How To Avoid Tick Bites
Ticks can get up to 1cm long, as they grow while engorging on blood.
Summer is here, and it’s time for long, relaxing walks in the nature with your furry little friend. Unfortunately, it’s also time for ticks to start crawling around in the bushes. Take your precautions to make sure that the bug doesn’t ruin your summer!
What are Ticks?
Ticks are external parasites that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. They are spider-like, egg-shaped creatures with eight legs, and vary in size between 1mm and 1cm. Ticks are most common in woodlands, grasslands and heathlands. They are generally widespread in areas with lots of wildlife and animals; areas with deer and sheep in particular. They are usually most active between spring and autumn, but they can also be found during winter. Ticks are not able to jump or fly, but climb or drop onto dogs as they brush past the leaf or straw the tick is sitting on.
It’s always a good idea to consult with your vet in case of a tick infestation.
Preventive Measures
There are lots of preventive measures available to reduce the risk of tick bites on your furry friend.
· Topical treatments: effective and commonly used products applied to your dog’s back, lasting for about a month. May cause unwanted side effects.
· Sprays: requires covering all areas of the dog’s fur, with special care around ears and eyes.
· Powders: easier to use than sprays, but still quite messy. Not suitable for dogs with asthma.
· Shampoos: more commonly used for dogs already infested with ticks.
· Collars: can be very effective, but not suitable for dogs who like swimming, as the effect of the collar is reduced after getting wet.
All the aforementioned measures can have a preventive effect on tick bites. We would always recommend you to talk to your vet, to discuss what measure would be most effective for your four-legged friend.
Tick Removal
After returning from a walk in the woods or fields, you should always examine your dog’s fur for ticks. They normally like to settle around the toes, neck, ears and armpits, but can be found anywhere on the dog. They usually start out small, but grow bigger as they engorge with blood.
The easiest way to find a tick is to brush through the fur with your hands, and search for small lumps that can’t be brushed off easily. Those are normally ticks that have already latched onto the dog. When you find a tick, you should always use tweezers or a tick removal tool to pull it out by the head. Using only your fingers increase the risk of pushing some of the blood back into the dog’s veins, or not being able to get the whole tick out of the skin. Use the tweezer or removal tool and pull straight outward as you twist clockwise. To kill the tick, soak it in rubbing alcohol. Keep the dead tick in a container for some weeks, just in case your vet wants to run tests.
Are Ticks Dangerous?
The main concern with ticks, is the risk of getting infected by tick-borne illnesses, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, tularemia and others. Normally, dogs will recover nicely from infections like these, with the right medical treatment. In some cases the infection can come back, and require several treatments. In very few cases, the infection can cause organ failure and be fatal.
If your dog has been infected by a tick for more than 24 hours, you should monitor the dog’s health closely over the following weeks and months. If there are no symptoms of illness, your dog should be all fine. As soon as there are visible symptoms, you should consult with your veterinarian, to check the status of your pet, and possible start treatment.
Don’t let the little creep keep you and your furry friend from enjoying summer!
With all the above in mind – have fun in the wild with your buddy, and enjoy the possibilities summer and nature has to offer! As long as you keep tick prevention in the back of your mind, it shouldn’t hinder you from a pleasant season outdoors.
