Indeed it is true! Recently, researchers have found that a protein in the saliva of the Lone Star tick can cause an allergic reaction in its victims. The protein in the tick’s saliva is so similar to a protein in beef, that the tick bite victim develops an allergy to beef.
The research has been carried out on human patients, but realistically, dogs are more likely to be bitten by ticks than humans. This means if your dog all of a sudden starts acting allergic (ear infections, rubbing the face after eating, generalized scratching) and you live in tick country, your dog may now be allergic to beef. A few ways to prove the allergy: take beef out of your dog’s diet and see if things clear up, or, send a saliva sample to Nutriscan (http://www.nutriscan.org/) and get proof.
The Lone Star Tick currently lives from Texas to Florida, from Kansas to Maine and everywhere in between. Not only are ticks gross, they carry disease (Lyme and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever), and now they can cause life-long allergic reactions to beef!! Tick protection can be as simple as using essential oil repellants to more harsh chemicals. What to use depends on your needs and the risk in your area.