Dogs and ticks go together like peanut butter and jelly. In fact, many dogs love to play in the woods and tall grass, where they are more likely to pick up a tick. While most ticks don’t cause any harm, some can transmit serious diseases, so it’s important to take some precautions to protect your pup. Here are all the need-to-know details on tick. Read this if you would like to find out what is the best tick prevention for dogs.
What are ticks?
Ticks are those pesky little creatures that feed on the blood of your dog. Unfortunately, 90% of canines across the globe will get ticks on them during their lifetime. The pesky parasites tend to live mostly around your dog’s ears, between their front legs, and the inside area between your dog’s rear legs.
Now that you know what ticks are you surely can understand why tick prevention for dogs is so important.
What are the signs of tick infestation?
Tick prevention for dogs can be the one thing to help you prevent these signs of infestation, but what are the signs and how do you know you have one at your home?
The irritating blood-suckers usually attack dogs during the Spring and Summer months and can leave them infected with some deadly diseases. If your dog shows signs of skin irritation or allergy, fever, reduced appetite, or swelling on its body, then you need to check its skin for ticks immediately.
tick prevention for dogs and How to Get Rid Of Them
Dog owners who are conscious of their pet’s health need to be aware of ticks because they are opportunistic and will frequently try to attach themselves to dogs. It can be quite a tricky task to remove ticks once they’ve attached to your canine companion’s skin because they feed on blood and tend to suction themselves onto bodies very firmly.
However, there is good news as well! There are many options for tick treatment for dogs. Here are the safest tick prevention for dogs options that will help keep your dog ticks-free:
- Topical medications
If you notice signs of ticks being on your dog’s skin, but don’t think it’s widespread yet, you can try treating it with spot-on treatment. You can buy these from pet stores or possibly from your vet if they keep supplies as well. These medications are highly effective for keeping ticks and other blood-sucking parasites at bay for 2-3 months. Remember though, you always need to take care with medications for your pet – carefully read the labels or instructions on the box, and get advice from your vet before applying any topical medicine on your beloved canine.
- Oral medications
There are also anti-tick oral medications available, such as pills and syrups, which are very good at attacking tick infestations and stopping them in their tracks. These are usually prescribed by a vet. These can be a great solution for dog owners because it’s relatively easy and safe to administer, and also importantly it doesn’t pose any problem to other animals or small children that usually come into contact with your dog. Whenever you are spraying medicine on your dog’s skin, you always have to take great care to avoid other pets or children at home and keep them away in case they ingest any of the toxic sprays.
- Shampoos
Another option is giving your infested dog a tick bath, using a medicated shampoo that kills all the ticks on its skin. However, this treatment is usually not entirely effective on its own – you will probably have to pair this with oral medication or a topical anti-tick spray as well if you want to completely rid your furry friend of ticks permanently.
- Powders
If you find it difficult to give oral medications to your dog to treat tick infestation, you can try applying medicated powder to his body. You need to be certain that your veterinarian agrees with this course of action first. Apply it with great care to avoid your dog ingesting any powder. As well as applying it on your pooch’s skin, you can carefully sprinkle some in areas where your dog sleeps – this will help to eradicate the infestation, and prevent ticks from attacking them again and potentially returning again.
- Tick collars
Collars are not used so much as a treatment, but more as additional protection. The tick collar prevents the dog from licking toxic medicine that you have already applied to its body to kill the ticks. It also helps to repel ticks from attaching to your dog’s head and neck area.
Before choosing a tick collar for your dog, always make sure that it is a safe fit and won’t be too tight on your dog’s neck. There should be enough space for you to fit two fingers inside the collar when it’s fitted around the neck. If you notice your dog scratching badly after you put the tick collar on, remove it. Also, consult your veterinarian immediately for suggestions on alternative ways to treat the ticks.
Keep your dog indoors
When tick season is approaching, it is highly recommended to spend more time with your dog indoors. Tick season is generally the Spring and Summer months. Prevent your dog from wandering in wooded areas as well when they are out for a walk.
Check your dog on a regular basis for any sign that ticks may have moved in on their skin. Look at some specific parts of your dog’s body – like its toes, ears, legs, and necks. Do thorough checks on a regular basis to make sure no ticks are present on their skin.
