Ticks are more than simply an annoyance to remove off your dog. Once attached to an animal, infected ticks may carry and transmit deadly diseases such as Lyme disease.

As with most parasites, prevention is preferable than treatment. If you follow these dog tick prevention methods, you will help protect your dog from tick-borne illnesses as well.

What exactly are ticks?

Ticks are eight-legged parasites that attach themselves to your pet and feed on its blood.

They are often seen lurking in grassy and forested areas, sitting on blades of tall grass with their front legs extended, waiting, or 'questing,' for their next meal. Ticks will wait for an animal (or humans!) to pass before taking a grip. They connect and may feed on their host for days after they've established themselves at home.

Why are ticks dangerous to dogs?

Tick bites are painful, especially for pets that are allergic to them, and they may make dogs extremely sick.
Because ticks are bloodsuckers, a big tick infestation may induce anaemia - a condition that causes lethargy and may need a blood transfusion in extreme instances.

Worse, sick ticks may transmit deadly illnesses. Ticks may harm dogs in a variety of ways, but the sheep tick (Ixodes ricinus) — the most common tick in the UK – can carry and transmit Lyme disease. This is a bacterial illness that affects the immune system and joints, presenting a serious danger to both canine and human health.

Babesiosis is another tick-borne illness prevalent in the UK that may affect both dogs and people, but it is uncommon. Babesia canis, a dog strain, can be deadly.

How to Keep Ticks Away from Your Dog

The good news is that you can simply prevent your dog from being infected with these parasites.

Avoid places with a lot of grass.

Ticks like to live down to the ground in tall grass or leaf litter. When taking your dog for a walk during tick season (usually the warmer months between March and September), minimize or restrict your dog's exposure to tall grass, especially if deer feed nearby.

A good rule of thumb is to walk in the center of paths, away from foliage around the margins, and to avoid overhanging plants, where ticks prefer to wait for their next meal.

Ticks, on the other hand, may live in a variety of settings, therefore it is important to be alert at all times. Tick nymphs, for example, need humidity to thrive and seek for gloomy places. This implies that, although ticks are often associated with tall grass, your dog may pick them up at the park or even in your yard if it is also home to wild animals.

Remember to protect yourself during 'walks'

If you're going for a stroll in a tick-prone region, make sure you're dressed appropriately so you don't pick up any ticks, which may put the whole home and your dog at danger.

To avoid tick bites, wear clothing that covers your skin. Always wear pants, not shorts, and tuck them into socks to protect your ankles. After a stroll, always inspect your body for ticks.

 

Examine your pet

If you've gone out for a walk, it's a good idea to thoroughly inspect your pet after you get home for any ticks that may have attached themselves along the way.
 
Work your way up each leg, beginning with the paws, then examine the body from the back to the nose, without neglecting the crotch. Pay special attention to the head, ears, legs, and undercarriage, since ticks love to cling into these regions. Also, check for ticks by separating the fur against and with hair growth.

If you feel a tiny lump, it may be a tick, so inspect it well without touching it with your naked skin.

Maintain the cleanliness of your grassy yard.

Fleas and ticks love long grass and organic waste to hide in. To keep your dog safe in their own yard, mow the grass and pick up any fallen leaves on a regular basis to make your landscape less parasite-friendly.

Select the appropriate therapy

Tick treatments come in a variety of forms, including spot-ons, pills, and collars.

Some treatments are designed to kill ticks, while others are designed to repel and kill ticks. Products work in various ways, so talk to your vet about what works best for you and your dog.

Because certain treatments, such as oral drugs (tablets), are active in the circulation, ticks are killed only when they begin to feed, possibly exposing the pet to illness. Other products are topical (applied directly to the skin) and either absorb and become active in the bloodstream, or distribute along the skin and become active on the surface. Some of these topical treatments may repel ticks, which means they don't have to bite the pet to be harmed, and they die after being repelled. The advantage of repelling ticks is that it not only helps to prevent bites, but it also helps to decrease the danger of disease transmission.

The Seresto Flea and Tick Control Collar eliminates fleas and repels and kills ticks without requiring them to feed on your dog. Seresto is the market's longest-lasting flea and tick repellent, lasting up to eight months.

Always check the expiry date on items you've had in your cabinet for a while before treating your pet. They may lose efficacy if they have past their best. It's also a good idea to ask your veterinarian the products they suggest for the greatest outcomes.
Whichever tick preventive medication you select, it is important to apply it on a regular basis to help keep your dog safe in the long run.

What to do if you discover a tick on your dog

To limit exposure to any diseases transmitted by the parasite, remove a tick as soon as you discover it on your pet. It is critical that you understand how to correctly remove a tick in order to avoid disease transmission and damage to your dog.

Tick hooks are a simple gadget that can be purchased at most high-street pharmacies. Follow the on-screen instructions to swiftly remove the tick entire. Unlike tweezers, tick hooks are less likely to leave the tick's powerful mouthparts in your dog, which represent an infection risk even after the remainder of the tick's body has been removed.

If you find a hungry tick on your dog, follow our instructions for properly removing and killing ticks.

If you are unable to remove a tick from your pet, always call your veterinarian.

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Ticks have a two year lifecycle and can remain active any time of year if the temperature is above 40 degrees.