When the weather is nice, especially when it is so warm and sunny we have to worry about overheating and sunburn, taking our dogs for a walk in the woods is a fantastic option. Cats also enjoy time outside in a catio or walking on a lead or playing in the garden. Unfortunately, those woods, fields and country lanes – and even our gardens - are also home to ticks. These tiny, nasty little parasites are most active from late April into autumn. Deer, sheep and rodents are common hosts, so ticks get everywhere. Creepy crawlies including parasites all have their role to play in nature. But some of them such as ticks can’t be allowed to have a role in our pets’ lives. Ticks pose real dangers to our pets – and to us.
The Dangers Ticks Pose to Dogs and Cats
Ticks latch onto the skin and feast on the blood of their host. This is bad enough as it causes itching and irritation and can even lead to anaemia if the infestation is severe. The dog or cat will scratch at the tick, which leads to skin inflammation, hot spots and possible infection. But this isn’t the worst ticks can do.
Ticks carry Lyme disease. While not common, it is dangerous. In humans, Lyme disease can cause a distinct target shaped rash and flu-like symptoms including a fever, but it can also go undetected for weeks. Most cases can be cured by antibiotics, but some individuals develop lifelong problems including fatigue.
Lyme Disease in Dogs
Lyme disease is more dangerous for dogs. It can impact their kidneys, heart and neurological systems with potentially fatal complications. Prompt treatment is critical. If your dog is lethargic, stiff and uninterested in food, contact your vet immediately.
Lyme Disease in Cats
Cats very rarely get Lyme disease, but it can be very serious if they do. Symptoms include poor bladder control, swollen belly and joints, difficulty breathing, lethargy, sensitivity to touch, swollen lymph nodes and loss of appetite. Again, prompt care is vital. Contact your vet right away.
The very least ticks will do is make our pets miserable. If you discover a tick latched onto your pet, your vet is the best option to have it removed. Because they are so tiny, it is difficult to pull the entire tick off with a tweezers, especially if your pet is wiggling around.
Preventing Tick Bites For Your Pets
Prevention is always better than cure. And today we have great options available from your vet to protect dogs and cats from ticks and fleas. You can protect yourself by wearing shoes and socks with long trousers. Tucking your trousers into your socks won’t win you any best-dressed awards, but it does make it hard for ticks to reach your skin. And your dog won’t judge you. (Your cat probably will, but let’s face it, they would be anyway.)
Whenever you take your pet out to a wooded area, field or country lane, take some time to groom them afterwards. Carefully comb through their fur and check for any tiny hitchhikers. Feel their legs and paws for little bumps. Regular grooming and baths as needed will keep your pet looking and feeling well, while also making sure you notice any parasites or skin problems promptly.
What to do if you find a tick on your pet?
If you do find a tick on your dogs or cats, it is important to remove it quickly and correctly. Ticks latch on to the skin, and if you simply pull the body, it will break off leaving the mouth attached to your pet. These parasites also spread disease, and prompt removal reduces your pet’s odds of being infected.
Do not follow the old advice to remove a tick by splashing alcohol on it. This can cause the tick to spit up the contents of its stomach, which is dangerous for your pet. The best way to remove a tick is as follows:
- You need a fine-point tweezers, not a regular one. Never use your fingers.
- Part the fur to reveal the tick.
- Grip firmly without squeezing or crushing it.
- Gently and slowly, pull straight back.
- Dispose of the tick by first drowning it in alcohol or soapy water.
- Wash your hands and clean the bite with alcohol.
- If your efforts fail, contact your vet and explain.
