When tick season arrives, dogs become susceptible to tick infestations. This not only means having dogs covered with these annoying blood-feeding parasites but also potentially exposing dogs to debilitating tick-borne diseases. Indeed, ticks are vectors of a variety of diseases, and the best way to prevent them is by protecting dogs from getting infested by ticks in the first place.
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Identification
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Ticks are closely related to spiders and scorpions. Ticks are blood-sucking parasites that tend to attach on the dog's head, neck, ears, anal area, shoulder blades and between the toes. These parasites are not really insects, they are instead closely related to spiders and scorpions. Ticks are generally small in size but become visibly larger when they are found engorged with blood. There are various species of ticks, including the brown dog tick, the American dog tick, and, the deer tick. All are ultimately capable of possibly transmitting tick-borne diseases, says James W. Day, a practicing veterinarian in Glendale, Ariz.
Warning
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The most common tick-borne diseases affecting dogs are ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. While all ticks have the potential to transmit diseases, the good news is that the majority of tick bites are generally disease-free. However, it never hurts to be extra cautious and check the dog upon returning from a walk in places where ticks are commonly found, even if the dog is already on a tick preventative, says veterinarian Dawn Ruben in an article for Pet Place.
Removal
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Arm yourself with a good pair of tweezers and gloves. There are many methods suggested in order to remove ticks; however, many are not recommended. The best way to effectively remove a tick is to wear gloves and use a pair of tweezers or a tick removal device. Grab the tick as close to the head as possible and remove it from the skin with steady, yet gentle pressure. Should the head remain embedded under the skin, try to remove it as much as possible. If unable to remove it entirely, an abscess will form and the dog's immune system will remove it naturally, explains Dr. Ruben.
Prevention/Solution
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The best way to prevent tick-borne infestations, and therefore tick-borne diseases, is to put the dog on effective tick preventatives. One effective product that kills ticks by paralyzing the tick's mouthparts is an amitraz-based collar produced by Virbac, called "Preventic." This collar can be obtained by prescription from a veterinarian. This product should not be used on sick, pregnant or nursing dogs nor in dogs taking certain medications, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Considerations
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Check your dog for ticks frequently after going outside. There are many other veterinarian-approved products to reduce the likeliness of tick infestations and tick-borne diseases. If you are able to remove the ticks from dogs within 24 hours, this may lower the chances of them transmitting Lyme disease or other infections,
It is also a good practice to put dogs on flea and tick preventatives right at the beginning of flea and tick season, says Ann Stohlman, a veterinarian at the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine.
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