5 Facts About Ticks That Will Help Your Pet
Dogs and the outdoors - yes please! Dogs and ticks? No thank you! Tick season is upon us and nothing can ruin your outdoor adventure more than finding that a tick is using your pup as their snack. Preventatives year round and being proactive are your best defenses when it comes to ticks, but sometimes we’re not completely sure what’s true and what’s fiction when it comes to these woodsy creatures. Check out these 5 facts about ticks that can help you as a pet owner feel more comfortable taking your dog outside in the warmer months.
Fact #1: Ticks can be active all year long. Unfortunately ticks can be active year-round, but their activity does fluctuate depending on the temperature. April through September are when ticks can be at their highest activity because of warmer temperatures, but they can also remain active in milder climates even through fall and winter. Adult ticks are the main risk in winter because they wait for a day that is above 35 degrees to begin to be active and find a host to feed on. If you live in an area that has the American dog tick or the Lone Star tick, these types are inactive in the fall and winter. The black-legged deer ticks are the species that decrease their activity when temperatures start dropping below 35 degrees or the ground is covered in snow.
Fact #2: Ticks can be difficult to spot on your pet. If a tick has hitched a ride on your pet, it’s probably still a very small black dot that has not fed yet which makes them harder to spot within fur. They do have some favorite hiding places that are the best place to start with searching for them after being outside. Here are the main 5 places on your dog that ticks enjoy hiding:
In and around the ears
Between the toes
In the groin area
Under the collar or clothing
On the eyelids
Fact #3: Ticks don’t fall from trees. Instead, their main way to attach themselves is to crawl up grass and bushes to wait for a host to brush past so they can latch on. Ticks can be found in any areas with tall grass, shrubbery, brush and other plant material, particularly along animal trails or footpaths. Immature ticks tend to be found in leaf litter or in the layers of decomposing leaves under trees and may crawl onto a host when the debris is disturbed.
Fact #4: Do not use petroleum jelly, alcohol or a lit match to remove a tick. The best way to remove a tick is by using tweezers! Grasp the tick with the tweezers as close to the dog’s skin as possible and pull it straight out with a steady motion. You can flush the tick down the toilet or put it in some rubbing alcohol to help kill it. To clean the skin, you can use soap and water or some rubbing alcohol. If you try to put any of these items (petroleum jelly, alcohol or a lit match) to the tick before removing it, they can cause the tick to be aggravated and deposit more of their disease-carrying saliva into the wound. To learn more about proper tick removal, check out our previous blog post entitled May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month!
Fact #5: Disease transmission is not always immediate. While it may not be immediate, the risk of disease transmission does increase the longer a tick is attached. While attached, they have the ability to transmit bacteria, viruses and parasites through their saliva. These pathogens can be transmitted very quickly after a tick is attached while others require a longer feeding time. Ticks must be fully engorged after feeding to have been able to transmit common diseases and the timing of this is estimated to be 24 to 36 hours of attachment. Removing a tick as soon as you find it significantly reduces the risk of any disease transmission.
Ticks can pose a significant threat to pets, but understanding their behavior and habits can greatly reduce the risk. By remaining vigilant, conducting regular checks, removing ticks properly and maintaining year-round preventative measures, pet owners can ensure the safety and well-being of their furry companions during tick season and beyond. Being informed and proactive is the best approach to protect pets from these persistent pests!
Being outdoors can have its challenges, but Going Mutts Pet Services likes to give our clients peace of mind when it comes to outdoor safety. Our paw-some dog walkers choose safe and known walking routes and know where to check for ticks on your dog after walks on trails or near high grass, ensuring your dog stays protected while enjoying the fresh air! We would love to be your first choice for local dog walks, playtime, potty breaks or check-ins, so contact us today to see how we can customize a plan for your favorite furry friend.
Sources:
https://www.fwpest.com/blog/are-ticks-still-active-in-the-winter/
https://www.duxburyanimalhospital.com/services/dogs/blog/dispelling-6-common-myths-about-ticks
