Ticks - the problem for all dogs

There is probably not a dog owner who can spend a summer with their dog without finding a single tick. No wonder, because these little parasites literally wait for the dogs as soon as it is warmer than 7 to 10 degrees Celsius. From this point on, it should be part of the daily routine that the dog is examined thoroughly for ticks after every walk or at least every evening.

What's so bad about ticks?

On the one hand, it is very unpleasant to know that there are parasites that want to “suck” the dog’s blood. However, a healthy dog ​​doesn't mind if one or two ticks suck on him. The blood loss is very low. Of course, things look different in the case of a massive tick infestation.

Some dogs react to a tick bite with skin reactions, such as mild swelling and itching. However, this should only be pursued if the dog reacts strongly to the itching. Otherwise, the skin reactions will go away on their own after a day or two.

Ticks and diseases

However, ticks can also transmit diseases and for this very reason they should not be found in large quantities on an animal. Communicable diseases include, among others:

  • TBE (tick-borne encephalitis)
  • Babesiosis
  • Ehrlichiosis
  • Lyme disease
  • Anaplasmosis

Some ticks are invisible 

That is actually the case. Especially with long-haired dogs, looking for parasites is a time-consuming process, even with a flea comb. Ticks are very agile and can cling to the dog's hair very well.

What to do if she has already bitten? 

If the tick is already quite large, it has been sitting a little longer and is almost full. It is often enough to pry under with your fingernail or tick card. It almost comes off on its own.

However, if it is still very small, it can be difficult to catch it, regardless of whether you use tick tweezers, a tick snare or a tick card. It is important that the tick is reached as close to the skin as possible and that it is not crushed under any circumstances. In the latter case, intestinal contents of the parasite would spill into the animal's bloodstream, which could lead to disease transmission.
If you are unsure about removing the parasite, you also have two other options:

  • Veterinarian or animal health practitioner: They are experienced in removing ticks.
  • Let it hang until it falls off on its own: Not everyone is comfortable with this option. But you can be sure that no intestinal contents will get into the host.

Prevent 

There are various options to save your dog as many ticks as possible:

  • Tick ​​protection with the help of natural products such as coconut oil and black cumin oil
  • Tick ​​protection in the form of a tablet, spot on or collar
  • Amber necklace
  • Ultrasound pendant for the collar
  • Homeopathy: Ledum D200, 3 globules per month during tick season
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Unfortunately, there is no guarantee for any of the methods, which is why you should also search the dog after the walk to be on the safe side.