Tick bites on dogs often go unnoticed
Dog owners know it all too well: Your dog loves to roam through tall grass or bushes and often brings back small, unwelcome bloodsuckers from their explorations. Ticks are active from February to October and generally from around 6 degrees Celsius. So it's hard to avoid them.
Especially in thick, →long fur of your four-legged friend, ticks can hide well. Often, they crawl at first over the dog's body, so you can spot them more easily. That's why it's worth it to check your dog's coat after every walk. Also take a look at the head, as the bloodsuckers especially like to attach themselves here. During regular →coat care of your dog, it's also worth checking their skin for ticks. Even →puppies are not spared. So it's best to get your four-legged friend used to patiently staying still early on, so you can check them stress-free.
Removing ticks from your dog: How it works
You've found a tick on your dog? Then act quickly—ideally, remove it before it bites or, better yet, before it stings. If that's already happened, there are special tick tweezers, tick hooks or tick cards, but you can also use a pair of tweezers to remove it.
Our tips for removing ticks from your dog:
First, hold back your dog's coat so that the tick is not covered by it.
Proceed very carefully to avoid accidentally squeezing the tick. With pressure you can transmit pathogens that are in the tick's body into the wound and infect your dog.
Do not treat the tick with oil or nail polish, as it can also release pathogens into the wound when stressed.
Take the tick tweezers or one of the tools and grab the tick as close to the bite site as possible.
Carefully remove the bloodsucker by twisting (the direction doesn't matter) and make sure to remove it with its head and mouthparts.
Even though it's unpleasant, it's best if you crush the removed tick before disposing of it. Because ticks are very resilient, they can even survive up to three weeks in water and crawl back up pipes.
After successfully removing the tick, it's helpful to disinfect the area with disinfectant or alcohol to disinfect. This soothes the irritated skin of your four-legged friend. After a tick bite, a small inflammation can develop quite quickly
Which home remedy works best against ticks on dogs?
To protect your furry friend from ticks, there are several options. In addition to chemical-synthetic methods, some home remedies for repelling the little bloodsuckers can also be effective. If in doubt, it's best to consult your veterinarian about what you →should consider with tick treatments. Especially for puppies, you should find out exactly what your dog can tolerate and what is still too early.
We present three home remedies that can reduce the risk of ticks and at the same time are a healthy dietary supplement.
1. Black cumin oil
A superfood you can use as a natural repellent is →black cumin oil. It helps your four-legged friend to strengthen their immune system and supports coat health. Mixed into food, black cumin oil supports your dog's vitality and, due to its particularly high content of essential oils, forms a scent film over their skin. It can also be distributed in your dog's coat.
2. Coconut oil
Coconut oil is also considered an absolute superfood for humans and dogs. It can be mixed into food as well as applied to your dog's coat. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which is said to repel ticks, causing them to drop off. Before a walk, rub your dog's ears, neck, and back with the oil.
3. Rockrose herb
Rockrose is a flower from the Mediterranean region, which secretes a strongly scented, aromatic resin. →Rockrose tabs can easily be mixed into your dog's food or eaten in soft snacks. The essential oils, similar to black cumin oil, form a scent film on your dog's skin and are said to repel ticks.
Vitamins, minerals & supplements for your dog
Are ticks dangerous for dogs?
Ticks are for your dog usually not dangerous. If a tick goes unnoticed, it usually falls off on its own after a few days. However, some particularly persistent bloodsuckers cling on for up to two weeks to your dog's skin. The bite can cause a inflammatory reaction in the skin. The wound itself can become inflamed. In most cases, these small, local inflammations are harmless and heal on their own. However, as soon as the tick transmits diseases to your dog with its bite, it can become dangerous.
What diseases are transmitted by ticks?
A tick bite can transmit various diseases. Whether your dog is infected can be tested after at least 10 days. The following four diseases can be life-threatening and should therefore be treated by a veterinarian immediately.
The bacterially transmitted disease Lyme disease causes severe joint inflammation and paralysis. Fever and lethargy may occur.
The →anaplasmosis is also a bacterial disease, which can cause anemia, fever spikes and bleeding from body openings.
With babesiosis your dog suffers from fever spikes, shortness of breath, and vomiting. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal.
TBE: In early summer meningoencephalitis your dog develops meningitis. The central nervous system is affected.
When should my dog see a vet after a tick bite?
About 7 to 14 days after a tick bite, first symptoms of an infection can appear in your dog. If you notice the following signs, you should have your dog treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. In rare cases, the following symptoms may not appear until months later:
Lethargy
Mild to high fever
Fatigue or limited mobility
Loss of appetite or refusal to eat
Swollen lymph nodes
Joint swelling and/or lameness when moving
Joint inflammation
