Home

TICKS AND DOGS

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Admin under Dog Health

 

 

IT IS TICK SEASON – PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR DOG

 

Just a reminder that we are now in the tick season (March to October in the UK).

Check the level of risk in your area via:  www.fleatickrisk.com.  This is only a guide and the risk will vary depending on exactly where you walk and which other animals are present in that area.

What are ticks?

Ticks are bloodsucking parasites which can cause irritation, infection and diseases to you and your dog.

What health problems do ticks cause?

How do dogs and people pick up ticks?

Parasites live not only in rural areas but also in parks and gardens.  They attach themselves to you or your dog by waiting on vegetation for a suitable host to pass by and then attaching themselves by biting through the host’s skin, so holding themselves in place.

Not all ticks will carry disease, nor will all ticks which have disease pass it on to you, but you do not want to be one of the unfortunate ones (neither you or your pet).

Lyme Disease

As mentioned above, the most serious effect in the UK from ticks is usually Lyme disease, which can affect both people and animals, resulting in flu-like symptoms, tiredness, loss of appetite, fever, joint swellings and stiffness when moving.

The intensity of these symptoms can fluctuate for months, even years, and if left undiagnosed is serious and so immediate treatment is required as soon as you notice illness in either yourself or your dog, particularly if you know you have had a tick attach itself.

Avoiding ticks

  • For ourselves, tuck long trousers into socks and boots and avoid walking through long undergrowth, particularly where deer or sheep live.
  • Use a walking stick to knock long vegetation out of the way before walking through it, which will cause the ticks to fall onto the ground (ticks cannot jump or fly so are less likely to attach to you).
  • For dogs and ourselves, check your dog after every walk and carefully remove any ticks with a special tick remover (you must be very careful not to squeeze the tick or to break off only a part of the body so a special tick remover is essential) : www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=tick+removers&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=31506596120&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=s&hvrand=14946242920423890928&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_4rgltjtzkc_b.
  • Check what your dog’s current anti-parasitic medication is for and if not already covered for ticks then speak with your vet about which product is recommended.
  • Note that some products can be toxic to cats so you must discuss this with your vet if relevant.
  • As with all medication, check with your vet which product is suitable for your dog.

For more information about ticks, see:  www.bada-uk.org but please note that although this site is very useful, on one of the videos they demonstrate how to remove a tick using  a pair or tweezers.  The way they do it is, I am sure, correct but for simplicity and to avoid causing further problems it is much better to use a proper tick remover which has the action of twisting the tick out and so removes the risk of squeezing the tick; this is not for tick-welfare! – it is to prevent you squeezing the tick which would in turn cause it to vomit its contents into its host and so cause more problems.

Travelling abroad

Your dog is at higher risk of tick-borne diseases when travelling abroad and although the Pet Travel Scheme no longer requires travelling dogs to be treated for ticks, it is wise to do so. This will help prevent foreign ticks and the diseases they carry from entering the UK as well as protect your own pet. For more information when travelling with your pet:

  • Check out travel requirements and recommended treatments at:  www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad.
  • Also, of course, speak to your vet, who should be able to advise you.

 

Happy and safe walking!

 

© 2015 Sally Bartlett
www.co-operativecanines.co.uk