If a dog is bitten by a tick

A miracle has happened. Now you're the owner of a tiny, squeaky bundle of joy with a cute little face and funny little paws. Your emotions are off the charts, and your joy knows no bounds. It doesn't matter how many boots and sneakers you eat. You've already forgiven them for everything. No amount of trudging out of a warm apartment in bad weather can compare to the feeling of happiness and the boundless love a dog so generously gives us. For a dog, the most important thing is to have its owner by its side. Our pet's life is completely entrusted to us. How can we protect our four-legged friend from disease? While there's snow outside, there's no reason to worry, as every owner is required to vaccinate their pet against rabies. But with the arrival of warmer weather, every responsible owner begins to think about how best to protect their dog from tick bites, which carry dangerous diseases.

Is a tick bite dangerous for a dog?

Every year, with the arrival of warm spring days, doctors sound the alarm. More and more people seek help at clinics after tick bites. Tick bites are also dangerous for dogs. Ticks can carry diseases that require complex treatment. Even if you seek veterinary help promptly, saving your pet, unfortunately, isn't always possible. The best thing to do is protect your pet from potential problems in advance. Taking care of this in advance will save you from stress and wasting time and money on veterinary clinics later. Therefore, prepare your sleigh in the summer and insect protection in the winter.

A tick bite can cause dangerous diseases.

Places where ticks are likely to live

Dangerous insects are most often encountered in forested parks, where there is plenty of tall, dense grass, low shrubs, and trees. Ticks prefer to nest in damp areas, such as at the edges of deciduous forests with tall ferns. Ticks do not live in tall trees; adults do not rise above 1.5 meters. They hide in the grass, where they can remain without food for long periods, waiting for their prey.

If you live outside the city or like to take your dog to the dacha on weekends, make sure your property is a tick-friendly haven: you can plant tick-repellent plants (rose geranium, lavender, marigolds) or plants containing a natural poison (pyrethrin), which is detrimental to blood-sucking insects.

These are some types of chamomile: Caucasian chamomile, meat-red (Pyrethrum carneum), pink (Pyrethrum roseum) and Dalmatian chamomile, ash-leaved.

A closely mown lawn and an area cleared of old debris and leaves will also discourage ticks from settling. If ticks are common in your area, consider treating them with chemicals at the beginning of the season.

But when heading into the forest to pick mushrooms and berries, it's essential to take care of both yourself and your family. Pre-harvesting, proper clothing, and mandatory vaccinations for your dog are the keys to a relaxing summer.

Insecticide Plants (Gallery)

Diseases transmitted by ticks

A tick bite itself poses little danger to a dog unless the tick is infected with one of the possible diseases. In other cases, the consequences of a bite can be quite serious for both the pet and the owner. Some diseases carried by ticks can also be dangerous to humans.

Diseases and their symptoms (table)

All of the above diseases have serious consequences for dogs; when chronic, they cause irreversible changes to internal organs, blood vessels, joints, and other organs. Piroplasmosis can only be cured with prompt treatment; if time is lost, saving the dog is virtually impossible. Vaccination against piroplasmosis is essential. While it won't protect your pet from a tick bite, it can be life-saving if infected. The disease progresses more easily after vaccination, and vaccinated animals have a much better chance of recovery.

If you suspect a possible infection, or if your dog's behavior or diet changes, don't wait for it to resolve on its own. Contact your veterinarian immediately and have a PCR blood test performed—this is the only 100% guarantee of a correct diagnosis. Prompt treatment and proper recovery (diet, etc.) will help save your dog's life.

How to tell if your dog has been bitten by a tick

A tick that has bitten your dog won't always wait patiently for you to find it. It could also happen that a well-fed tick falls off on its own, and you might not even suspect a risk of infection. Keep an eye on your pet. Any changes in behavior are cause for concern. If your dog has begun eating poorly or completely refuses to eat, doesn't respond to favorite treats, or drinks a lot, these could be symptoms. If your pet is usually playful and active but now refuses to go for a walk, this is also a warning sign. An elevated body temperature is always a symptom of some illness. A dry nose isn't necessarily the only symptom. In one case, a dog's nose remained wet despite an elevated body temperature. The owners may have missed the tick, overlooking lethargy and loss of appetite, and then, when other symptoms (dark urine, diarrhea, and hind limb problems) appeared, they took it to a veterinarian. Unfortunately, time was lost and it was not possible to save the dog.

