DOG TICKS

 

 

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Ticks can cause a wide range of problems for your dog.  They may cause anything from local irritation and infection to Lyme disease.  Lyme disease is a chronic condition which may cause arthritis and degeneration of the joints, and is carried by the deer tick.

If you have found ticks on your dog, or know he has been in brushy areas, be sure to check him over for any parasites.  Check him all over, but remember ticks like hidden places so they don't get disturbed.  Look in between his toes and pads of his feet.  Check behind his ears and inside amongst the folds.

Don't ever use a heat source to get the tick to "back out".  It wont, and you might burn your friend.  The best thing to do is to use a hemostat or a pair of pointed tweezers to remove the tick at or below the skin surface.  It will bleed a bit because there is an anticoagulant in the tick's bite to allow blood to flow.  There is also a bit of a sedative to keep the dog from detecting the tick so although it looks quite sore, he probably doesn't feel much, unless it is already infected.  Once the tick is removed you should scrub the area where he was, encourage it to bleed if you can and even scrape it a bit in case any mouth parts were left behind.  Disinfect the area by scrubbing it with Betadine.  This is a much better disinfectant and less painful than anything else on the market.  A small amount will be absorbed by the skin and treat where you can't reach.

Be sure your dog's Lyme vaccine is current.  Especially if you take him hiking or hunting, or live in a brushy area.
   

 

About The Author
Laura Anderson is a veterinary technician with a 15 year history as a veterinary office manager and emergency technician. She founded Puppy's Place to help new puppy owners find a compatible lifestyle with their new friends.
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