Introduction
Ticks are small parasitic organisms that can transmit serious diseases to our canine companions. While not all ticks carry diseases, some ticks like the Deer Tick or Blacklegged Tick can spread Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, and other infections. Ticks are prevalent across the United States, especially during warmer months, so it’s important for dog owners to understand how ticks affect dogs and how to protect them.
When an infected tick attaches to and feeds on a dog, it can pass pathogens through its saliva into the dog’s bloodstream. Left untreated, these tick-borne illnesses can cause fever, lameness, neurological issues, and even death in dogs. Ticks can also attach anywhere on a dog’s body and cause skin irritation, infections, and blood loss. That’s why using tick prevention and promptly removing any attached ticks is crucial for your dog’s health and wellbeing.
What Are Ticks?
Ticks are small, spider-like parasites that feed on the blood of animals including dogs. There are different species of ticks, but the most common ticks that affect dogs in the US are the blacklegged tick, American dog tick, brown dog tick, and Lone Star tick.
Ticks go through four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Eggs hatch into larvae which have 6 legs. After feeding on blood, larvae molt into nymphs which have 8 legs. Nymphs then feed and molt into adult ticks. Adult female ticks take a large blood meal and then lay eggs to continue the cycle.
Ticks wait on plants with their front legs outstretched waiting to attach to a passing host. When a dog brushes by, they quickly climb aboard and find an area of thin skin to bite and feed.
How Ticks Attach to Dogs
Ticks are stealthy parasites that find dogs by detecting carbon dioxide, body heat, vibrations, moisture, and scent. Once a tick gets on a dog, it will crawl around looking for an ideal place to feed, often in areas with soft skin and hair like the ears, neck, armpits, and groin.
When the tick finds the right spot, it will insert its feeding tube into the skin, secreting a glue-like substance to stay attached. The tick then inserts its hypostome, a barbed feeding tube, into the skin while secreting an anesthetic to prevent the dog from feeling it bite. The tick will begin consuming blood from the dog, remaining attached for several days until fully engorged before dropping off.
Ticks don’t immediately attach when they find a host. Instead, they wander around for up to three hours looking for the best feeding location. This gives dog owners a window to find and remove ticks before they can attach and transmit disease.
Diseases Spread by Ticks
Ticks can transmit a number of dangerous diseases to dogs that pet owners should be aware of. Some of the most common tick-borne diseases that affect dogs include:
Lyme Disease – Caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted by blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks. Symptoms may include fever, lameness, swelling in joints, loss of appetite, and lethargy. Lyme can be treated with antibiotics, but quicker treatment leads to better outcomes.
Anaplasmosis – Caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum bacteria and transmitted by deer ticks. Symptoms may include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, stiff joints, and vomiting. Usually treatable with antibiotics.
Ehrlichiosis – Caused by Ehrlichia canis and E. ewingii bacteria and transmitted by brown dog ticks and deer ticks. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, weight loss, eye problems, and bleeding disorders. Antibiotic treatment is typically effective.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever – Caused by Rickettsia rickettsii bacteria transmitted by dog ticks and brown dog ticks. Symptoms include fever, lack of appetite, lethargy, swelling, and rash. Antibiotics are used for treatment.
Pet owners should monitor their dogs closely for any signs of these diseases after potential tick exposure and contact their veterinarian if concerned. Early diagnosis and treatment is key to preventing more severe complications from developing.
Preventing Tick Bites
Ticks can be frustrating and dangerous pests for dog owners. However, there are various ways you can help prevent ticks from attaching to your dog and causing harm. Some tips for keeping ticks off your dog include:
Check Your Dog for Ticks Daily
Make tick checks part of your daily routine. When back inside from being outside, do a full body check on your dog. Look in the fur, under the collar, between toes, and around the ears. Finding and removing ticks quickly can prevent disease transmission.
Avoid Tick Habitats
When possible, keep your dog out of wooded areas, tall grasses, bushes, and leaf litter where ticks like to lurk. Stick to clear trails when hiking with your dog.
Ask Your Vet About Tick Prevention Products
There are many effective tick control products available. Topical spot-on treatments, tick collars, and tick vaccines can all help repel or kill ticks. Work with your vet to choose the right tick prevention plan for your dog.
With vigilance and proactive prevention measures, you can help protect your dog from the annoyance and dangers posed by ticks. Check them daily, avoid tick habitats, and talk to your vet about repellents/vaccines. Keeping ticks off your dog will lead to a happier, healthier pup!
Tick Removal
Properly removing an attached tick is crucial to avoid injury and infection for the dog. Here are some tips for safe tick removal:
- Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Pull the tick straight out slowly and steadily without twisting or crushing it. Avoid squeezing the tick’s body.
- If the tick’s mouthparts remain in the skin, use the tweezers to gently remove them.