If a dog is bitten by a tick, it is necessary to observe its behavior.

The main signs of piroplasmosis

• lethargy;
• refusal of food and treats;
• increase in temperature (the nose may be wet and not hot);
• dark colored urine;
• shortness of breath;
• yellowness of the mucous membranes;
• intense thirst;
• vomiting and diarrhea (often with blood particles).

What to do if you find a tick

After each walk, carefully inspect your dog, paying attention to areas with thin skin where ticks are particularly likely to attach (like the belly, face, and the inside of the paws). If a tick does attach, carefully remove it, being careful not to squeeze it and removing the entire tick (including its head).

How to remove a tick correctly

Old methods of removing ticks using oil won't work, as ticks can survive for a long time without oxygen. Furthermore, the longer a tick remains in the skin, the greater the risk of infection. Various tick removal tools exist, including a special spatula with a slot or a syringe with a loop for grasping. If neither is readily available, you can use thread or tweezers after treating the tick with a parasiticide, such as amitrazine. Apply the solution directly to the tick several times over 10-15 minutes. It may fall off on its own, but if not, removing it will be easier. Using tweezers (or thread), grasp the tick just below the skin and gently twist it until it's completely removed. Avoid removing the tick by hand to avoid infecting yourself, as ticks can carry various infections that are dangerous to humans.

Of course, it would be great to take the tick to a lab for testing, but not every city has such labs, and it's not always possible. Therefore, we carefully monitor our pet and, at the slightest suspicion, rush to get a blood test.

How to help your pet at home

If any symptoms appear, don't wait for it to go away on its own or self-medicate! The risk of losing your dog is too great. Treatment requires serious medications, IVs, and injections. Veterinary assistance is essential. The first step is to take your dog for a blood test. While we wait for the results, we can take some preventative measures.

What can you do at home until the test results are ready and the main treatment has begun?

1. The bite site should be treated with brilliant green, iodine or another alcohol-containing antiseptic.
2. Prevent your dog from becoming dehydrated: give him small amounts of water frequently, or administer the liquid rectally.
3. If the veterinary clinic is very far away and it is not possible to quickly obtain veterinary care, you can administer antiparasitic drugs to the dog (only after a remote consultation with a veterinarian).

Further treatment must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist, as the medications are toxic not only to the pathogens but also to the pet itself. It is important to select the correct medication and dosage, and an individual approach is required for each animal, taking into account its condition, weight, allergy susceptibility, etc. After antiparasitic therapy, veterinarians prescribe hepatoprotectors, vitamins, cardiac support medications, and other medications. Restorative therapy requires patience and constant monitoring. The dog requires a special diet (removing raw vegetables, reducing fat and protein intake, and increasing fermented milk products), a feeding schedule, and regular laboratory tests. The kidneys, heart, and respiratory system should be checked, as some complications are possible after treatment.

Tick ​​prevention in dogs

It's important to understand that it's better to take care of your pet early than to spend hours at veterinary clinics worrying about your pet. Preventing piroplasmosis isn't that difficult: the first and perhaps most important step is vaccination. A vaccinated dog, even after being bitten by an infected insect, will have a better chance of surviving the disease. However, even vaccination doesn't guarantee 100% protection against bites, so when heading outdoors, it's important to use additional protection.

For prevention, external and internal tick repellents are used. Veterinary pharmacies now offer single-dose tablets, long-acting collars, ultrasonic keychains, withers drops, sprays, powders, and shampoos. These products can be classified as insecticidal (acting on the nervous system of insects and killing them, causing paralysis) or repellents (repelling insects). Chewable tablets are systemic insecticidal. The product is absorbed into the dog's bloodstream, killing parasitic insects (ticks, fleas, lice, and even mosquitoes) upon contact with blood during a bite. Collars, drops, and some sprays are non-systemic insecticidal. The product accumulates in the subcutaneous layer and hair follicles, then spreads evenly over the entire skin. Insects are killed upon contact with the animal's skin and fur. Powders, some brands of sprays, and shampoos can have insecticidal or repellent properties (they repel insects). Ultrasonic key fobs, popular today, can also repel unwanted insects.

