They’re horrible aren’t they?. But we need to chat about ways to keep their numbers down and to keep our dogs free from them, or at least as free as we can.
Ticks love warm, damp weather. A bit like we get lots of in the UK so ticks are fairly prevalent. If you walk your dogs anywhere there are large animals then you’ll find lots of ticks too.
A tick can present serious health problems both for your dog and for you. Particularly pay heed to the advice about bringing them out alive. Importantly, if you find a bulls eye rash on yourself go and see your GP. Make sure they know you’ve been walking where there are ticks.
What not to do.
Ticks are not easy to get off once they’re embedded. It’s always easier to catch them before they bite. Remember the aim is to get them out alive and then flush them.
Don’t cover them in vaseline or burn them off with a cigarette.As well as risking infection as they leave their mouthparts behind they tend to be sick as they die. That means they’re throwing up into your dog as you get rid of them and they’re injecting their poison and all those viruses as they die. Much better to get them out alive.
Chemical/Medicinal Controls
Theres a wealth of chemical controls out there. Some rely on your dog being bitten and some will stop a tick from biting. Some have better reputations then others and all work, in that they kill ticks. If you’re unable or unwilling to check physically for ticks Id look at a chemical method.
Physical controls
If you’re willing to take the time after every walk then, I think, the best method of tick control is to check your dogs after every walk. Teach your dogs a ‘show me’ command and get them used to you touching them all over. It’s easiest to remove a tick before it bites. I just wrap them in tissue and flush them away.
If a tick has bitten the easiest way to remove it is using a tick hook. Insert n it under the tick and twist and pull. The idea is to get the tick out alive so I keep some white tissue paper and look for the tick still moving once it’s out. Then flush it away.
If you leave its head in your dog don’t panic. Wash the affected area with a mild antiseptic and watch for signs of infection. Go to the vet and tell them whats happened if it gets infected.