Ticks are one of the most annoying parasites that can land on our dog's body. In addition, things get complicated when summer arrives, because that is when they multiply much more quickly. If we do nothing to prevent it, the poor animal will end up having a serious problem.
For this reason it is important to know how to prevent and / or remove ticks in dogs with natural and chemical remedies (antiparasitics).
How do I know if my dog has ticks?
Ticks are arachnids that can be hard (family Ixodidae) or soft (family Argasidae). They live among the grass or on the branches, in places protected from direct sun. That is where they wait for the opportunity to climb the body of some warm-blooded animal, like our dog.
There are those who think that they can run and / or jump, but the reality is that this is not the case. In fact, once they detect a living body, they will go through it from bottom to top looking for the best area to bite, which is usually where the skin is thinner, such as the neck, ears, groin or perianal area. It is in these where we will have to look first every time we suspect that you have one.
When it comes to biting, cause bleeding at the same time as they introduce their saliva, which is composed of toxins and molecules that have analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant properties that "calm" the dog's immune system. Thus, these parasites can cause paralysis and various enfermedades, like Lyme's.
Anyway, the main symptom, that is, the one that we will notice right away is itching. The dog will scratch vigorously, and may even lie on its back so that it can scratch its back.
How are they removed?
Home remedies
To eliminate ticks with home remedies we can use the following:
- Lemon: we will boil two cut lemons with half a liter of water. Then, we will leave it on a low heat for an hour, and finally we will wait for it to cool and we will introduce it in the sprayer to spray the dog's fur with it.
- Apple vinager: we will have to mix water with apple cider vinegar in equal parts and, with a cloth, moisten the animal's hair.
- Essential oils: we will mix two tablespoons of almond oil, a small tablespoon of rosemary oil with another of cinnamon oil. Then, a cotton ball or cloth is moistened and the mixture is applied to the area affected by the tick.
- Vitamin E capsules and almonds: we mix 20ml of almond oil with a vitamin E capsule and place the solution in a dropper jar. Then we apply it very carefully.
Antiparasitics
If the dog has a tendency to have many ticks, or if it already has at this time, it is best to put any of these antiparasitics:
- Pipettes: they are plastic bottles inside which is the antiparasitic liquid. It is usually applied once a month to the back of the neck and the base of the tail.
- Antiparasitic collars: they are placed around the neck, as if it were a normal necklace. They are effective from 1 to 8 months depending on the brand.
- Bathroom dewormers: antiparasitic shampoos, soaps and colonies can be very useful, but you have to know that they are not 100% effective; in fact, they are used more as repellants.
How are ticks removed manually?
If we have seen any in the dog we have to take some anti-tick tweezers or some that we have at home, what we will do is put them as far inside as we can to be able to catch the head which is hooked to the skin. Then we turn it over and remove it. For more information on this topic, Click here.
Has it been useful to you?