With the unusual recent warm weather, please remember to check your dogs for ticks
Dogs, cats and even humans are at risk of tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease or Babesiosis, so itโs important to keep an eye out.
Essential tips for tick prevention…
โ ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ด๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ง๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Consult your vet to determine the best option for your dogโwhether it’s a chewable tablet, topical treatment, or a safe natural remedy.
โ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ ๐๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ข๐๐๐ฑ๐ผ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: After walks or time spent outside, run your hands through your dog’s fur to check for lumps, bumps, and attached ticks. Be particularly vigilant around the ears, neck, under the collar, armpits, groin, genital area, base of the tail, skin folds, and between the toes.
โ ๐๐๐ผ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต ๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐ธ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ ๐ช๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ: Stick to cleared paths and keep your dog away from tall grass, wooded areas, and dense undergrowth whenever possible.
โ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐ฎ ๐ง๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐: These can be purchased quite cheaply from online retailers or even from your vet.
๐๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ดโฆ
โ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐๐น๐: You can either take your dog to a veterinary professional or groomer, or you can do it yourself using a tick remover. Follow the instructions carefully: slide the hook under the tick’s head, then gently and slowly twist it to lift the tick off your dog. The tick should detach after a few rotations.
โ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ณ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ: Avoid direct contact with any blood that may be released during the tick removal process.
โ ๐๐ถ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐: Place it in alcohol or flush it down the toilet, avoid crushing it with your fingers.
โ ๐๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ, ๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ: with a pet-safe antiseptic and thoroughly wash your hands.
If you’re concerned that a part of the tick may have been left behind, don’t panic. In most cases, this won’t cause issues. However, if the area becomes swollen, painful, or bothers your pet, itโs best to contact your vet.
โ ๐ ๐ผ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ด: for signs of tick-borne illness, such as lethargy, fever, loss of appetite, stiffness, limping, or unusual behavior. If you notice any of these symptoms or have any concerns, seek veterinary care promptly.
