THE ticks They can transmit serious diseases to dogs, such as babesiosis, monocytic ehrlichiosis and hepatozoonosis, depending on the species. In Europe, the most common species are Ixodes sp., Rhipicephalus sp. and Dermacentor sp., although Haemaphysalis and Hyalomma are also found. symptoms These illnesses include fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, nosebleeds, petechiae, and weight loss. In babesiosis, urine may become dark and mucous membranes may become pale due to anemia.
To protect your dog, carefully check his coat after every walk to detect ticks before they attach. If you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible using a few specific pliers to avoid emptying the parasite’s salivary glands and increasing the risk of infection. If you don’t have tweezers, use a tick-killing product before removing it. Preventative treatments include pipettes, chewable tablets and necklaces that repel or kill ticks, with effects that can last from a month to the entire season.
The Best Trick to Remove Ticks from a Dog
How to remove ticks from a dog It is crucial to prevent them from transmitting serious diseases. These parasites can infect the dog through its saliva, which occurs several hours after attaching to the animal, so it is essential to eliminate them as quickly as possible.
To properly remove a tick, it is recommended to use tweezers or a anti-tick hookThe procedure is simple: bring the tweezers as close as possible to the dog’s skin, avoiding crushing the tick’s body. Then, grab its head and slowly pull it straight out, without pulling sharply.
After removal, it is important to ensure that you have completely removed it and disposed of it safely to prevent it from infecting another host. The wound should be disinfected and monitored for signs of infection or reactions such as circular rednesswhich could indicate Lyme disease.
If the tick cannot be completely removed, it is not a serious problem, since the head will be wrapped in the scab and will eventually fall off. But it is always better extract it completely to minimize the risk of disease transmission.
There are myths about how to remove ticks from dogslike tweezers that need to be twisted or ticks that fall from trees. None of this is true; ticks hide in tall grass and bushes.
They should also not be used home remedies such as oil, glue, or nail polish remover to kill ticks, as this can cause them to release more pathogens or cause irritation to the dog’s skin. The only safe and effective way is to remove it manually with tweezers.
Veterinarians recommend check the dog after each walkpaying special attention to areas with thinner skin and less hair, such as the head, ears, belly and inner thighs. Ticks can be difficult to see because they range in size from a pin to a cherry pit, depending on how much blood they have ingested.
Diseases
Ticks can transmit several serious diseases to dogs. anaplasmosis It is caused by the bacteria Anaplasma platys and A. phagocytophilum, and although it may be asymptomatic, symptoms include fever and lethargy. Treatment is usually with antibiotics. Babesiosis, caused by the protozoa Babesia gibsoni and Babesia canis, causes hemolytic anemia and can be serious, requiring antiprotozoals and, in severe cases, blood transfusions.
THE ehrlichiosis It is caused by Ehrlichia canis and affects the immune system, causing anemia, lethargy and bleeding. Diagnosis is made by blood tests and treatment is with antibiotics. Hepatozoonosis, also a protozoan, causes persistent fever, weight loss and bone pain, with cyclical symptoms. Lyme disease, transmitted by Borrelia burgdorferi, can affect the central nervous system and cause fever and joint pain, requiring long-term treatment with antibiotics.
Finally, the Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever It is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, with symptoms such as fever, vomiting and lethargy. This disease is serious and also requires treatment with antibiotics to avoid serious complications.
Prevention
THE ticks on dogs They can be identified relatively easily by their lens-like appearance that adheres to the skin. Although they can bite humans, they rarely transmit diseases, being more common in wild animals or livestock.
To protect dogs from these parasites, there are options such as antiparasitic collarswhich act as repellents and are effective for six to eight months, as well as pipettes, which provide protection for one or two months. There are also tick pills, although they have to be metabolized in the liver, which can be more bothersome for the dog.
In addition to prevention, it is crucial to check the dog after walks, especially wooded areas with tall vegetationto detect and eliminate any ticks as quickly as possible.
