Ava Williams
Not only humans but also the dog long for the end of winter in March. Short walks in front of the door are finally giving way to long walks again, due to the first warm rays of sunshine of the year. From this point on, however, you must expect your dog to be infested with ticks again.
Be careful, especially in the forest
Particular care must be taken if you take your walks together in the forest and your dog makes its way into the undergrowth. There is usually an increased occurrence of ticks at the edges of forests in particular, but also in clearings and along paths. But even in bushes or in tall grass, your pet can easily get a tick or two. Since ticks love moisture and warmth, the dog should be checked very carefully after walks on rainy summer days. The ticks that are primarily found in our latitudes are divided into the wood tick, the brown dog tick, and the alluvial forest tick. All of these tick species can affect dogs. In the larval stage, however, the wood tick and the alluvial forest tick prefer birds or mice.
What are the consequences of tick bites for dogs and humans?
First, small injuries occur at the bite sites of the ticks in the dog. Depending on the duration of the infestation, these can lead to painful, deep wounds. In addition, there is a high risk of infection, both for animals and for humans. Because the ticks can of course jump from the dog to its master. Ticks are carriers of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). This disease leads to inflammation of the brain, which in the worst case can be fatal. Furthermore, infection with Lyme disease and fifty other diseases are possible. Many of them, such as Lyme disease, also affect the animal itself.
How can humans and animals protect themselves?
Unfortunately, it is difficult to avoid tick infestation on your dog outdoors in the warm season. Ticks can be found in almost every form of vegetation. It is important to thoroughly examine the dog after every walk outdoors and to use tick tweezers to remove any ticks that are in the process of settling on your pet. There is also the possibility of prophylaxis. Spot-on preparations have proven to be the most effective proven to contain the active ingredients fipronil or permethrin. These are liquid and are dripped onto the dog’s neck. It is important not to rub in the agents so that they can fully develop their defensive effect. Because the active ingredients are gradually distributed over the top layer of skin of the entire dog. Just one day after use, it can be washed wet again. A refresher should be done after about three weeks.
You can buy the preparations for tick prophylaxis both in pet shops and from the comfort of your own home. Many online mail-order pharmacies have now integrated their area for animal medicines. Over-the-counter medicines for humans and animals can be ordered here at the same time. The advantage is that by being able to order quickly over the Internet, you may be a little more motivated to carry out the necessary refresher with your four-legged friend to the required extent. Because even the best protection only helps if it is renewed regularly.