PITTSBURGH — In Pennsylvania, 2017 was one of the worst years for Lyme disease in people. Ticks were a big problem for both people and pets.
We could be in for another rough year when it comes to the outside pets.
"We actually just took her in for a routine checkup to the vet and they diagnosed it there with some sort of bloodwork,” said pet owner Ashley Hickenboth.
As the mom of a newborn and toddler, checking for ticks on Hickenboth's pup has become part of her daily routine after a visit to the park.
“I worry if they crawl off of her and attach to somebody else. It's a concern,” said Hickenboth.
Despite myths, we've all heard, veterinarians at the Monroeville Pet Hospital told Channel 11 there is no true tick season. They're out year-round.
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"It doesn't get cold enough long enough these days to kill anything off,” said Emilie St. Landau, a certified vet tech at Monroeville Vet Hospital. " So the ticks never really go away."
On a beautiful day, as you'd imagine, there are a lot of pets in the park, like Buttercup here. There are a lot of ticks too. Which has pet owners taking precautions to make sure they and their pets are safe."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lyme disease infects 300,000 people a year.
We've compiled the most recent data from the CDC to give you a better look at how the numbers have changed over the years.
Beginning in 2012, you can see confirmed cases concentrated in the Northeast region. As the years go on through 2016, the state of Pennsylvania is covered in blue.
"From 2016-2017, we saw an 18% increase in Lyme disease patient complaints,” said physician assistant Lauren Taylor, who works at Med Express.
While most people aren't going let these pesky mites keep them from enjoying the sunshine, they will definitely be covering up.
"I'll pull this up around my neck, because that's where mine was and I have long sleeves and I wear my long pants,” said dog owner Bonni Sanford.