6 Signs your Dog has Ticks

TICKS ON DOGS

What do ticks look like on dogs?

Spotting ticks on dogs can be a tricky task. Ticks aren’t always clearly visible on your dog, especially if you have a particularly furry friend. Finding and removing ticks on your dog is an important part of any pet owner’s life. Catching them in time, however, can prove to be hard when the ticks are still tiny.

It’s advisable to run your hands through your dog’s fur every now and then. This doesn’t only mean some extra petting time to emotionally support your dog and the stress of (maybe) having a tick or two, but also allows you to feel for any small bumps on your dog’s skin. If you feel a small bump, try not to ignore it or solve the situation by denial – but rather investigate further by parting your dog’s fur and getting a closer look to see if what you are feeling (besides anxiety) is a tick or not.

Okay, so now you’ve parted the fur but you’re not quite sure what you’re even looking for or what it is that you found. To avoid having to get so close to said tick that you make eye-contact and share a brief connection with the creepy crawler – there are some basic ways to identify a tick, as well as a few signs to look out for should your dog have a tick or not.

Common characteristics of ticks include having a spider-like resemblance. Ticks are oval-shaped and vary in size. Usually, they are 1 mm – 1 cm long but will grow larger over time as they feed. Ticks can be greyish, brown, black or reddish-brown in colour and will become darker as they mature and fill with blood. Ticks can be found camping out around your dog’s head, neck, ears and feet. Although ticks fall off their host at different stages of their life cycle, the problem or risk of infection will not disappear with the tick. If the tick disappears, there is still a chance that your dog might get an infection at the bite area or fall victim to a tick-borne disease. A tick feeds by sucking out blood from its host. Therefore, the quicker you can get rid of it in a safe and correct way, the chances of your dog suffering from any tick-related disease will decrease.

When should you start to worry?

One of the more common diseases associated with ticks in dogs in South Africa is Tick Fever – Biliary fever.

Ticks are carriers of diseases, and if left too long, the chances of your dog getting a tick-borne disease is much higher. The most common disease in South Africa caused by these little and not so little critters is Canine Babesiosis (Biliary Fever) or colloquially known as ‘tick fever’. Tick Fever is caused by a tiny parasite called ‘Babesia canis’ that is introduced to your dog’s body from a tick bite. This disease causes anaemia as your dog’s red blood cells are destroyed by the rapidly dividing parasites within them.

Most dogs only suffer from the more acute or subacute forms of Tick Fever. However, both the acute and severe forms of ‘Biliary Fever’ in dogs, can be fatal. Therefore, it is absolutely crucial that you educate yourself on the early symptoms and signs of the disease.

Symptoms that your dog might be suffering from Tick Fever:

When your dog has a temperature of 39 °C or higher, it could indicate that it’s time to take your dog to the vet.

If however, you have managed to catch your dog’s fever in time, this means that your dog is still actively fighting the parasite infection – which is a good thing. If you postpone your trip to the vet for too long you might miss out on crucial treatment time. If your dog’s mucous membranes are turning pale, white or yellow, your dog might already be experiencing the more advanced stages of the disease. During this time, it is important to look for other signs like, yellow poop, red urine, pale gums, listless or lethargic behaviour and a rapid heartbeat.

Generally, it is difficult to spot the symptoms of tick-borne diseases in your dog before clinical signs occur. If left untreated, your dog may start to show more advanced signs which can include loss of appetite, depression, reluctance to move, severe lethargy, deep laboured breathing or panting and a weak pulse.

If your dog is showing any of the symptoms above, it is of the utmost importance to contact your nearest vet immediately.

What makes your dog tick?

We know that dogs get ticks or fleas at some point in their life, but how do they become home to these unwelcomed hitchhikers?

Their Furry Friends and Foes

There is always a chance of ticks being transmitted when your dog comes into contact with other animals. It is important to keep wild animals such as squirrels or strays away from your dog to ensure your dog is healthy and not a medium for tick transportation.

Travelling

As a pet owner, you can also carry ticks and bring them back home with you while travelling. If you are a person who enjoys the outdoors or frequently goes on hikes, make sure to check that you didn’t pick up an unwanted traveller along the way.

The Outside World

Ticks populate frequently in warmer climate areas. They are typically picked up in grassland areas and attach themselves to passing humans and animals.

A ‘too-inviting’ garden

Some plants in your garden are more popular for attracting ticks than others. Make sure to plan your garden landscaping well and keep your grass short.

Avoiding the issue.

Even if you think your dog is tick free, be sure to give your dog frequent checks. If you become aware of a tick on your dog, the clock is already ‘ticking’. Remove the tick as soon as possible, as avoiding the issue will only worsen the situation. To protect your dogs against getting ticks, pre-empt the situation by giving your dog a tick protection treatment such as Bravecto^®

What should you do if your dog has ticks?

Regardless of the precautions you take, there will come a time where one pesky tick will claw onto your dog. Once you have spotted a tick on your dog it’s essential that you know how to remove the tick correctly and safely, so you don’t cause any further damage.

• Step one if you find ticks on your dog: Make sure you are wearing gloves or covering your hands with a tissue.
• Step two if you find ticks on your dog: Part your dog’s fur and make sure the tick is clearly visible.
• Step three if you find ticks on your dog: Use tweezers or a special tick removal tool to grip the tick as close to your dog’s skin as possible.
• Step four if you find ticks on your dog: Pull the tick out slowly, without crushing the body of the tick with your tweezers. You want to ensure that the entire tick is removed, and its head is not still latching.
• Step five if you find ticks on your dog: After removing the tick, place it in a container with a small amount of rubbing alcohol to kill it. If you suspect that a tick-borne disease might’ve infected your dog, consider putting it in a container that you can take to the vet at a later stage. *Do not try to kill the tick by squashing it on the animal as this can force infected bodily fluids out of the tick’s mouth and increase the risk of infection in you and your dog.
• Step six if you find ticks on your dog: Disinfect the bite site. Make sure it is clean, and no remaining tick parts are in the wound.
• Step seven if you find ticks on your dog: Keep an eye on your pet. Over the next two weeks, pay close attention to any possible signs or symptoms of infection or a tick-borne disease.

Are you getting ticked-off?

Instead of dealing with the awful aftermath of ticks and their smart tactics, avoid the stresses and hassles that come with finding and removing a tick safely and correctly. Protect your dogs from ticks by using Bravecto^® which provides your dog with 12 weeks tick and flea protection in one single chew.

Bravecto^® is the first and only chewable tick and flea protection that starts working in 2 hours and lasts up to 12 full weeks. That’s nearly 3X longer than any other chewable or top-spot treatment! Bravecto^® treatment won’t wash off during grooming or swimming, giving you the peace of mind that once ticks are gone, they’re gone!

To learn more about Bravecto^® and how it works, download our brochure for all the information you’ll need. Bravecto^® is available from your vet and vet stores in South Africa.

Sources:
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/dogs-and-ticks
https://www.petmd.com/dog/parasites/signs-your-dog-has-ticks
https://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/parasites/how-did-my-dog-get-ticks
https://www.petmd.com/dog/parasites/evr_dg_does_my_dog_have_ticks
http://www.dogsandticks.com/diseases_and_symptoms/
http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Health/Ticks/Symptoms.aspx
https://animals.onehowto.com/article/how-to-know-if-your-dog-has-ticks-9117.html
http://www.savf.org.za/info_canine.aspx
https://www.thespruce.com/babesia-infections-in-dogs-3384613
https://www.petmd.com/dog/parasites/how-to-remove-a-tick-from-dog-cat
http://www.friendsofthedog.co.za/tick-bite-fever.html