Our Mission

The mission of the Long Island Veterinary Medical Association is to promote the following:

The advancement and promotion of veterinary medicine.

Protection of the public health.

Elevation of integrity, honor, and maintain ethical standards.

The cooperative protection 
of its members.

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LIVMA Health Alert

Currently Worst Tick Season On Long Island 

Date: July 10, 2025

     The Northeast is currently experiencing one of its worst tick seasons in recent years, with record high emergency room visits for tick bites starting in early May of this year. 
​     This surge in tick activity is attributed to favorable conditions for tick survival, including a mild winter and a wet spring, allowing more ticks to thrive. 

                                                                 Ticks and the Diseases They Spread to People & Pets
            With moving into the summer months comes tick season and recently there has been a rise in tick bites and tick related infections in Long Island compared to previous years. There is a variety of ticks on Long Island that can spread diseases to both humans and pets, so it is vital to be cautious of them.
            The three most common types of ticks on Long Island are the Deer Tick, the Lone Star Tick, and the American Dog Tick. Each tick is identified differently.

​                                                                                                                                  Deer Tick

Deer Ticks are black and/or brown in color and its most common host is the white-tailed deer.

                                                                                                                                 
Lone Star Tick

Female Lone Star Ticks have a white dot, or “star,” on their backs while males are smaller and lack the dot. They transmit a molecule that causes alpha-gal syndrome.

               
​                                                                                                                          American Dog Tick

American Dog Ticks are brown to reddish brown in color and have grey/white markings. Their preferred host is dogs.

     ​All of these ticks are usually found in tall grass or shrubs because they are slow moving and can not jump or fly, so the height allows them to grab on to people and animals. They are able to detect potential hosts through breath, body odors, and sensing heat, moisture, and vibrations.
     It can take the tick anywhere from ten minutes to two hours to properly latch on to its host to begin feeding, which can then take minutes to days. This process is when any pathogens the tick carries can be transferred to the host, leading to disease. Once the tick is finished feeding, it will drop from the body.
           
                                                                                                                      Tick Borne Diseases
     There are many tick-borne diseases that can be spread to both humans and pets from the different tick species. These diseases include but are not limited to Ehrlichiosis (most common in dogs), Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesiosis, and Lyme Disease (most common in humans).
     Symptoms of these diseases in animals include vomiting fever, swelling around joints, and lethargy.
     Symptoms in humans are slightly different. Fevers and chills are still a major symptom with any tick-borne disease, but humans can also face aches and pains and rashes.

                                                                                                                              Tick Prevention
            There are many ways to protect yourself and your pets and prevent tick bites by planning ahead.
            • Wearing full coverage clothing and tick repellants is a major step in prevention.
            • Avoiding overgrown areas and tucking your clothes in also makes it harder for ticks to find you and find skin.
            • When returning from being outside, make sure to do a full tick check on you and your pets. They tend to hide in hair and areas that bend on humans. On dogs at cats, they will hide in areas the animal can not reach to groom itself, such as between paw pads, collarbones, and under collars. It is also best practice to shower right after returning.
           
          If you find a tick on you or your pet, immediately get it removed. It can take up to a day for disease to be transmitted but it is best to react immediately.

                                                                                                                                   Tick Removal
To remove a tick, use tweezers to grasp onto the tick as close to the head as possible . Then, pull the tick straight out without twisting, as twisting can cause parts of the tick to stay in the skin and may lead to infection. Next, dispose of the tick, not by crushing it, but instead you can flush it down the toilet, put it in alcohol, or wrap it tightly in tape. Finally, clean the area of the tick bite thoroughly. If you do not feel comfortable removing the tick, get assistance from a medical professional.

     If you notice symptoms of tick-borne diseases in yourself or your pet within days to weeks after a tick bite, immediately contact a medical professional in order to get proper testing and treatment. There are many antibiotics for both humans and animals that are effective in treating tick-borne diseases, especially during the early stages of disease.
    With the rise of tick bites this summer, it is important to stay aware and be proactive in preventing tick bites in you and your pets by taking the proper steps. Be safe when spending time outside and make sure to do thorough tick checks after every outing, not only now, but year-round. Remember to check with medical professionals such as your doctors and vets in the case that anything seems wrong or if you need help.
 
 
 Sources
https://southampton.stonybrookmedicine.edu/services/tick-borne-disease-resource-center

https://tickcontrol.com/services/tick-identification/

https://longisland.news12.com/li-doctors-say-they-are-seeing-more-tick-bites-this-season
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https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/about/index.html

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Pet Care Costs on LI

From News 12 Long Island 7/15/25

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Click Here For Additional Veterinary Health Alerts

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News & Events

LIVMA Honored by Nassau Legislators at
2024 Member Awards & Scholarship Dinner

Nassau Legislators John J. Giuffrè and C. William Gaylor III, join NY State Senator Steven D. Rhoads  in thanking this year’s honorees and congratulating our scholarship winners.

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