Ticking right along with ticks
If this is May, it must be Lyme Disease Prevention Month.
Hallmark hasn't designed a card yet, but can it be far off? Be careful out there this holiday weekend.
As a one-time host, let me tell you the disease is just like the house guest that just won't leave.
And it's not just humans. The number of dogs exposed to tick diseases is on the rise. Between 2006 and last year, there was a 30 percent increase in the rate of dogs exposed to tick-borne diseases, a national study shows.
From now through November, two-legged critters should:
Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts in the woods and tall grasses.
If it's too hot for that, spray skin and clothes with bug juice containing 30 percent DEET.
Afterward, check for ticks. They're little, so look closely. Remove the little buggers with tweezers and wash the area with soap and water.
If you get the "bull's eye" rash or begin to feel crummy, don't delay, see a doctor.
And eat your vegetables. It won't prevent Lyme disease, but if you buy them at a local produce stand, you'll be helping Maryland farmers.
If you have a pet who loves the outdoors, learn the signs and how to find and remove ticks.