Ultrasonic tick repellent keychain

A non-chemical tick and flea repellent. The key fob emits an ultrasonic signal, inaudible to the human ear, but irritates ticks and fleas. The panicked insects either flee their habitat or become incapacitated. The signal also prevents larvae from developing from eggs, thereby preventing re-infestation. It poses no danger to animals. The key fob is attached to the dog's collar, and the emitter is aimed at the dog. For proper operation, it is recommended to wear the key fob at all times, removing it only during bathing. The emitter can be placed where the dog sleeps. It is non-toxic and can be used on weakened and elderly animals. The emitter lasts for 9 months.

Ultrasound has an irritating effect on ticks, fleas and other insects

Collars

The collar's non-systemic insecticide and acaricide is distributed subcutaneously, killing ticks, fleas, and other insects upon contact with the dog's fur or skin. It offers long-lasting protection. Some manufacturers guarantee protection for up to 7 months with continuous wear. The collar does not fasten securely around the dog's neck. It has a distinctive odor and may cause an allergic reaction. Use restrictions vary depending on the dog's age, allergy sensitivity, and other factors. Sometimes additional protection may be needed, such as treating the paws and abdomen with sprays.

Protects against ticks, fleas, lice and other parasites for up to 8 months

Drops on the withers

These insecticidal acaricidal products have non-systemic action. Apply topically to the withers or areas inaccessible to licking. The average duration of protection is one month. They are moderately toxic and odorless. Avoid contact with small children for two days after treatment. Use on nursing, weakened, or allergic animals as recommended by a veterinarian. Follow the instructions for handling chemicals.

Important! For the product to be effective, a fatty film must form on the skin, ensuring even distribution of the active ingredient across the animal's skin. To achieve this, do not wash the dog for 2 days before and 2 days after treatment.

Popular insecticidal acaricidal drops for ticks (gallery)

Safety rules when working with chemicals

When working with chemicals, it is necessary to follow certain rules to avoid possible poisoning.

• use gloves while working;
• do not eat, drink or smoke;
• strictly follow the instructions for use and the required dosage;
• Do not store an opened package (bottle) if not all of the product has been used;
• used vials, pipettes, syringes should be hermetically sealed in a plastic bag and disposed of;
• After treatment, wash your face and hands with warm water and soap.

Spray

Sprays can be insecticidal or repellent. Their effectiveness typically lasts no more than 1 month. Some brands recommend repeat treatment after a week. Repellent sprays are non-toxic and have no restrictions on use. Insecticidal sprays are low-toxic, but some guidelines must be followed during treatment: treat the dog outdoors, apply the product to the coat against its growth, and prevent licking until it dries completely. Can be used on puppies over 8 weeks old. It has a characteristic odor and requires regular treatment during the season.

Insect protection will last for 2 weeks

Shampoo

If your dog is allergic, weakened by an illness, or a small puppy and drops, collars, or sprays aren't available, flea and tick shampoos can help. They contain low levels of insecticidal acaricide, but they work immediately upon application. While bathing can remove parasites, the next time you take your pet for a walk, they can easily pick up fresh ones. These shampoos contain essential oils that repel unwanted insects, but their protection is weak.

Tick ​​repellent overalls

An additional measure to protect your pet from ticks is an anti-tick suit. Simply putting your dog in a suit is not enough to prevent an attack. These special suits are equipped with trapping folds that hinder tick movement and are impregnated with an acaricidal agent that kills the tick on contact. These folds are located on the paws, abdomen, and neck. The bottoms of the pants, the neck opening, and the tail opening are equipped with thick elastic bands, making it difficult for ticks to crawl under the suit. These suits are usually made of cotton (sometimes with synthetic fibers), preferably in light colors. Keep in mind that in the summer, dogs can get too hot and suffer heatstroke. However, for those planning a hunt or mushroom picking trip, this accessory can be useful.

Thanks to its special design, it protects the dog from ticks.

Popular means of protection (table)

The table lists virtually all protective products available at any veterinary pharmacy. Detailed specifications, possible side effects, and instructions for use will help you make the right choice.

