Ticks can be a problem for dogs and humankind alike , especially at sure times of the year and in part of the nation . Here ’s what you involve to know to keep your pup — and you — as safe as possible from the vexing hemipteran and avoid tick - borne illnesses .
tick , those humble , oval or round , eight - legged origin - feeders , are bothersome to both humankind and animals alike . At best , a bite can be irritating , at bad it can menace you or your pet ’s health , make ticking - assume unwellness like Lyme disease . In fact , just reading this is believably giving you the sensation that something is crawl on you . But know how to find , get rid of , and forestall ticks on your dog is an important part of take in force care of your darling .
How Do Dogs Get Ticks?
Ticks are opportunistic sponger . They flow out on the peak of vane of grass or on the out leaf of bush and bush and wait for an beast to exceed by . When your dog brush up against the foliage where the tick is look , the ticking makes his move , crawling onto your pet and eventually implanting his backtalk parts into your frump ’s skin .
There are dissimilar types of tick that are prevalent in various regions of the United States and Canada . And while tick themselves are gross , they are not , by themselves , grave . However , ticks are carrier ofserious diseaseslikeLyme Diseaseand Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever . confab your veterinary surgeon to realize which ticks and what diseases are common in your area .
The good news : If your frank is infected , he can not pass the disease along to you . you’re able to , however , be infected by a tick bite . So if your andiron is infect , and you ’ve been in the same spot as him , you may have been bitten as well .
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How Can You Tell if Your Dog Has Ticks?
If you find an unattached tick creep on your floor or piece of furniture or even ( eek ! ) on yourself , " pick it up using a tissue and kill it or flush it , " says Anne Conover , DVM , the owner of Rolling Hills Veterinary Clinic , a interracial brute practice in Madison County , Iowa . Then , check your dog for connected pest by pet him and finger for small jut . If you sense something , part the fur so you could see the pelt .
Your detent ’s behaviour may give you cue to where there may be attached tick . The plague are particularly attracted to the warm , damp environment of your dog ’s capitulum , so excessive head - shaking might be a clue . " He may lap , scratch , or bite at the field where the check is crawling or attached , " Conover says . Another clue may be unexplained rat . If your wiener has removed a tick with his scrape and licking , a rat may spring where the peel is irritated from the check mark ’s collation .
How Are Ticks Treated?
The first priority in process a tick bite is to remove the affiliated check . This is not as scary as you might reckon . Here ’s more good news show : Ticks crawl . They do not leap or aviate . So you do n’t have to worry about the tick escaping or getting lost once you remove it — just be sure you have your provision quick before you begin theremoval process .
The best way to slay a tick is with tweezers or a specific tick - removal tool . wear down disposable glove or protect your hands with a tissue or newspaper towel . Part your dog ’s pelt and , using the tweezer , grasp the tick as close to the pelt as possible . Do not twist ; simply pull straight up with a never-ending unwavering pressure . Be patient , the check may not unblock immediately .
Once removed , drop the tick in a jar with a bit of rubbing intoxicant to shoot down it , then keep the tick in a container or a plastic bag labeled with the particular date , place , and other details . If your Canis familiaris subsequently pop out to present unusual symptoms , your veterinary can avail identify the type of tick and the label selective information will be helpful .
After removal , disinfect the sting area on the dog ’s skin and wash your hands exhaustively . " If the area where the tick is or was attached is inflamed or egotistical , or if a tick is burrowed deep into the skin , a veterinary surgeon should see the dog , " Conover says . " If there are abundant check on your bounder , you should consult your veterinary tutelage team for ticking prevention methods that work best in your area . "
Prevention is Possible! Here’s How
" The best manner to keep check mark off is to habituate a monthly incumbrance , " Conover says . " The most efficacious brand typically are those sell by a veterinarian . " Whether you choose an oral medication that your dog enjoys as a tasty treat or a topical discussion , a liquid that you apply to the skin between his articulatio humeri blades , you still should do due diligence in keep on your pup ticking - innocent . " It is still advocate to discipline your pawl for ticks after an outing , and to take out any tick you find as soon as potential , " Conover says .
