Know the vital facts to keep your dog safe
Ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of a host, which can be an animal or human. Ticks can transmit serious and potentially fatal diseases. The first and best thing you can do in defense of ticks is to educate yourself on the types and appearances of ticks as well as know symptom identifications, procedures of search and removal, and preventative methods.
Types of Ticks and How They Are Acquired
There are at least 15 types of tick in the United States; some of the most common include the American Dog tick, Brown Dog tick, Lone Star tick, and Deer tick. Other tick types can vary by region; it is a great idea to consult your veterinarian about the ticks present in your area.
Ticks dwell in grasses, shrubs, and other vegetative or woody areas. They lie in wait in the foliage for the host animal to encounter the vegetation, at which point they climb onto the host. Ticks’ only mobility method is by crawling. A lesser-known fact to take note of is that some ticks can be active even on winter days if the ground temperature reaches 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Diseases & Illnesses
As mentioned above, ticks can transmit serious and potentially fatal diseases in dogs. A direct tick bite is necessary to transmit disease. Some common tick-borne diseases that affect dogs across the United States include:
· Lyme Disease
· Canine Ehrlichiosis
· Anaplasma
· Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
· Babesiosis
· Bartonella
· Hepatozoonosis
Symptoms
Many symptoms of these diseases may not present themselves immediately; it is important if you find a tick on your dog to monitor for future symptoms. Some of the signs and symptoms of tick-borne diseases in dogs include:
· Vomiting
· Fever
· Swelling of joints
· Lameness/lethargy
· Diarrhea
· Muscle Pain
· Swelling of limbs
· Seizures
· Fatigue
· Discharge from eyes/nose
· Weight Loss
Early diagnosis is key to successful treatment. If you believe your dog has contracted a tick-borne illness and/or is showing symptoms that may be out of the ordinary for them, contact your veterinarian right away.
Searching for Ticks on Your Dog
Ticks can be difficult to find on your dog, especially on Golden Retrievers due to their long coats. Extreme thoroughness is necessary. Beginning at your dog’s head and neck area, use your fingers and vision to comb through their coat at skin level, feeling and looking for bumps or spots. Remember to look inside their ears and mouth areas. Continue your search down their front legs and paws as well as beneath their toes; resume your search through their chest, back, belly, tail, and back legs.
Tick Removal
If you find a tick, make a point to remove it as soon as possible. If you find a tick latched to your dog, the best and fastest method of removal is by utilizing a tweezer or specially designed tick removal tool to mechanically remove the tick.
A tick removal tool is a helpful device and a good idea to have in your pet's medical kit. To remove a tick that is latched to your dog, grab the tick nearest its head or mouthparts, gently twist and pull it away from your dog’s skin. If you find a tick that is engorged and swollen with blood, take extra precautions not to squeeze the tick’s body. Make your best effort to remove the entire, intact tick, including its heads and mouthparts.
If you find a tick that you are uncomfortable removing yourself or believe you may not have removed the tick in its entirety, contact your veterinarian for assistance.
Methods of Prevention
Prevention should be of the highest priority to avoid tick-borne diseases and illnesses. It is very important for dog owners to consult with their veterinarians to implement a proper preventative plan. At Oak Bluff Golden Retrievers, part of our preventative plan includes treatments of Simparica Trio, which is a monthly chewable medication to control and kill ticks, fleas, and mites as well as protect against heartworm. If one of our dogs is pregnant or is planning to become pregnant, we use Frontline which is a monthly topical treatment. There are also other preventative medications on the market; we advise you to consult with your veterinarian to assist you with your choice. It’s a good idea to keep a calendar near your dog’s kennel or to set a reminder to give your dog its monthly treatment.
Although we recommend a medicinal form of prevention that meets veterinary standards, additional measures of prevention are available in the forms of natural sprays and secondary tick collars.
Even though you are using a medicinal form of prevention, you should always make a habit of searching your dog for ticks daily or after vegetative exposure, especially during spring and early summer.
Conclusion
Ticks are inevitable. Our best advice is to gain a general understanding of ticks, and diseases they may carry along with associated symptoms; devise and stick to a prevention plan and become comfortable checking for and removing ticks from your dog. Attentiveness to this aspect of dog ownership is very important; do not neglect it.
Do your due diligence to keep your dog healthy so you both can continue to do the things you love.
Happy spring!
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