Protecting your Dog from Ticks

by Rosie Theakston

Protecting your Dog from Ticks

What are ticks?

Ticks are parasites which can temporarily attach to our pets (and us) when they come into contact with them. They are typically found in woodland areas, long grass and on moorland, and our warmer milder winters and resulting in increased tick numbers and an extension of seasonal activity.

They are generally small and grey or brown in colour when they attach but as they feed, they can double or triple in size! Ticks are only rarely found on cats but are often found on dogs.

Why are ticks a problem?

Tick bites themselves can be uncomfortable and cause a local reaction or infection around the bite especially if they are improperly removed.

More importantly ticks can carry diseases which are transferred during feeding after a period of attachment. The most common of these is Lyme disease (borreliosis) which can cause recurrent lameness and fever and is carried by the sheep tick Ixodes Ricinus .

With increasing pet travel to and from Europe and changes in climate a wider variety of tick species and transmitted diseases are increasingly found in the UK. These include the ticks Dermacentor Reticulatus and Rhipicephalus Sanguineus which can transmit Babesia Canis and Ehrlichia Canis.

These diseases may present several weeks after a tick bite, can be tricky to diagnose and may be life threatening. Signs can include fever, stiffness, lameness, anaemia, jaundice or bleeding depending on the specific disease.

Protecting your pets

Ticks need to be attached for several hours before they transmit disease.

It is a good idea to check your pet regularly for ticks by running your hands all over the body paying particular attention to the ears, neck, skin folds and feet especially after they have been exposed to high risk environments. Ticks can be identified as brown or grey oval shapes firmly attached to the skin with legs close to the skin surface.

 If you find a tick don’t try to pull or burn it off and avoid squeezing the body. The best way to remove a tick is with a special tool called a tick hook. The hook slides between the skin and the body of the tick, and as it is rotated the tick comes loose with the mouth parts intact. If in doubt make an appointment as soon as possible with your veterinary practice.

Routine anti-tick treatments are available as collars, spot-on solutions and tablets. Please make and appointment with your vet if you think your pet is at risk and they will be able to recommend a prescription product which kills ticks rapidly after attach reducing the risk of disease transmission.

If you have been walking your dog in high risk environments, remember to check yourself for ticks too.