Mary Allen
Every year in spring it starts again – the high season of ticks! The blood-sucking tormentors are not only annoying but can even be very dangerous.
This does not only apply to us humans. Ticks can also transmit serious diseases to our dogs. For this reason, you should take precautions in good time so that there are no nasty surprises after a tick bite.
How to properly remove a tick from a dog?
In addition to optimal prevention, it is important to remove the ticks as quickly as possible.
Please forget all the old household remedies such as oils that you drip onto the tick. It is best to remove the tick with tick tweezers or a tick hook. These are commercially available for one to two euros.
Ticks have barbed mouthparts. That’s why it works best if you gently pull and pry the tormentor.
If the tick doesn’t let go,
wait for a little and pull again.
Under no circumstances should you squeeze the tick, as this could introduce pathogens into the animal’s bloodstream.
Ideally, you should search your dog well after the walk to quickly get the pests under control.
A tick cannot fall from a tree
Ticks are mites and it is believed that there are around 1,000 different species. In Central Europe, the wood tick and the alluvial forest tick are particularly widespread.
However, in recent years more and more Mediterranean species have been observed here. Ticks are most active in spring when the temperature is at least six to eight degrees for several days.
It used to be believed that the pests would wait on trees and then, at the first opportunity, drop down on the future host. This popular belief has since been refuted.
Ticks are much more likely to wait for their victims on the tips of blades of grass or the leaves of low shrubs. They react to heat and especially to smell. They then move on to their new host for up to two hours before they strike.
In dogs, ticks prefer the head, ears, neck, abdomen, or inner thighs.
Ticks can transmit dangerous diseases
The most common disease that little vampires can transmit is Lyme disease. If infected tick bites, the Borrelia are transmitted around 24 hours after the bite.
If you remove the tick early, there is usually no risk.
Lyme disease only breaks out weeks to months after infection. Unlike us humans, dogs can be vaccinated against Lyme disease.
Canine malaria or babesiosis is an infectious disease that causes anemia. Originally, it was only found in the tropics and subtropics. In the meantime, your dog can also become infected in Central Europe.
If not treated in time, canine malaria can quickly lead to death.
Ehrlichiosis also comes from warm regions. It is also called tick fever or Mediterranean disease and causes fever attacks, vomiting, and nosebleeds, among other things.
Protection against ticks for dogs means the fight against pests
There are many products available on the market to protect against ticks. Spot-on, which is offered by different companies, has proven its worth.
They are dripped between the dog’s shoulder blades about every two to three months. These agents ensure that the tick is poisoned and quickly falls off.
There are also tick and vermin collars or sprays. These work through the smell and are intended to prevent a tick bite.
How well do home remedies protect against ticks?
Watch out for home remedies! The effect of garlic, for example, has not been confirmed and too much of the strong-smelling tuber is poison for the dog.
Neem oil, which has a toxic effect on parasites, is also popular. However, as a dog owner, you must follow a few precautions. The dog must never ingest the oil!
The all-around agent coconut oil is said to have a repellent effect on ticks and other pests thanks to the lauric acid it contains.
Black seed oil is also said to be a natural tick repellent. After a student found this out, a real hype broke out about black seed oil.
However, we have not been able to find any further evidence of this since then. It certainly doesn’t hurt to try. Because black cumin oil has long been known as a remedy for allergies.
However, you have to test which product is most suitable for your dog. Each remedy works differently on each dog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my dog have so many ticks?
Active dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors are at high risk of catching ticks in the forest, on the edges of meadows, or in bushes. When romping around, dogs brush the parasitic ambush predators from grass or bushes. There are ticks almost everywhere where dog owners walk their dogs.
Is it bad if a dog has ticks?
The problem: after a tick bite, the dog can become seriously ill. In most cases, the tick itself is not dangerous for the dog, even if several bloodsuckers are targeting it at the same time. Blood loss can only become a problem if there is a massive tick infestation.
When does a tick fall off a dog?
If the tick is not spotted and removed, it will fall off on its own once it has fed itself. This usually happens after a few days, but sometimes only after two weeks.
Where are most ticks located on dogs?
The researchers also examined whether ticks prefer certain parts of the dog’s body. Areas on the dog’s body frequently affected by tick infestation are the head, neck, shoulders, and chest – areas that come closest to the blood-sucking parasites when walking and roaming.
Should you remove ticks from dogs?
If you discover a tick on your dog, you should remove it as soon as possible. This reduces the risk of disease transmission.
What is the best way to get rid of ticks on dogs?
Another popular oil used to treat ticks in dogs is coconut oil. This oil contains lauric acid. Studies have shown that coconut oil repels over 80 percent of ticks. However, the effect only appears when a certain proportion of lauric acid is present in the remedy.
How much does it cost to have a tick removed by the vet?
The sums you should expect in this case depend on the drug in question. The price can be 10 euros.
What happens if the tick head gets stuck in a dog?
If you discover that a tick’s head is stuck, try using a narrow, smooth object to pry the tick’s head off the skin. To do this, it is best to take a small credit card or your fingernail and try to detach the head of the tick from the skin when you run over it.
