Amanda Teixeira
Ticks are dangerous parasites – also for your dog. Read here how to remove ticks correctly and how to protect your dog even better.
Your dog will certainly bring ticks home again and again. The small parasites jump from tall grass or bushes onto the dog’s fur and preferably bite into the head, neck or chest. Be sure to check your dog thoroughly for ticks all over his body after every walk.
Because these parasites can also be dangerous for your dog. Read here how to remove ticks correctly and protect your dog effectively in the future.
Why are ticks dangerous?
Ticks transmit many dangerous diseases. Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis are the most common diseases that dogs contract from a tick bite. The course is often insidious, and the first symptoms are often not clear. Even if there are good treatment options, it is not always easy for the dog. It is therefore essential that you know when ticks are active and how to remove these parasites correctly.
Ticks are still active in autumn
Ticks are not only in season in spring and summer, but also in autumn. They feel particularly comfortable at temperatures between 10 and 25 °C and like moisture. Ticks find ideal living conditions in fallen autumn leaves. That’s why it’s important to check the dog for ticks in autumn after a walk and to protect it properly.
Remove ticks from dogs properly
Twist or pull? There are many myths about how to properly remove ticks from dogs. We will show you which methods and tools are available:
- With your fingers: Use your thumb and forefinger to gently pull the tick out of the wound. Grasp the tick close to the dog’s skin so that the mouthpart or head is not severed when you pull it out. If, despite all caution, this should happen, this foreign body will gradually be expelled itself. Be careful not to squeeze the tick too much, otherwise, pathogens can get into the dog’s open wound.
- Tick tweezers: Use tick tweezers that are curved and pointed at the front. Use the end of the tick tweezers to grab the tick by the mouthpart and pull the tick out in a controlled manner.
- Tick card: Fix the tick in the V-shaped opening of the tick card and gently push the tick out with a forward and upward movement.
- Tick Lasso: Wrap the loop of the tick lasso around the tick, close to the skin. Reduce the diameter of the loop with the punch on the other end of the tick lasso. Then gently pull the tick out of the skin.
Dispose of ticks:
After you have completely removed the tick from the dog using any of the above methods, you must properly dispose of the tick. The following methods have proven themselves:
- Crush the tick with a solid object.
- Drown the tick in at least 40 percent alcohol or chlorine-based detergent.
Effective tick protection for dogs
Even if many dog owners are skeptical about chemical tick protection for dogs, you can only reliably protect your dog against ticks with chemical agents. This includes:
- spot on preparations
- tick sprays
- tick collars
Dog owners who fear side effects, allergic reactions, and damage to their health can alternatively use natural tick protection for dogs. These are for example:
- coconut oil
- garlic granules
- brewer’s yeast
These natural tick repellents and dietary supplements have not been proven to be reliable tick repellents for dogs, although they can somewhat reduce tick infestations. Caution should be exercised, especially with dietary supplements containing garlic. Overdosing can be dangerous for the dog. It is therefore advisable to follow the manufacturer’s feeding recommendations.
Conclusion: How to protect the dog from ticks
Ticks in dogs are a health hazard that should not be underestimated. Tick diseases such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesiosis can cause serious damage. With effective tick protection for dogs, you can reduce the risk. Chemical tick repellents such as Spot-On, tick collars, tick spray and chewable tablets have proven particularly effective. Natural tick repellents do not offer reliable protection against ticks. If ticks have already attached themselves, it is important to remove them as quickly as possible: tick tweezers, a tick card and a tick lasso are helpful for this. Once the tick is completely removed, you can dispose of it by crushing it or drowning it in 40% alcohol or chlorine-based detergent.