“Ticks are tiny arachnids – parasites that feed on the blood of animals and humans. They are most abundant in meadows and forests, although they can also be found in the park or on the lawn in front of the apartment block. Tick bites are dangerous as they transmit several serious diseases. Babesiosis is most dangerous for dogs. Ticks feed from spring to autumn, and in winter they do not die, but remain in hibernation. They can survive for a long time without food. Clinging to the underside of the leaves of grasses, trees, and shrubs, they wait weeks and sometimes even months for their prey. Once they attack, they are hard to spot in the thick dog fur, being only a few millimetres long. How do you spot a tick in a dog? During the daily brushing of the hair, it is worth checking if an unwanted guest is sometimes caught in the skin of your pet.
There are no ways to protect our pets 100%. However, prophylaxis turns out to be the most effective, often with the use of two different preparations.
How to fight against ticks? Preparations:
1. anti-tick collar – usually gives protection for about 8 months. It is not recommended for use in animals with dense hair due to the need to contact the collar with the skin.
2. tablet – the newest and potentially most effective method. The period of operation varies, depending on the manufacturer, from one month to even 3. It can be used simultaneously with other preparations.
3. spot-on – the most popular method. The full effectiveness of the preparation is achieved only with adequate time without contact with water or rain. The duration of action varies, ranging from 2 to 8 weeks.
If we notice a tick bitten into the skin of our pet, it should be skilfully removed. The tick removal procedure is performed by pulling out or twisting the ticks firmly. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible using tweezers or a special tool for removing them. In the absence of experience, we recommend consulting a veterinarian, because leaving a tick fragment in the skin increases the risk of tick-borne diseases and contributes to an inflammatory reaction at the bite site. If you don’t feel up to it, sign up for a tick removal treatment.
We recommend and make sure to use Bravecto or Simparica for our corgis starting in March each year.
Better to prevent than to cure! Treatment of tick-borne diseases can be several times more expensive than prophylaxis and turn out to be ineffective!