Reviews

Reviews from dog owners using various protective products can help you decide which to treat your pet with. Sometimes it makes sense to use several products in combination, unless prohibited by the manufacturer. You can also purchase an ultrasonic key fob or, when going into the woods, treat your dog's paws with a spray. Each owner chooses the most convenient, practical, and reliable option based on their own experience. For some, price will be a priority, for others, ease of use. In any case, the choice is yours. The main thing is to provide your pet with maximum protection from tick bites.

We used this Pettra keychain about seven years ago. It's quite expensive for a disposable one. We didn't catch a single tick that season. That's a plus. BUT! Several times after walks, we spotted these creatures on my fur. It's hard to spot a brown tick on my brown Labradoodle, but a subtle play of light and there it is, alive and well. As the salespeople explained to me, the tick, when exposed to ultrasound, becomes disoriented and "forgets" its purpose. Unfortunately, I consider this method unacceptable, because the dog might drag the dazed tick into the house, where it would recover, leaving anyone wondering who would become its victim.

We have a small dog, a Yorkie. We're afraid to put tick drops on his withers. They say if he licks them, he could get poisoned. So we always put a collar on him. And last year we decided to try a keychain as well. It turned out to be a great thing. If we found ticks, they were just sitting on his fur, not biting into his skin. They probably didn't have the strength. So, not a single one bit him all season. And we have plenty of ticks at our dacha.

Review: OSSO Fashion Anti-Mite Dust Cover - Recommended

Pros: Light-colored fabric allows you to see crawling ticks, and sun protection. No need to spray the dog's fur; you can simply spray the jumpsuit itself. Dries quickly.

Disadvantages: does not provide 100% protection, can get caught on a branch and break.

Dog owners try all sorts of remedies to protect their pets from ticks. Withers drops, sprays, collars, tablets, and sometimes all three, just to be sure. But no single remedy is 100% tick-proof. My dog ​​is 11 years old. He has some stomach and liver issues, and unfortunately, age has its own set of surprises. I stumbled upon this jumpsuit by chance. I bought it. And on my very first walk, a tick was removed from the jumpsuit. It's impossible to miss on the off-white material.

The idea behind the suit is to have a fold of material along the body, on the paws, and around the neck where tick spray is applied. Once a tick gets caught in this fold, it can't escape. I didn't wait to see where the tick would go; I took it off my dog. The fabric is fairly thick cotton. It shouldn't be too hot in the heat, but I don't take my dog ​​for long walks in 30-degree weather. The dog felt comfortable, running, running, and jumping without any problems. Finally, I got to exercise in peace, and the dog got to run free.

After leaving the grove, I inspected the overalls—thank God, I didn't find anything. Of course, I realize that even the overalls won't protect me from ticks, but if you keep a close eye on the dog, you'll definitely spot them crawling. The overalls have a zipper down the back, which seems pretty secure. Elastic bands are sewn onto the chest and under the belly, so the overalls don't hang loose. How does the dog go to the bathroom? I have a female dog, and the overalls just reach the loop at the belly. I was worried about all the urine getting on the fabric—it's fine, just a little splattered on my pants.

I don't know about male dogs, I haven't seen one, but I'm sure there's a hole there. I definitely recommend a jumpsuit. You can also find it under the name "anti-mite duster." P.S. My dog ​​got a lot of mud on my jumpsuit—I barely got it out. I had to soak it in bleach. But then I aired it out. Iron it after washing, otherwise it gets really wrinkled and looks unsightly.

MSD Bravecto Flea and Tick Tablet for Dogs - A Good Alternative to Drops.

Advantages: Easy to give, long-lasting effect.

Disadvantages: None found yet.

My dog ​​contracted piroplasmosis during her first summer. She was treated with drops, but a tick still bit her. We live outside the city, so we had to stop walking in the woods and limit ourselves to our yard, which is certainly not ideal. I bought a Bolfo collar and Frontline drops—these are products that have been tested on cats and haven't brought in ticks. I check them after every walk, and I'm constantly on guard during the walks. The breeder who sold us our puppy suggested trying Bravecto.

Since she treats dogs like children and wouldn't give her dogs a new medication without first studying it and talking to veterinarians, I agreed almost without hesitation. Of course, no one denies the negative effects of this medication on the liver, but piroplasmosis has much worse consequences, so of two evils... you know what I mean. That was a year ago. Last year (2015), we didn't have piroplasmosis, even though there were a lot of ticks. This year, we also gave her a pill in the spring (in April, when the ticks were out in droves), and we're planning to give her another one in August. Our dog, who weighs 35 kg, was given it both separately and before meals. She didn't notice any side effects.

