Winter is over and we can watch nature awaken again. But the ticks also come out again and are happy when we take our dog for a walk in the forest. At home, we then discover the little beasts, how they crawl in our dog’s fur or how they have already bitten. But how dangerous are the parasites and what are the best means of prevention? Where are ticks most often found on dogs and how do I remove them correctly? You can find out everything you need to know right here!
What ticks infest dogs?
There are different types of ticks that affect our dogs. These include the wood tick, the spotted tick / alluvial forest tick and the brown dog tick. All three species belong to the tick family. However, they occur in different areas, can transmit different diseases and are recognizable by their appearance.
Wooden stand
The wooden goat is known in the technical jargon as Ixodes ricinius. You will be able to spot him on the pet especially from March to June and from September to November. This type of tick can transmit the diseases Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and anaplasmosis. Of course, the wooden goat must also have been infected with it beforehand, because of course these diseases are not generally transmitted by it.
Colored tick
The colored tick is also known as the Auwald tick or, in technical jargon, as Dermacentor reticulatus. While the wood tick is rather greyish in color, the spotted tick has a white marbled body with a reddish-orange colour. It transmits the disease babesiosis, which leads to anemia and can even kill the dog if left undetected.
Brown dog tick
The brown dog tick used to not be native to Germany, but to southern Europe. With the warming of the climate, however, the brown dog tick has now expanded its habitat to more northern regions and can also be found in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The Rhepicephalus sanguineus can survive for up to a year without a blood meal. This species of tick is reddish/brown throughout and can grow from 1mm to 1.2cm when fully engorged. It can transmit Ehrlichiosis, also known as Mediterranean disease or tick fever.
In this disease, the white blood cells are attacked and the immune system is blocked. Since it is often not recognized, it can develop into a chronic disease. It can also happen that it is a cross infection. Both babesiosis and Ehrlichiosis pathogens are found in the body. Anaplasmosis is also transmitted by this tick species. However, this disease is grouped under Ehrlichiosis.
What helps against ticks in dogs?
One can work with specific agents such as coconut oil, collars, herbal supplements, Spot On products, or insecticides. However, these products do not guarantee 100% protection.
Why are ticks so dangerous to dogs?
Ticks in dogs are particularly dangerous because they can transmit pathogens that often go undetected. For example, we humans often cannot tell whether the typical red spots of Lyme disease appear in dogs. Symptoms of the disease are non-specific, so many dogs live with an infection for a long time without the owner noticing.
In addition, the diseases can also be transmitted to humans. Even in humans, some diseases are difficult to recognize and you might just dismiss them as poor fitness and just get on with your life. In addition, there is no vaccination against ticks for dogs and despite precautionary protection against ticks, the parasites will move in the coat for at least a while and can thus be passed on to humans.
For these reasons, it is important to know the diseases and their symptoms in order to recognize an infection in yourself and your dog in an emergency. A disease is not only uncomfortable, it can even cause serious damage or even lead to death. However, the transmission of a disease takes a few hours or days. Therefore, it makes sense to regularly check your dog for ticks and to remove each tick as quickly as possible to protect yourself and your pet.
What diseases do ticks transmit to dogs?
Lyme disease
Lyme disease is one of the most common tick-borne diseases. It is a so-called vector disease and a carrier tick can transmit the pathogen with every bite. The Borrelia are activated by the bite and transferred to the dog 24 hours later. The incubation period can last several weeks or even up to several months.
Symptoms of Lyme disease
The symptoms of Lyme disease are not very clear, which means that the diagnosis can only be made later. The following signs are indications of an infection with Borrelia:
- Fever
- lethargic behavior
- swelling of the lymph nodes
- lameness
- neurological deficits
- abnormal kidney values and inflammation of the eyes
One possible protective measure is vaccination against Lyme disease. Unlike humans, dogs can be vaccinated against Borrelia. However, the vaccines that are permitted in Germany do not provide 100% protection against the species occurring in Germany.
In addition, vaccination also carries a risk of side effects, which can manifest themselves as fever, vomiting, weakness and listlessness. In some regions of Germany, an additional vaccination in addition to other preparations is advisable protection against Lyme disease transmitted by ticks.
Babesiosis
Babesiosis, also known as canine malaria or piroplasmosis, is a rapidly progressing, fatal infectious disease if not treated immediately. This causes anemia because the blood cells are destroyed. The incubation period is 9 days to 3 weeks.
Symptoms of babesiosis
In an acute course of the disease, the dogs are very weak and listless, suffer from high fever and have pale yellow mucous membranes. This is usually accompanied by kidney failure.
In a chronic course, fluctuating fever and declining condition are the most common. Disorders of the neurological functions, the circulatory system and the gastrointestinal tract can also occur.
Ehrlichiosis or tick fever
Normally, this infectious disease only occurs in Mediterranean countries and in subtropical and tropical regions. The incubation period is between 8 and 20 days and it is often diagnosed with a double infection of Babesia. Ehrlichiosis occurs in two forms, on the one hand as mono- and lymphocytic Ehrlichiosis and on the other hand as granulocytic Ehrlichiosis, also called anasplasmosis.
Symptoms of Ehrlichiosis
Mono- and lymphocytic form: recurrent fever, nasal discharge and bleeding, vomiting, anemia, enlarged spleen, edema and subcutaneous bleeding.
Anasplasmosis: milder course, loss of appetite, lameness, weight loss, and polyarthritis.
