In this article, we will explain everything about the tick: its environment, methods of prevention, and action. In short, everything you need to know to intervene in case of the presence of this small parasite on your four-legged friend.
The tick represents a real danger for your dog if its presence is not properly treated.
Concretely, what is a tick?
A tick is a small parasite, a class of mites, oval in shape and brown in color that attaches itself to your pet's skin to gorge itself on their blood.
Before its blood meal, it measures only a few millimeters. But when it is gorged with blood, it takes a much larger size.
During their blood meal, ticks can transmit serious, often fatal, diseases to your dog. They are called "vector-borne diseases" because they need a vector to infect your dog. In this case, it is the tick that is the vector for the disease.
How can my dog get a tick?
Present in the undergrowth, in tall grass, but also in gardens, ticks wait patiently on the end of a plant stem. When your pet passes by, the tick attaches itself to him and then attaches itself to the skin. Your long-coated animals are therefore even more exposed during walks!
Moisture and heat favor their development.
This is why the risk of infestation is significantly increased from spring to autumn, with notable variations from one region to another of France.
So, what are the dangers for my dog?
The 3 main diseases transmitted by ticks to dogs are :
1- Piroplasmosis (or Babesiosis) :
Piroplasmosis, transmitted by Dermacentor reticulatus, is a microscopic parasite that colonizes and then reproduces in red blood cells. Then, the parasite destroys these globules before attacking new ones. Anemia and fever will then develop in dogs.
Piroplasmosis is present everywhere in France, but the South-West shows several cases well above the national average.
2- Lyme disease (or Borreliosis) :
Transmitted by Ixodes Ricinus, this bacterial disease is responsible for various symptoms: polyarthritis, fever, depression, pain, kidney, neurological or cardiac disorders.
It is this ability to affect several of the dog's vital organs that makes this disease particularly dangerous.
In case of doubt, you can make a precise diagnosis of the disease with your veterinarian. In most cases, the blood test will follow up on antibiotics. This will allow your companion to recover as quickly as possible.
3- Ehrlichiosis :
Mostly present in the Mediterranean Basin, this disease is caused by bacteria that settles in your pet's blood.
Although rarer, this bacterial disease can cause irreversible effects. This is why vigilance is required after outdoor walks.
Symptoms often manifest themselves in the form of fever or vomiting.
It is absolutely necessary to treat the symptoms as soon as possible, usually with antibiotics, to prevent the disease from becoming chronic and therefore significantly dangerous.
If this happens, we advise you to contact our Argos Veterinary clinics and practices directly. This will allow us to take optimal care of the situation.
How can I prevent my dog from catching a tick?
It is essential to treat your dog preventively to limit the risk of catching serious and potentially fatal diseases.
There are nowadays many effective antiparasitic agents available to fight ticks, such as
- Tablets
- Pipettes
- Necklaces
- Sprays
Your Argos veterinarian will be able to advise you on the most suitable product for your pet and its environment. In any case, never apply an anti-parasite product intended for dogs to your cat, as it may contain molecules that are toxic to them.
Do not hesitate to apply these products well before the beginning and well after the end of the risk period. Your veterinarian will be able to provide you with information on the treatment schedule.
Despite all these precautions, we advise you to examine your pet after your walk to make sure that a tick has not managed to attach itself to its skin.
How do I remove a tick from my dog?
Before you consider removing the tick, you must avoid certain actions with harmful consequences:
- Do not remove the tick, as this may leave a part of the parasite under the skin, which is then difficult to remove.
- Do not crush the tick, do not try to poison it with ether or burn it, as this may cause regurgitation of the parasite.
The surest way to remove a tick from your pet is to use a special anti-tick hook. It is very easy to use tool that will not cause any pain to your dog.
If there is no hook, you can apply an anti-tick product directly to the parasite. It limits the risk of transmitting the disease to your pet. Be careful, even if the product does not eliminate the tick directly, its application is still necessary to treat the parasite.
Treating the tick may seem trivial, but the above-mentioned gestures are simply essential for the health of your four-legged friend.