TICK IN A DOG - HOW TO REACT QUICKLY?
Wednesday, 24 April 2024
In order to prevent tick-borne diseases in your dog, you should use appropriate repellents and parasiticides. It should be remembered that although the feeding period of ticks lasts from spring to autumn, in winter they go into hibernation.
When we notice in our pet a tick implanted, we must refrain from lubricating it with any substance. Contrary to popular belief, ticks do not come out of the skin on their own and such treatment as lubrication of the tick can only increase the risk of transmission of tick-borne diseases to the dog. The tick should therefore be wrung out, not pulled out, in a gentle but quick motion. During the next few days after removing the tick, we should carefully observe our pet. Thanks to this we can notice the first symptoms of a possible tick-borne disease.
In the case when some part of the tick remains in the body of the dog, we need to go to the vet as soon as possible.
Ticks are parasites whose food is human and animal blood. The largest concentrations of them occur on meadows and in forests. They pose a threat due to the fact that they can transmit dangerous diseases to their victims through bites. In case of dogs the most dangerous are babesiosis and borreliosis.
These parasites are very persistent and without food they can survive for several weeks or even months. Clinging to the underside of leaves, bushes or shrubs, they calmly wait for a source of food, which can be our dog. Unfortunately, due to the fact that they are very small, it is often difficult to see them among hair, so it is necessary to check it carefully while brushing the dog.
In a situation when a tick has already stuck to the skin of a dog, preventing the disease may no longer be possible. It is therefore advisable to regularly apply skin drops, oral tablets or tick collars as these are the best ways to prevent tick-borne diseases.
The initial symptom of both Lyme disease and babesiosis is fever. The animal becomes lethargic, does not want to eat and in some cases vomits. In the case of babesiosis the urine becomes darker and the mucous membranes turn yellow. Symptoms of Lyme disease on the other hand are swollen joints, problems with movement, larger lymph nodes and fever.
As soon as you notice a tick in your dog's skin you should get rid of it immediately. However, this can not be done by pulling it out, because the tick implants itself in the skin with its mouth apparatus so as to draw blood. Instead, the tick should be wrung out using tweezers. Grasp it by the skin and twisting pull out the parasite. Before we do this, absolutely must not lubricate him with anything, because it will only make the whole procedure more difficult. After removing the tick, the bite area should be disinfected. Then it is necessary to observe the animal to notice any symptoms of the disease in time.
Remember that the tick must be removed from the dog's body in its entirety. If any part of it remains in the skin, it can cause many unpleasant complications. Therefore, in such a situation, it is worth consulting a vet as soon as possible.
