Oklahoma Jumps In Flea And Tick Activity Rankings

It's a list no state wants to make, but a health website shows Oklahoma is moving up in the national rankings for the highest flea and tick activity. 

Tuesday, June 16th 2015, 11:49 am

By: Dee Duren

Oklahoma Jumps In Flea And Tick Activity Rankings

It's a list no state wants to make, but a health website shows Oklahoma is moving up in the national rankings for the highest flea and tick activity. According to WebMD, the state has moved up four spots to rank fifth in the country when it comes to the pests.

WebMD's Flea and Tick map compiles data from a variety of sources including visits to their website for information related to insect bites.

The Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association gives tips for flea and tick control to keep the insects off your pets and out of your homes. They stress the importance of treating the pet and its environment safely as flea treatment can be deadly if administered incorrectly.

Signs to watch for in your pet:

Adult fleas on the animal's skin or in the home
Flea eggs on the pet's coat (white, oval shapes similar to salt crystals in size)
Flea excrement on the animal's skin
Irritated skin or excessive itching

Tick control is equally important as a small percentage of ticks are infected with disease-causing bacteria like Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, Lyme Disease and others.

Get more information about tick-borne disease prevention from the Oklahoma Department of Health.