Know if My Dog Has Ticks

The embedded fully ticks on dogs, these parasites which come into the lives of our little animals, and which only bring them problems… How do I know if my dog ​​has ticks to get rid of them? Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a parasite expert for this!

How do I detect a tick on my dog?

Ticks should not be confused with fleas, which are other parasites that look like them but do not have the same characteristics.

• Most of the time, ticks prefer parts of the body of your dog where his skin is thin like the head, ears, or neck.
• The tick introduces its head inside the body of your animal to suck its blood
• Noticed from the outside, it seems like a type of small blister, rather oval

You should know that ticks can transmit diseases to dogs through the blood, which is why it is imperative to protect your pet.

Loss of appetite

One of the common symptoms of ticks on your dog is loss of appetite. Indeed, ticks can cause eating disorders in your dog. He may experience anemia, even vomiting. But it is more frequent than this one undergoes a progressive loss of weight, which can lead to anorexia in certain cases.

Lyme disease

Lyme disease or borreliosis is an infectious disease that is transmitted by ticks to dogs and which is still very present in France today. This disease is caused by a bacterium called “Borrelia burgdorferi” and can also be contracted by humans. It only takes 48 to 72 hours of contact with blood to be contaminated.

Ticks can spread a lot of diseases, but the most famous and dangerous for us is this one.

What are the symptoms in dogs?

Some dogs do not show any particular symptoms, the incubation phase can be quite long, between 2 to 5 months. It is then necessary to be vigilant with the behavior of its animal, but also to observe the surface of its skin frequently.

• The infected dog may have a fever, show signs of fatigue
• He may also experience more or less intense muscle and joint pain.
• Your pet may have difficulty moving around due to swelling in some of its joints. You can then easily observe a limp.

If the contamination develops further, the symptoms can be much more serious. Indeed, your dog may be confronted with heart problems, his nervous or renal system, as well as skin lesions.

What does a tick look like?

It is important to know how to identify a tick on your animal to be able to get rid of it as quickly as possible.

A tick is a very small round or even oval insect, which is brown at the origin then gray or white once engorged with blood. It can measure up to 1 cm in diameter after some time on your companion.

They may look like a kind of skin blisters once swollen, but the presence of legs makes it possible to distinguish them.

How to remove a tick?

Remove the tick as soon as possible if you discover it on your dog.

However, it will be necessary to show great care to ensure that it is removed correctly and in its entirety. If this operation is not carried out correctly. Part of the tick may remain under the skin of your little animal, which will then risk an infection.

To remove this parasite, you will need a tick remover for cats also called a tick tweezer. Which you can find on our site.

1. First, locate the tick
2. Then place the tweezers at the base of the tick, where its head is. Do not pull directly on the pliers! Instead, perform a rotational movement to facilitate the operation.

To be avoided: above all, do not remove the tick sharply with tweezers for example. Or even try to pull it out with your fingers. You risk (as discussed above) not removing all of it from the tick.

Do not hesitate to disinfect the place where the tick is with a cotton ball and a classic disinfectant product.

To avoid the presence of these critters on your pet, protect it with specialized anti-tick products. Which you can find among our wide range of products. Above all, do not hesitate to consult your veterinarian who can also help you.

Also read about Dogs Gestation Periods