How To Remove A Tick From A Dog,
What Diseases Can My Dog Get From Tick?
When To Take Your Dog To The Vet After A Tick Bite.
How To Remove A Tick From A Dog
Often our dogs play in long grassy areas and collect some unwanted extra friends..
In this post we will explore how your dog is likely to get infested with ticks, how to remove these pesky insects safely from your pet, and what the dangers are of leaving ticks unhindered on your Loyal K9 Companion.
How Do Dogs Become Infested With Ticks?
The most common way ticks latch on to our Dogs is through contact from long grassy areas. During the warmer seasons these pest infestations are likely to be most prevalent. Ticks can also move from one Dog to another, but but this is far less common and unlikely source - especially if there are many of the insects found.
Dermacentor reticulatus , Ixodes ricinus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus : These are the medical names for the most common species of parasites ( ticks) that infest our Furry Companions. These ‘arachnids’ are particularly fond of the tall grasses and forests. Once their target is spotted, they land on it and bite it in order to feed on its blood. The dog may then be prone to an inflammatory reaction in the infected area. But most importantly, ticks can transmit disease-causing pathogens.
Ticks can be a problem for Dogs after Playing in Grassy Areas
Regularly checking dogs and oneself for ticks after hiking or playing in grassy areas, and removing ticks as soon as possible decrease the chances a dog will contract a secondary illness carried by the tick. Tweezers are the most common removal method, and fine-point tweezers are best to avoid tearing the tick and spreading possible infectious agents in the bite area.
How To Remove a Tick From Your Dog
To Remove a Tick From Your Dog;
To start, spread the dogs fur, grasp the tick with the tweezers as close to the skin ( and head of the tick )as possible, and very gently pull straight upward in a slow, steady motion.
Another removal method is a tick removal hook. The prongs of the device are placed on either side of the tick and then it is twisted upward. Tick removal hooks are recommended in areas where ticks are common.
Removing the tick with fingers is never a good idea because squeezing to grasp the tick could potentially inject more infectious material. You may also end up pulling the body off with the head of the tick still attached in the animals skin. Using tweezers is far more suitable method.
Rubbing alcohol applied to the bite area afterward should help to thoroughly clean the wound.
Will a tick head eventually come out?
Sometimes the Ticks head remains embedded in the dogs skin. Tick heads should fall out within 36 hours of a bite. If it's been 36 hours and the head is still lodged beneath your dogs skin, you may need to see a vet. There's no need to panic, but there's no need to increase the risk of infection by waiting around for a stubborn tick head to expel itself, either!
Will rubbing alcohol or petroleum jelly remove a tick?
Applying rubbing alcohol or petroleum jelly, nail polish remover or vinegar not help you to remove the tick. It's actually worse for the dog, as its more likely to cause the tick to regurgitate, spreading potentially dangerous infective pathogens into the bite.
How Do I Kill A Tick?
Fortunately, ticks are fairly easy to kill. Most common household pesticides will kill the common ticks. You can also use a non-toxic pesticide that's safe for indoor use, such as recommended by your Vet or Pet store. Spray liberally along baseboards, under cabinets and corners, and on windowsills to kill any ticks that may be living in your house or shed where your Dog commonly frequents. Flushing a tick just removed from your pet down the toilet will not kill it. Nor will washing clothes in a regular machine .If you suspect some ticks are on your clothes washing them will most likely send the ticks on a local tour of the sewers..😁
How Long Will A Tick Stay on My Dog?
Without intervention ,the length of time a tick stays attached to your pet depends on the tick species, tick life stage and the host immunity. Generally if undisturbed, larvae remain attached and feeding for about 3 days, nymphs for 3-4 days, and adult females for 7-10 days. The serious infection process usually takes around 36 hours, so its important to check for ticks regularly.
This answer from QUORA is also an excellent reference for Tick removal from Dogs and Cats.
Click on Picture above to see Video showing Real Time Tick Removal
Removing the tick from a Dog with fingers is never a good idea. Always use tweezers if at all possible.
How to remove an embedded tick
Gently pull the tick out with tweezers by grasping its head as close to the skin as possible.
If the head remains, try to remove with a sterile needle.
Wash the bite site with alcohol or soap and water. ...
If signs of infection, symptoms occur within 30 days, seek advice from a vet.
Most vets suggest that you do not need to take your dog to the vet after a tick bite or removal. It is suggested to monitor your dog for signs or symptoms of Lyme disease for the next several weeks or months. (Rest assured knowing that only 10% of dogs that contract Lyme disease will develop symptoms of the illness.)
The following link will take you to one of the most comprehensive solutions for removing those nasty ticks that have befriended your dog!
Common Places Ticks Hide on Dogs
Generally speaking, ticks are looking for the warmest places on your dog's body to latch onto! You should check your dog for ticks on a daily basis during the summer months - especially if they play in areas likely to host them. Here are the places you most Definitely need to keep an eye on!
