Protect Your Dog from Ticks: Facts & Tips

Dog owners frequently struggle with tick and flea infestations. A little stroll in the park or a walk through the woods can bring home a lot of unappealing little crawlers that have attached themselves to your dog. Your dog might find it to be unpleasant. In order to avoid these pests and to know what to do if your dog has fleas and ticks, we are providing you with some helpful tips in this article. 

Types of ticks

The term "forest tick" is used to describe ticks that are typically found in woodland or forested regions. Ixodes ricinus, often known as the castor bean tick or sheep tick, is the most prevalent species of forest tick in Europe and Scandinavia. Lyme disease and other disorders brought on by ticks are known to be spread by this tick.

The brown dog tick, a common kind of tick, is referred to as a "house tick" (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). These ticks are notorious for infesting homes and kennels, and they can spread illnesses like ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Life stages of a tick

Ticks have four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.

Egg: Hundreds of eggs are laid by female ticks at a time, usually in a protective environment like leaf litter, tall grass, or under the bark of trees. After she lays the eggs, she dies. After about two weeks, the eggs are ready to hatch.

Larva: The tick goes through its initial developmental stage, the larva, after emerging from the eggs. The larva is about the size of a pinhead and has six legs. For the larva to grow further, it needs food. It will descend into the bushes and wait for passing prey to provide it with food. At this stage, it usually targets smaller creatures like mice or other tiny rodents. The possibility of it settling on smaller dogs is also a possibility.

The larva will bite when a prey passes by. It will remain here for a couple of days while sucking blood. The larva consumes a lot of blood since it requires it to grow. At this point, further development is rather considerable. When the tiny animal has given up all of its blood, the larva escapes once more and falls among the plants. It will then start to transform into a nymph, which usually takes a year.

Nymph: The tick molts into the nymph stage following its initial blood meal. Nymphs have eight legs but are around the same size as adult ticks. The nymph usually hunts slightly larger animals. At this point, your dog is at high risk of being bitten by a tick. If a dog passes by, the tick nymph will bite down to suck blood nourishment. They are usually stuck for three to four days at this stage.

When the nymph tick has received enough nutrition from the dog's blood, it releases its grip and falls back into the vegetation. It is now using energy from the dog's blood to evolve for the final time. It must mature into an adult tick. The development usually takes place over the course of a summer. During this stage, the tick will also develop into either a female or a male.

Adult: The tick molts into the adult stage following its second blood meal. The largest stage, adult ticks have eight legs. After eating, adult females begin to lay eggs.

When a tick matures, it must mate in order to reproduce. If a female tick is present, she will bite a prey and then mate if a male tick is also present. This might mean a dog may have been bitten by two ticks at the same time and in the same location.

The life cycle of the majority of tick species can last from two months to two years, depending on the species and the surrounding environment. In some species, the tick must consume various hosts at various stages of its life cycle, whereas in others, the tick can survive on just one host.

The female tick will remain on the dog for a longer period of time because she requires nourishment to develop eggs. She can feed on your dog for up to a week. During this time, the female tick will grow significantly in size. The female tick can end up weighing hundreds of times more than she did when she first attached herself to the dog. When the female tick has sucked enough blood from the dog, she lets go. She will lay thousands of eggs the following spring, and the new ticks will complete the life cycle. 

The danger from a tick bite

If a tick bites your dog, it may appear to be relatively innocuous. It will eventually fall off again. If your dog is bitten by a tick, there may be some consequences. They may carry various diseases that can be passed on to your dog. The diseases are extremely dangerous. 

Borrelia

Several ticks can carry the Lyme disease microorganism. When a tick bites a dog, this microorganism is passed on to the dog and can cause Lyme disease. Some dogs' bodies already contain antibodies that can fight the disease. However, only about 15-20% are so fortunate. Furthermore, the antibody is usually a sign that the dog has been exposed to the disease at some point.. 

If your dog is bitten by a tick carrying Lyme disease, the tick will infect your dog with the bacteria within 12-48 hours. You can reduce the risk of your dog becoming infected if you find the tick quickly. If your dog becomes infected with Lyme disease, it can take anywhere from two to eighteen weeks for symptoms to appear. 

Lyme disease symptoms include fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, sore joints and muscles, possibly paralysis of the facial nerve, and the dog's behavior may change. Lyme disease is a neurological disorder. As a result, symptoms may include epileptic-like seizures.

If your dog contracts Lyme disease as a result of a tick bite, he or she will typically be treated with antibiotics. Once your dog receives antibiotic treatment, the symptoms may subside relatively quickly. Even if your dog has improved, it is critical that you continue the treatment until the end.

You can vaccinate your dog against Lyme disease if you don't want him to get it. If your dog receives the vaccine, it will produce antibodies that will kill the tick-borne Lyme disease. Even if your dog has been vaccinated against Lyme disease, you should still keep an eye out for tick bites because ticks can carry other diseases.

Anaplasma

Anaplasma is a bacterial genus that can cause disease in both animals and humans. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks.