Inspector Total Tick Drops for Dogs – Keeps Your Dog Safe for a Whole Month

Pros: The dog is safe for a whole month

Disadvantages: None

As soon as the snow melts outside, you need to protect your dog from ticks. Especially since my dog ​​is white, and ticks are known to cling to white things. We've probably tried everything. This year, the veterinarian recommended Inspector Total C. I was sold on the fact that it also deworms. I looked it up online and couldn't find any contraindications. The instructions are long and daunting. This product is prescribed for both dogs and cats. There are so many different diseases listed that I don't even remember them all. I bought it as a tick repellent. It's a small sealed pipette with a clear solution. You cut the tip off the pipette and pour the contents onto the dog's withers. That's it. After applying this solution, my dog ​​feels great. There were no changes in her behavior or health. This solution lasts for one month, just like other preventatives.

Review: Bayer Foresto Flea and Tick Collar - Very Dissatisfied!

Pros: Maybe there are some, but I didn't notice any.

Disadvantages: Obvious

I bought this "miracle collar" a month ago. My coworkers recommended it; they'd been buying it for years. I read about it and decided to get one for my four-month-old husky. I figured, well, since it's so expensive, it must be 100% effective. After every walk, I'd pick 2-3 ticks off my puppy's fur (even though the instructions say Leso also works as a tick repellent).

Two days ago, my little husky became lethargic. I won't go into detail about the symptoms of piraplasmosis—my puppy got sick. When we got to the vet, he removed a tick that had already sucked blood from behind the dog's ear, practically next to the collar! The tick was alive and very mobile. I'm completely disappointed with this collar! All it did was ruin my puppy's health and waste my money!

Review: Bayer Foresto Flea and Tick Collar - Good Tick Protection

Pros: Good protection against fleas and ticks, waterproof, odorless, long lasting

Disadvantages: Price

I really like the Foresto collar and decided to leave a review. When I was looking for a tick repellent for my dog, I learned that some products kill ticks only after they bite, while others repel them. The ticks, when they get into the dog's fur, become inactive under the influence of the product and fall off before they can bite. The Foresto collar was recommended to me at the veterinary clinic, and I bought it right away because it works as a deterrent. No ticks have been found while wearing it; I put it on my dog ​​in early spring and forget about it until fall. Although I've removed ticks from her a couple of times, they were unattached and barely moved. I've tested the collar several times, even after bathing her. She tolerates it well. The only drawback is the high cost, but in my opinion, it's worth it and has been trouble-free all season. I recommend it.

Bayeg Advantix withers drops for dogs against fleas and ticks are an excellent and effective remedy!

Advantages: Kills fleas instantly

Disadvantages: price, reduced efficiency in rainy weather

Today's review is about Advantix drops, an excellent flea and tick repellent for dogs. These drops protect dogs from fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and midges. I live in a private home, and I simply can't live without a large dog in the yard! Unfortunately, dogs living outdoors constantly have problems with fleas, and in the summer, they can also acquire ticks. Because of this, my loving and caring husband, worried about our pet, scoured the internet, weighed the pros and cons, and finally decided to buy these drops. I should point out right away that they're not cheap, but I just couldn't bear to watch our dog suffer. The veterinary pharmacy didn't have this product, so I had to order it online.

When we received our order, we didn't hesitate to apply it to the dog's withers, as directed. By evening, we saw the full effect: there were no fleas, and any remaining fleas were completely dead. The product itself is designed to last for four weeks; it should be applied to the dog's withers using the dropper tube in dry weather for best results. Having fully confirmed its effectiveness, we now exclusively buy Advantix for our pet.

Tick ​​bites can be very dangerous for our pets and can even be fatal. Timely prevention and vaccination are crucial. Some owners skip vaccinations to avoid putting their pets at risk, not realizing that complex medications can cause far more harm in the event of an infection than a vaccine or topical injections. Vaccinations are a must! Choose reliable and comfortable protection for your friend. Don't skimp on loyal and selflessly loving pets who joyfully greet us after work and take our favorite chair as soon as we get up for a second... May our pets be happy and healthy, delighting us every day with their joyful barks and happily wagging tails.