A tick infestation has the makings of a good horror story: bloodsucking parasites lurking in the tall grass, seeking out warm-blooded victims for their next meal. Unfortunately, this scene isn’t Hollywood fiction, and the next warm-blooded victim may be your dog.
Wildlife, pets, and people are all potential targets for these hungry parasites. Ticks can consume so much blood that heavy infestation can cause anemia. These parasites also can cause tick paralysis, a condition in which the tick saliva causes progressive weakness and paralysis, and they can spread many infectious diseases, including Lyme disease. However, the parasite must remain attached for several hours to transmit disease.
Risk factors and detection
Ticks usually live in grassy or wooded areas. When a tick bites, it imbeds its mouthparts in the skin and ingests blood. This feeding may last several days if uninterrupted. The tick will continue to feed until it is full; then it detaches and drops off.
Ticks aren’t always easy to see on your dog, and longhaired dogs need a more thorough examination. Popular places for ticks to hide: on and in the ears, between the toes, and in the armpits.
Prevention and treatment
Many products kill ticks and help control tick infestations. A monthly flea and tick topical product (Frontline Top Spot) and a tick collar that contains amitraz (Preventic) are effective for dogs. Another monthly topical product (Revolution) controls tick infestations on dogs and protects them from many other parasites. Flea and tick sprays and powders also are available, but you must apply them frequently. Treating your yard for ticks and keeping the grass mowed also helps.
Check your dog frequently for these sneaky parasites, especially if she ventures into tick-infested areas. If you find a tick, remove it immediately to reduce the chance of disease transmission.
For ticks that aren’t attached to the skin, use tweezers to grasp the tick and pull gently. Don’t ever try to pull a tick loose from your dog if its head is imbedded in your dog’s skin. Instead, apply rubbing alcohol or tick spray (for pets) to the tick with a cotton swab. The tick should back out within a minute, and you can use tweezers to remove it. Place the tick in a container of rubbing alcohol or flea and tick spray, and dispose of it. Don’t crush the tick, because contact with the blood can spread disease.
Occasionally, the tick’s mouthparts remain imbedded in the skin, causing mild redness and swelling at the site. Wash the area with soap and water, and consult your veterinarian if the bite doesn’t clear up in a few days or if you notice other symptoms, such as weakness, lethargy, lameness, fever, appetite loss, or eye or nasal discharge. Don’t use hot matches to remove ticks.
For dogs with severe infestations, you may want to first use a shampoo, spray, powder, or dip that kills the parasites. Even so, you still may have to remove the dead ticks by hand.
Because many tick-borne diseases also affect people, tick prevention for your dog will help protect you. Nevertheless, always check yourself for ticks after walking in tick-infested areas.