Anaplasma is a microorganism that wood ticks can carry. It, like the Lyme bacterium, can infect your dog if he or she is bitten by a tick. If your dog is exposed to anaplasma, it can cause anaplasmosis, a disease. It is estimated that up to 25% of ticks carry this bacteria, which can cause anaplasmosis in your dog.

When your dog is exposed to anaplasmosis, the symptoms and course are more variable than, say, borrelia infection. The symptoms can appear at any time. Fatigue, weight loss, decreased appetite, fever, joint pain, respiratory problems, increased thirst, lameness, and a bad mood are all symptoms of anaplasmosis.

If your dog has anaplasmosis, it must be treated with antibiotics. The treatment usually lasts four weeks. If your dog receives the appropriate treatment in a timely manner, he has a good chance of recovering. However, there is a possibility that the dog's condition will not improve.

If you want to keep your dog safe from anaplasmosis, you must protect him from ticks. There is no vaccine against it, as there is for Lyme disease. 

TBE-virus

TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) is a viral infection that affects the central nervous system. It is spread by the bite of an infected tick and can cause inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and spinal cord (meningitis).

The process is slightly different when it comes to viruses. The virus will infect your dog as soon as the tick bites. It usually takes 7-21 days from the time your dog is bitten by an infected tick until the disease manifests itself.

TBE can make your dog very sick. High fever, vomiting, lethargy, and a lack of appetite are typical symptoms. Furthermore, your dog may begin to wobble, have convulsions, or become paralyzed in all or part of the body. This is due to some disturbances in the central nervous system. 

Because it is a viral infection, there is no immediate and effective treatment, such as antibiotics. As a result, it is something that must pass on its own. Your dog should drink plenty of fluids and be kept calm. In addition, he may be given medication to alleviate his symptoms. It could be antipyretic, anticonvulsant, or calming medication.

Some dogs do not survive because the virus attacks the brain. It is usually in the early stages of the disease, when the disease is at its most severe. If your dog survives the acute stage, recovery can take up to a year. In addition, your dog may require rehabilitation to get back on its feet. TBE can thus be a very unpleasant experience for your dog. 

There is also no way to vaccinate your dog against this disease. Instead, you can prevent tick bites, which we will discuss later.

Tick prevention

If your dog frequently walks in nature, such as in forests, tall grass, or thickets, it may be a good idea to protect him from tick bites. You can reduce the risk of your dog being bitten by a tick and thus being exposed to various diseases.

Tick bites can be avoided in a variety of ways. To begin, tick treatment products are available. There are numerous variations. The tick agent is usually liquid and is dripped into your dog's neck. It will then be absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin. When a tick bites your dog, the tick agent contains active substances that affect the tick's nervous system. The tick will be paralyzed quickly and die shortly after. Tick agents can thus be an excellent way to avoid bacteria like borrelia and anaplama because the tick does not have time to transfer the bacteria to the dog.

To reduce your risk of TBE, which can be transmitted as soon as the tick bites, look for a tick repellent that contains permethrin. This active ingredient prevents ticks from adhering to your dog's skin. As a result, ticks will be unable to bite your dog and will be unable to infect it with TBE.

When selecting a tick repellent, you must ensure that you select a solution that is appropriate for your dog. As a result, it may be prudent to seek advice from a specialist, such as your veterinarian.

You can give your dog chewable tick repellent tablets as an alternative to liquid tick repellents. These will have roughly the same effect, as the active substances will paralyze the tick and cause it to die. In addition, you can get your dog a personalized collar. This collar will secrete some active substances, which will paralyze the tick, causing it to die. 

Which preventive treatment is best for your dog can vary greatly. As a result, seeking professional advice is always a good idea. Even if you use tick preventive treatments, it is still a good idea to check your dog for ticks after going for a walk in the woods. 

How to remove ticks 

If you find a tick on your dog, make sure you remove it properly. If you remove it incorrectly, you risk introducing the tick's bacteria or viruses into your dog's skin, which could make him sick in the worst-case scenario. A tick bite does not pose the same danger. To be on the safe side, it is still a good idea to remove the ticks.

When you find a tick, it is critical that you remove it right away. This reduces the possibility of the tick infecting your dog with harmful diseases. When you need to remove a tick, it's a good idea to have a tick remover or tick tongs on hand (or the tick for that matter). It is the simplest method for removing the tick from your dog's skin.

Grip the tick's head with a tick remover or tick tongs. The tick should now want to let go of your dog if you turn the pliers around. It is critical that you do not act too violently, as you must complete the entire tick. You should not press too hard on the tick because it may break, increasing the risk of infection.

We'd like to use this opportunity to dispel some myths. Some people believe that putting some kind of fat on a tick will drive it away. It could be vaseline, margarine, or oil, for example. However, this is an extremely ineffective method of tick removal. The tick is at risk of being damaged if you press too hard on it. If you apply too much pressure to the tick, it may empty its stomach contents into the dog's skin. This increases the likelihood of infection. The best solution is to use the appropriate remedies, such as a tick remover or tick tweezers.

See more about tick removers and flea products on this page.