Enjoying exterior is nice to your pup. They get some contemporary air and train to work off any extra vitality from being caught inside throughout the chilly winter months.
Whereas enjoying exterior and working free is to your canine, there are risks lurking and, though they may be tiny, pose a major threat to your canine (and also you and your loved ones too).
That’s proper, I’m speaking ticks.
Ticks can carry many deadly illnesses that may switch to people, most notably Lyme illness, which is why tick prevention is vital to making sure that your pooch stays wholesome as they’re getting all that helpful out of doors time.
And protecting your pup tick-free implies that you’ll want to take particular precautions each time you go exterior…
…from figuring out the right way to examine them correctly once they’re carried out enjoying…
…to protecting their out of doors setting protected for them to play freely…
…to responding correctly while you do discover a tick has latched on to your canine.
That’s why I’m joyful that can assist you house in on all the knowledge you’ll want to find out about ticks.
Beginning with the time of 12 months…
Peak tick season is throughout the heat months of the 12 months. When you reside in a local weather that continues to be heat all 12 months lengthy, then tick season lasts your complete 12 months. For others it begins in springtime (wherever from March to Could) and lasts till fall (August – November).
Coincidentally, that is additionally the time of 12 months when your canine spends essentially the most time exterior.
That is why you’ll want to be further diligent in checking for ticks each time your pup steps exterior.
Ticks could be lurking wherever in grassy or wooded areas, and so they’re concerning the dimension of a sesame seed so it’s very simple to overlook them.
I’m joyful to share what to search for, the right way to examine your canine for ticks and what to do if you happen to discover one in your pup.
Checking Your Canine For Ticks
Recognizing a tiny tick in your canine generally is a problem, particularly in case your canine has a protracted or darkish coloured coat.
Guaranteeing your canine is correctly groomed and brushed recurrently will help make on the lookout for ticks a lot simpler (and will help hold your canine comfy throughout the scorching summer season months – take a look at my weblog on scorching climate grooming for more information).
Through the spring, summer season, and fall months you’ll wish to examine your canine for ticks each time you enterprise exterior. As a result of ticks reside in grass, they will simply connect to your pup in the event that they’re strolling on or close to grass or timber.
To examine your canine…
Begin on the head, and gently rub your palms over your canine’s physique, pulling again the hair or fur like a brush would.
Ticks are drawn to heat areas, so that you’ll wish to remember to examine the hidden areas of your canine’s physique.
Among the most typical hiding locations for ticks are below the collar, in or behind the ears, below the tail or between the toes.
As soon as a tick attaches to your canine’s physique, they feed on the blood and proceed to develop bigger. In case your canine does have a tick, it is possible for you to to really feel a bump together with your fingers.
Ensure you’re additionally on the lookout for redness or irritation in your canine’s pores and skin as a result of that may very well be from a tick.
At all times be in tune together with your canine’s habits. In the event that they’re scratching or licking a sure space, it may very well be as a result of it’s irritated from a tick (or they might have gotten into one thing exterior that has irritated their pores and skin and ought to be tended to immediately).
When you do spot a tick, you’ll wish to reply shortly and effectively to correctly take away the tick earlier than it does any hurt to your canine.
Learn how to Safely Take away a Tick From Your Canine
As soon as you see a tick in your canine, you’ll wish to proceed with warning. When you solely take away a part of the tick and depart a few of it behind it may result in issues and infections later.
Provides you’ll want: rubber gloves and fine-tipped tweezers.
Try to be sporting rubber gloves throughout this course of so that you just defend your self from an infection as effectively.
Pinch the world of the pores and skin across the tick and gently, but steadily, pull the tick away out of your canine’s pores and skin utilizing tweezers.
Watch out so that you just don’t unintentionally crush the tick’s physique. This will trigger an infection.
The tick ought to come out cleanly and in its entirety. Seek the advice of your vet immediately if you happen to discover any a part of the tick remaining.
Instantly clear your canine’s pores and skin utilizing soapy heat water. You too can apply a little bit of antibiotic ointment to forestall an infection.
You may’t simply crush a tick. So as to kill and eliminate it, you’ll wish to place it in rubbing alcohol.
When you’ve got any problem or questions, take your canine to their vet to allow them to safely take away the tick.
It’s a little bit nerve wracking, however the sooner you get that tick out the earlier your canine shall be again to his regular self!
Tick Prevention: Learn how to Maintain Your Canine Wholesome
Prevention is your first line of protection towards ticks.
And simply since you’re taking preventative measures doesn’t imply it is best to loosen up on checking your canine each time you go exterior.
Checking your canine totally for ticks is one of the best ways to make sure that they’re protected and wholesome.
The very first thing it is best to at all times do is ensure that your canine is updated on flea and tick prevention treatment. Discuss to your vet about all the choices to find out which one is greatest for you and your pup.
You’ll additionally wish to hold your yard as protected as attainable. Clear away brush and keep a well-cut garden to keep away from leaving tall grassy areas in your yard the place ticks thrive.
When you’re occurring a hike or visiting a neighborhood state park, hold a detailed watch in your canine. Maintain them away from areas with a variety of grass or further wooded areas. When you do go to these areas, examine your canine as you allow the park to attempt to catch any ticks shortly.
Ticks could be very harmful to your canine, and since they’re so small it’s simple to overlook them. I hope that figuring out what to search for has you feeling assured that your canine will stay joyful and wholesome all summer season lengthy!
Right here’s to an incredible season of absorbing the solar ☀️
~ Doggy Dan 