How long does a tick suck on a dog?
Ticks stay on dogs or cats for about 2 to 10 days.
Where are the ticks on the dog?
Ticks particularly like to look for areas that are less hairy. This includes the eyes, the head in general and the ears. Also the armpits, groin and genital area and the area between the toes. In addition, ticks like to go to places where the skin is relatively thin. Ticks come from nature, so you should check your four-legged friend for ticks after a walk in the forest or on the meadow. Ticks cannot jump or fall from trees. That is and remains a myth. On the other hand, they sit on the ground on blades of grass or something similar.
How do I properly remove ticks from dogs?
During the warmer months, your daily routine with your dog should also consist of a full tick check! Despite aids, some insects get stuck and bite. The longer a tick stays on the dog’s body, the greater the risk of infection! So: remove every tick directly and correctly so that you keep the risk of infection as low as possible!
Tick tweezers, tick card, or tick hook?
There are countless ways to remove bitten ticks on dogs. In addition to the tools already mentioned, there are also tick loops or pointed tweezers are often sufficient. With this you can remove the insects easily and quickly.
Typical places on the dog’s body that ticks like to bite are very warm areas of the body, including the neck, behind the ears or on the inside of the hind legs. Nevertheless, they also attach themselves to the legs, stomach or back and head.
Remove ticks from dogs – turn or pull?
There are different opinions on removing ticks from dogs – some twist the tick out of the skin, but again they pull it straight. It doesn’t matter how you do it, just make sure you don’t remove the tick suddenly, but slowly. Since the insect has stubborn barbs, a slight twist or leverage may be helpful for removal.
Be careful not to squeeze the tick when removing it! As a result, it passes on more pathogens to your dog! Grasp it very close to the skin and slowly remove it. If part of the stinger gets stuck in the skin (usually seen through a black dot), don’t worry! The dog’s skin will shed the leftovers over time. Over the next few days, keep an eye on the bite site to see if it swells or turns red. This can be an inflammation of the bite.
How do I properly remove a tick from a dog?
You can use tick tweezers or tweezers to gently grab the tick (don’t apply too much pressure!) and then slowly pull or twist it out. Either way is fine, but care must be taken to allow the tick’s barbs to dislodge.
How do I protect my dog from ticks?
The little helpers against ticks range from chemical preparations to herbal remedies and various home remedies. Not every dog tolerates all anti-tick agents and not all agents help with every four-legged friend. Here are some of the best-known products:
Spot on products
The remedies are the typical products that dog owners often get from the vet. They have various chemical agents that you put on your dog’s skin. The best-known tick repellent is Frontline, which uses the active ingredient fipronil to fight ticks. This insecticide leads to the death of the insect by affecting the nervous system. According to Frontline, the spot-on agent is effective against ticks for around 4 weeks, but it must not be used on young dogs weighing less than 2 kilograms.
Unfortunately, Frontline can cause various side effects, such as skin reactions at the application site, general itching or hair loss, neurological changes, or vomiting.
Exspot and Advantix
Another application that also works with insecticides are Exspot and Advantix. Both preparations contain permethrin, a contact poison that irritates the foot organs of unbitten ticks on the dog. The insects then become more visible in the fur because they withdraw from the regions with increased concentration. Exspot must not be used in dogs under the age of three months and the dog must be at least 8 weeks old to use Advantix.
Known side effects include itching and occasional hair loss. Very important: Exspot may only be used for ticks in dogs! Cats cannot metabolize the permethrin and suffer from poisoning as a result!
Tick collars
These additional collars release insecticide that is spread from the collar all over the dog’s body. The concentration of the poison is released constantly and the effect lasts up to 6 months, depending on the active ingredient. The active ingredient in the collars does not affect the dog’s sense of smell, but side effects such as itching or other allergic reactions can occur. Dogs less than 7 weeks old and animals suffering from skin irritation or lesions should not wear these collars.
Herbal remedies for ticks on dogs
The manufacturers use various extracts and oils that work against ticks in a natural way. For example Bogacare, which contains neem extract, clove blossom oil and citronella. Other herbal products are Nova Gard Green and Amigard. The main advantage here is that no side effects are known.
Natural tick repellent for dogs
Many dog owners who do not want to give their four-legged friends chemical preparations often choose one of the completely natural alternatives. These completely dispense with additives that can cause side effects in dogs.
Coconut oil
Coconut fat is one of the few natural products that have a proven anti-tick effect. The lauric acid it contains keeps ticks away. Even if the tick is already firmly bitten, rubbing it with coconut oil can cause the insect to fall off directly.
First you should test on a small area whether your dog tolerates the oil. Then you should rub it in with a hazelnut-sized amount right before the walk. In particular, the paws, legs, stomach, neck and head must be covered by the oil.
In addition, you can also mix your dog with the daily ration of dry food, provided that he likes the coconut oil. This increases the protection and at the same time the oil promotes the shine and growth of the coat.
Cistus
The cistus belongs to the citrus family and is a versatile plant. It is anti-inflammatory, strengthens the immune system and is antiviral and antimicrobial. In human medicine, it is already an effective remedy for diarrhea or skin diseases, and it is also showing promising results as a tick remedy.
Rockrose is fed as capsules, which you can easily give with conventional dog food. Other aids such as brewer’s yeast, garlic or amber collars are also used by many dog owners as a means against ticks. However, there is no evidence of the effect here.
