As we know, ticks They are one of the great enemies of dogs, as their bite can cause serious problems. These small parasites, belonging to the group of arachnids, ingest the blood of animals until they noticeably increase in size, sometimes reaching 2 centimeters. With this they can transmit diseases such as babesiosis or Ehrlichiosis.
Fortunately, thanks to scientific advances, there is a good variety of products on the market that help us fight these insects. However, we still find several very popular "home remedies" to combat them, although they are not totally effective. Given the general ignorance that exists on this issue, in this post we deny some Myths related to these parasites.
- Ticks die when winter comes. Although it is true that autumn and spring are the times of greatest danger, our dog needs protection throughout the year. And it is that the ticks do not disappear during the cold months, but they are still present fulfilling their life cycle. They can hide in the cracks of our house, in corners of the wood, between the grass, etc., being able to adhere to the skin of the dog at any time.
- They come off with heat. A very widespread myth is the one that states that to make the tick detach from the skin we must bring the wick of a match or lighter closer. This is not only useless, but also dangerous for our dog. In fact, manual removal of the parasite is not recommended, but rather quickly go to a veterinary clinic. In any case, if it is not possible, we must extract the insect with tweezers.
- They transmit disease even if your head is separated from your body. It is for this reason that manual removal is not recommended, since although it is a false belief, it has a small part of reality. And it is that the mouth apparatus of the tick can remain in the skin after the extraction of the rest of its body, causing a strong inflammation. Therefore, it is best to go to an expert.
- They are not dangerous for people. Either through a bite or during manual removal, ticks can transmit disease to humans. Therefore, by protecting our pet we also protect everyone who lives with it.