As the weather warms up, those annoying arthropods called ticks come to life by the millions in the Bay Area, preying on warm-blooded creatures like our dogs.
If you walk your dog in wooded areas or open grasslands in our wonderful parks, or even if you let him romp in your overgrown backyard, he are likely to encounter ticks. It makes sense to get educated about this pesky pest problem.
Some people swear by Frontline or other potent drugs as tick preventatives, others prefer non-toxic methods. A quick Internet search reveals a few natural alternatives that may be worth a try, as their cost and possible side effects are negligible. Most involve mixing a bit of essential plant oil – lavender, rosemary, or eucalyptus, for example – with water and rubbing or spraying the solution on your dog before going outdoors.
More serious than a tick bite are the disease organisms a tick can inject into the bloodstream of your canine pal. Some potentially serious ailments, including canine ehrlichiosis and lyme disease, are tick-borne.
A tick uses internal heat sensors to locate its next meal. When an animal passes by, it clings to its fur, then crawls to an easy-to-penetrate spot as free of hair as possible to insert its pincher-like mouthpiece into the skin. Around the lips and ears are some of the tick’s preferred bite locations on dogs, but there are plenty of other spots that may be used.
It’s important to take a good look all over your dog after exposure to likely tick habitats. If you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible. Folk remedies like using petroleum jelly or a hot match to make the tick back out are not reliable. Here is the veterinarian-approved way to remove a tick:
- Wear surgical gloves, if possible, to prevent contact with the tick.
- Use fine-tipped tweezers or a special instrument made for tick removal (available at pet stores).
- Using the tweezers, never your bare fingers, grab the tick where its mouth parts enter the skin. Do not squeeze the body of the tick, as this can force bacteria into the wound.
- Without jerking or twisting, pull the tick straight outward in a gentle, steady movement.
- Submerge the tick in alcohol to kill it then discard the dead tick by flushing down the toilet.
- After cleaning the bite wound with alcohol, apply a veterinary antibiotic ointment.
- Remove and discard your gloves, or wash your hands thoroughly.
If you don’t get all of the tick out, don’t worry; your dog’s immune system will probably take care of the rest. It may take a week or longer for the bite site to heal. Simply keep the area clean and dab with a veterinary antibiotic if inflammation occurs. If there are any signs of infection or if the wound doesn’t seem to be healing properly, consult your veterinariation.
Happy hiking with your canine companions!
Peggy Greenfiel is a dog-loving freelance writer who lives and works in the wilds of northern California.
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