The most common places on your K9 Dog you will find these pesky insects (ticks) are as follows;
Under the Collar
Private Parts 😳(genitals and groin)
Inside of the Ears
Between the toes
Near the Eyelids
Be sure to thoroughly check these areas especially if a tick is found in a more obvious place on your puppy. Chances are more of these pests are hiding in these favourite areas of your pet. For our Furry Friends with thick coats make sure to use your fingers to press in through the thick hair and feel for bumps on the skin which could be a tick. Left unchecked they can cause serious diseases...
What Diseases Can My Dog Get From Tick?
The Most Important Diseases My Dog Can Get From a Tick
The most important tick-borne diseases that affect dogs are Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis, Bartonellosis, Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever,and Hepatozoonosis. All can have serious health consequences for dogs and many can have serious health consequences for people as well. The most common and usually most dangerous diseases are Babesia, Rickettsia and Lyme disease. Without treatment, the illnesses they cause are fatal for the animal .
1. Babesiosis
Babesiosis, also called piroplasmosis, is the result of infection with Babesia. Experts say ( see Ref1) “The incubation period of piroplasmosis varies between 7 and 21 days depending on the parasitic species in question.” The pathogen inoculated by the saliva of the contaminated tick enters the red blood cells in order to multiply. Eventually, it explodes these cells with the consequence of anemia and then liver and kidney complications. The infected animal then becomes listless and has a high fever. His urine turns dark brown in fifty percent of cases.
“There are treatments that can eliminate the parasite. They generally give very good results and must be implemented as quickly as possible .” Hospitalisation may be necessary.
2. Ehrlichiosis
Ehrlichiosis is an infectious disease transmitted by rickettsia bacteria. Incubation lasts between 10 to 20 days. The symptoms of this disease are difficult to recognise from those of piroplasmosis. The animal is lethargic and suffers from a high fever and chronic bleeding disorders including anemia. Other symptoms can also be seen like lameness. If this disease is serious, it can nevertheless be cured through various treatments, or even hospitalisation.
3. Lyme disease
Finally, perhaps the most famous of tick-borne diseases: Lyme disease caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi in dogs . The incubation phase is particularly long for this disease: from 2 to 5 months. " In the acute form, the main sign is usually a sudden onset, painful (even very painful), intermittent lameness and due to arthritis developing on a single joint " see (Ref1),Other symptoms may appear, such as depression of the animal, fever or even vomiting. Eventually, kidney, nervous and heart problems can also occur. The diagnosis of Lyme disease is difficult and the antibiotic treatment does not prevent the dog from remaining a carrier of the bacteria for a while.
Consult a veterinarian is necessary if in doubt
For these diseases, the establishment of the diagnosis requires the opinion of a veterinarian who performs various analyses (blood, urine ,etc...). Only this specialist will be able to provide appropriate treatment to improve the health of the animal or even save its life. In addition, the owner must remain attentive in order to note changes in the behavior of his animal or a bleaching of his mucous membranes which can reflect anemia. While pest control devices help reduce the chance of a bite, an inspection of your dog's body is paramount in helping to remove a parasite such as a tick in time.
{Ref: Dr Melanie Pastor from the Center Hospitalier Veterinaire Fregis.}
The Most Important Diseases My Dog Can Get From a Tick are Babesia, Rickettsia and Lyme disease
When To Take Your Dog To The Vet After A Tick Bite.
When Should I Take My Dog To The Vet After A Tick Bite?
How soon after being bitten by a tick do symptoms appear in dogs?
For the fastest acting diseases, usually the signs and symptoms will start 2-7 days after the tick has actually bitten your dog. It will usually take a few tick bites simultaneously in order for signs such as hind leg paralysis for example, to actually begin occurring. Monitor your Furry friend closely for up to 30 days however, since the incubation period for two of the other most dangerous tick related Dog diseases varies between 7 and 21 days. ( See 'What Diseases Can My Dog Get From Tick?" )
Should I take my dog to the vet after a tick bite?
Most vets will say that you do not need to take your dog to the vet after a tick bite, but you should monitor your dog for signs or symptoms of Lyme disease for the next several weeks or months. Rest assured knowing that only 10% of dogs that contract Lyme disease will develop symptoms of the illness.
What Are The Signs That My Dog May Have Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is a serious bacterial infection which can cause serious symptoms in dogs. (See What Diseases Can My Dog Get From Tick? )
Not all dogs that are infected will eventually go on to have problems, but those that do can become very unwell and untreated, fatal. The bacteria that causes Lyme disease is carried by ticks and can be transmitted to both dogs and people if they’re bitten by an infected tick. An infected Dog, however, can not infect a human. A tick must actually bite a human to cause any infection there.
Symptoms of a Dog with Lyme Disease can include:
lethargy
loss of appetite
fever
lameness
swollen lymph nodes
Always seek your vets advice if your dog shows any of these signs, or any other unusual symptoms. Remember with Lyme disease -your dog may not show signs for weeks or even months after being bitten. If you know your dog was bitten by a tick and he appears unwell e always mention this to your even if the tick bite occurred some time ago. Your vet is equipped to carry out tests to determine if your dog has the disease.
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