- Thoroughly disinfect the bite area with rubbing alcohol or iodine.
- Never use petroleum jelly, a hot match, nail polish, or other home remedies to try to get the tick to detach.
After removing the tick:
- Place it in rubbing alcohol to kill it.
- Wash your hands and disinfect any tools used.
- Monitor the bite area for rashes or other signs of infection.
- Contact your vet if you notice any unusual symptoms in your dog following a tick bite.
With proper technique, you can successfully remove attached ticks from your dog and minimize the risk of infections.
Tick Medications
There are several effective tick medications available for dogs that can help prevent and kill ticks. These medications come in both oral and topical forms.
Oral tick medications like Nexgard and Bravecto are given as chewable tablets. They work systemically, meaning the active ingredient spreads through the dog’s bloodstream and accumulates in the tissues located just under the skin. When a tick bites and drinks the dog’s blood, it also ingests the medication which kills the tick.
Oral tick meds are very effective when given monthly, but they do not repel ticks. The medication has to be present in the dog’s bloodstream before it can kill the tick, so oral tick meds do not prevent a tick from initially biting. However, they will kill the tick within 12-48 hours.
Topical tick medications like Frontline Plus and K9 Advantix II are applied to the dog’s skin as a liquid. The medication spreads over the dog’s skin and coat through oil glands in the skin. Ticks are killed by coming into contact with the medication before they can bite.
Topical tick meds also have repellent properties to deter ticks from attaching in the first place. They provide faster kill speed than oral meds, often within several hours. However, they require more frequent monthly application.
There are also tick collars and shampoos that provide topical tick protection. When choosing a topical tick medication, look for one that is labeled for killing both ticks and fleas.
Using oral and topical tick control together provides the most complete protection. The oral med kills any ticks that happen to bite while the topical repels and kills ticks on contact. Work with your vet to choose the right tick prevention plan for your dog.
Natural Tick Remedies
There are several natural remedies that can help repel ticks and potentially kill them without the use of traditional medications. Many pet owners prefer to use natural options when possible to avoid chemicals and potential side effects of conventional treatments.
Some popular natural tick remedies include:
- Essential oils – Certain essential oils like peppermint, lavender, lemongrass and geranium have natural insect repellent properties. Oils can be diluted and applied to the dog’s coat to help repel ticks.
- Apple cider vinegar – Adding ACV to your dog’s food or water is thought to make the skin and blood less attractive to ticks. The acidic taste may also deter ticks from latching on.
- Garlic – Garlic may have some tick-repelling abilities, but should always be used carefully as excessive amounts can be toxic to dogs.
- Diatomaceous earth – This fine powder can dry out and kill ticks when directly applied to the coat. Be sure to use food-grade only.
- Neem oil – Extracted from the neem tree, this natural oil can repel and kill ticks when used topically on dogs.
These natural options work by making the dog’s skin and coat unappealing to ticks, through scent, taste or drying action. Proper application and safety precautions are important. Check with your vet before using any natural tick control remedies. While natural options can help, they may not prevent ticks as effectively as conventional preventatives.
When to See the Vet
If your dog is bitten by a tick, it’s important to monitor them closely for any signs of illness. Some indicators that you need to take your dog to the vet include:
- Fever
- Lethargy or lack of appetite
- Lameness or stiffness
- Swollen joints or lymph nodes
- Neurological signs like seizures or stumbling
- Skin rashes or sores
These can all be symptoms of dangerous tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, and Babesiosis. If you notice any of these issues within a few weeks of finding a tick on your dog, it’s vital to have them examined by a vet right away.
It’s also a good idea to seek veterinary care if the tick has been attached for over 24 hours or if you are unable to fully remove it. Your vet can check for any remaining tick parts and provide medication to kill or prevent subsequent infections. The sooner tick-borne illnesses are diagnosed and treated, the better the prognosis for your dog’s recovery.
Do not wait to see if symptoms resolve on their own – get veterinary help promptly if your dog seems ill after a tick bite. Your vet can run tests to determine if antibiotics or other medications are needed to get your pup back to full health.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are several key things for dog owners to remember about tick medicine and prevention:
– Ticks can transmit dangerous diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis. It’s crucial to protect your dog against ticks.
– Speak with your vet about prescription medications like Nexgard, Bravecto, Simparica Trio that repel and kill ticks. There are also natural options like essential oils.
– Check your dog thoroughly for ticks after being outdoors, especially in wooded, brushy areas. Remove any ticks promptly and safely.
– Take steps to make your yard less tick friendly, like keeping the grass mowed and removing leaf litter where ticks hide.
– Don’t let your guard down just because your dog takes medication. You still need to check them regularly. Ticks are prevalent nearly year-round in many regions.
– By staying vigilant about tick prevention and control, you can help keep your dog safe, healthy, and happy.