Tick Bite Treatment for Dogs
Ticks are a common pest for many animals, including dogs, cats and even humans. Concerned dog owners should always check their dog's body after a walk through deep grass or forest areas. Checking should be thorough and done with the hands and the eyes, since a dog's coat can make a burrowing tick difficult to see.
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Locating Ticks
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Ticks are small black arachnids. They feed by attaching to another animal and sucking its blood. Prior to feeding, ticks can be difficult to feel under a dog's coat. However, as it sucks, the tick's body becomes engorged. As it grows larger, ticks become easier to see and especially feel and remove.
This is not to say that ticks can't be located before they become engorged. It is simply more of a challenge. However, running hands through a dog's coat, as well as gently parting the fur, section by section, to expose the skin and check for ticks are two techniques which, when used in concert, can help locate these arachnids before they have had a chance to feast on a pet.
Tick Removal
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The first step in treating a tick bite in dogs is removal of the offending creature. This is often a tricky proposition because of how deeply the tick buries its head in the dog's flesh during feeding. PetPlace.com recommends, "With a tweezers or tick removal device, grab the tick as close to the head as possible. With steady, gentle pressure, pull the tick out of the skin. Frequently, pieces of skin may come off with the tick."
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Ticks and Disease
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Removal is especially important because of the large numbers of diseases a tick can transmit. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, "Ticks are among the most efficient carriers of disease because they attach firmly when sucking blood, feed slowly and may go unnoticed for a considerable time while feeding. Ticks take several days to complete feeding."
Some of the common diseases transmitted by ticks according to StopTicks.org are: Colorado Tick Fever, Bartonella, Rocky Mountain Fever and Lyme disease.
Treating Lyme Disease in Dogs
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Tick bites in dogs can lead to Lyme Disease, which must be treated. Lyme is a serious, potentially life threatening disease in both dogs and humans. If left untreated, Lyme disease can cause kidney failure in dogs. According to PetEducation.com, the accepted treatment is a course of antibiotics. The website continues to explain that, "The antibiotics must be given a minimum of 14 days, but 30 days is recommended. However, some preliminary studies show that some animals may not even clear the organism after 30 days and will relapse once the antibiotic is discontinued. In these cases, the animal may have to be on the antibiotic for much longer."
Tick Prevention
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The best way to treat tick bites in dogs is to prevent them from getting bitten in the first place. According to PetPlace.com, the most foolproof way to do this is to avoid the types of environments in which ticks are found. These include, tall grasses and deep, shady woods. However, such environments usually bring great pleasure to dogs and owners alike, so there are many different topical and accessory options available to deter tick attachment. These include ointments, powders, dips and collars.
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References
- Photo Credit the girl with dogs image by Vladimir Konjushenko from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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Pulling a tick out with tweezers is probably the worse thing you can do. This works every single time on animals and people (yes, they like people too). Place your finger on the tick and begin to move your finger in a circle. Imgaine you are trying to rub it off but in a circular motion. The tick will not immediately come off, but will release it's hold. It might take 30 seconds to a full minute, but it will release.
