Ticks are an indisputably dreaded enemy. None of us wants to find a tick on our dogs, other pets or ourselves. Ticks are bad news because they may transmit diseases and even cause anemia or paralysis. As a dog owner, there are some basics you should know about the risks, prevention and removal of ticks. With proper knowledge, you can help protect your dog from the threat of ticks.
About Ticks
Ticks similar to fleas are parasitic arthropods that feed on the blood of their hosts. They are attracted to warmth and motion, often seeking out mammals – including dogs.
Ticks tend to hide out in tall grass or plants in wooded areas waiting for prospective hosts. Once a host is found, the tick climbs on and attaches its mouthparts into the skin, beginning the blood meal. Once locked in place, the tick will not detach until its meal is complete. It may continue to feed several hours to days, depending on the type of tick. On dogs, ticks often attach themselves in crevices and/or areas with little to no hair – typically in and around the ears, the areas where the insides of the legs meet the body, between the toes, and within skin folds. Most species of ticks go through four life stages – eggs, larvae, nymphs and adults. All stages beyond eggs will attach to a host for a blood meal (and must do so in order to mature).
Depending on species, the life span of a tick can be several months to years, and female adults can lay hundreds to thousands of eggs at a time.
The Danger of Ticks
The threat of disease is always present where ticks are concerned, and these risks should always be taken seriously. The symptoms of most tick-borne diseases include fever and lethargy, though some can also cause weakness, joint swelling and/or anemia. Signs may take days, weeks or even months to appear. Some ticks can cause a temporary condition called “tick paralysis”, which is manifested by a gradual onset of difficulty walking that may develop into paralysis.
How to find Ticks on your Dogs?
To search for ticks on your dog, run your hands all over the body, paying close attention to the ears, neck, skin folds and other crevices. You may prefer to wear latex gloves. Closely examine any raised areas closely by parting the hair, making sure you are in a very well-lit area. Depending on species and life stage, a tick may be as small as a pencil point or as large as a lima bean (when engorged).
If your dog has had a history with ticks or spends allot o time in high grasses, you should check for ticks once or a day. If you find an embedded tick, be sure to remove it promptly.
This is how you can do it:-
1. Wear latex gloves or cover your hands in a plastic bag to protect yourself. Do not ever use your bare hands to remove the ticks. Use a pair of tweezers or a specially-designed tick removal tool to grasp the tick at the point of attachment. This should be done as close to the skin as possible.
2. Be very careful not to squeeze the body of the tick, as this may cause bacteria and disease containing materials to be injected into the site.
3. Pull the tick straight out from the skin slowly and steadily. Some of your dog’s skin may come off with the tick, but this is normal. If bleeding occurs, apply light pressure to the area.
4. Once removed, you may flush the tick down the toilet, or drop it in a container with alcohol or drop it inside a melting tea light candle wax. When the wax hardens you can throw the candle away.
5. Do not apply hot matches, nail polish, petroleum jelly or other chemicals to the pet to remove the tick. These methods are not affective and can naturally be harmful to your dog.
Natural Remedy
A natural insecticide, neem oil is both antiseptic and antibacterial.
