”
Although toxic food is a major concern for your pets during the
holiday season, other common substances and smells can also harm them
during this time.
“Birds are very sensitive to anything they can inhale. During
the holidays people like to burn smelly candles and our guests may want
to smoke, but these types of irritants can give our winged companions
the bird version of a cold,” states Stickney.
Another thing to keep in mind, as the weather gets colder and you start
changing your anti-freeze to keep your dogs away from it.
“Anti-freeze has a sweet taste to it that dogs seem to like.
Unfortunately it is extremely toxic and can cause renal failure,”
notes Stickney.
The important thing to remember is that your pets are part of your
family. By keeping an eye out and avoiding over-feeding you can make
sure the entire family is enjoying the season.

ABOUT PET TALK...Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary
Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be
viewed on the Web at http://tamunews.tamu.edu/.