Dogs and ticks - 5 things you need to know

 

One of our biggest fears in raising our dogs is finding a tick stuck or crawling in their fur. Warmer weather leads to an increase in ticks throughout the year, so we need to be even more careful during the summer season. Here are 5 key things to know about these little buggers. 

 

1.      What are ticks? 

 

Ticks are small, arachnid-like parasites with a sharp biting mouth that attach to the skin of animals, especially - often - dogs. Ticks look like shiny grey peas with a darker head and small legs with which they attach to the animal's skin. 

2.      What dangers do ticks pose? 

 

Because ticks suck blood from a variety of animals, they carry a number of infections and diseases, including babesiosis and Lyme disease, affecting both dogs and their owners. Ticks are most commonly associated with Lyme disease, a disease that often goes undetected because of the lack of symptoms in the first few weeks. 

 

3.      Habitats of ticks 

 

Ticks can be found almost anywhere there is grass - parks, forests and even gardens. They are most often found in long grass, where they wait for a dog to pass so they can attach to it and start drinking blood. 

 

4.      How to spot a tick? 

 

Sometimes it doesn't matter how hard you try to prevent it - ticks just find a way to cling to your pet. Check your dog regularly by combing the coat thoroughly, brushing along and against the direction of hair growth. Be sure to check underarms, groin, behind and in ears, around head, muzzle and neck, between toes and pads, and other hard-to-reach places. Ticks always try to find the softest skin because that's where they can most easily break through. Look there first! 

 

5.      Can you get a tick out of a dog yourself? 

 

The earlier the tick is removed, the less likely you or your dog are to become infected with nasty bacteria. To effectively remove a tick, it is recommended to use a special tick removal tool that will allow you to twist and lift the tick from the skin, passing under its biting oral apparatus. It's important to make sure you remove the tick properly and remove the head, as just pulling the tick out can often leave the nasty bacteria still intact. If you're not sure of your skills, take him to the vet, they'll deal with it seamlessly and you can be sure your pooch is safe. 

 

Summer is in full swing and you haven't encountered the ticks yet? Maybe you're doing a great job with protection, or maybe you're just lucky. If you feel like it's the latter, check out our other article 6 ways to protect your dog from ticks. 

 

dogin'TEAM