With spring and summer come ticks, and that's why it's important to protect your dog from ticks. Both for your own sake and for the dog's.
Why you should protect your dog from ticks
Ticks can carry several serious diseases such as borrelia, anaplasmosis and TBE, which are serious diseases for both dogs and humans. Therefore, it is important that you first and foremost protect your dog with a preventative measure, but also check your dog (and yourself) every time you have been outside, and have any ticks removed so that they do not attach to either of you.
How to remove a tick
The tick bite itself is not dangerous, it is only serious if the tick transmits the bacteria. It is said that if a tick is removed within 24 hours, it has not had time to transmit the borrelia bacteria.
You remove the tick with a pair of tick pliers or tweezers, and grasp it right at the skin. Once you have a grip, you should turn it one turn and then carefully pull the tick out.
Avoid all the old advice about rubbing it, smearing it in oil and butter, etc.
Check yourself and your dog
When checking yourself and your dog, pay extra attention to warm, moist areas on your body. Ticks love places like the backs of your knees, armpits, waistbands, behind your ears, and on your scalp – and in dogs, they are most often found on the neck. But always check the entire body.
Remember to tie your pants tightly and possibly wear socks to make it harder for ticks to crawl up your leg.
What to watch out for if you are bitten by a tick
If you have been bitten by a tick, the first thing you should do is remove it as soon as possible. Then, keep an eye on the area where you were bitten. It is normal for there to be some redness because the skin is irritated. However, if there is swelling and a lot of redness, this could be a sign of illness, and you should see a doctor.
What to look out for if your dog is bitten by a tick
If your dog has been bitten by a tick, remove it as soon as you notice it. Next, just like you would with yourself, keep an eye on your dog and the area where it was bitten. If the area becomes large or oozes, contact your veterinarian, as well as if your dog develops a fever, is more tired than usual, has an unsteady gait, develops muscle pain, or is lame.
Prevention is the way forward
- Give your dog a preventative medication
- Stick to the trails when you are out in nature during tick season.
- Protect yourself by wearing long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and dark socks (preferably over the pants) when you go to the forest (avoid white and light-colored clothing, which attracts ticks).
- Check yourself and your dog after you have been outside.
- Be extra careful if you are in places where ticks are known to be prevalent.
What you need to know about ticks
With spring and summer come ticks, and that's why it's important to protect your dog from ticks. Both for your own sake and for the dog's.
Why you should protect your dog from ticks
Ticks can carry several serious diseases such as borrelia, anaplasmosis and TBE, which are serious diseases for both dogs and humans. Therefore, it is important that you first and foremost protect your dog with a preventative measure, but also check your dog (and yourself) every time you have been outside, and have any ticks removed so that they do not attach to either of you.
How to remove a tick
The tick bite itself is not dangerous, it is only serious if the tick transmits the bacteria. It is said that if a tick is removed within 24 hours, it has not had time to transmit the borrelia bacteria.
You remove the tick with a pair of tick pliers or tweezers, and grasp it right at the skin. Once you have a grip, you should turn it one turn and then carefully pull the tick out.
Avoid all the old advice about rubbing it, smearing it in oil and butter, etc.
Check yourself and your dog
When checking yourself and your dog, pay extra attention to warm, moist areas on your body. Ticks love places like the backs of your knees, armpits, waistbands, behind your ears, and on your scalp – and in dogs, they are most often found on the neck. But always check the entire body.
Remember to tie your pants tightly and possibly wear socks to make it harder for ticks to crawl up your leg.
What to watch out for if you are bitten by a tick
If you have been bitten by a tick, the first thing you should do is remove it as soon as possible. Then, keep an eye on the area where you were bitten. It is normal for there to be some redness because the skin is irritated. However, if there is swelling and a lot of redness, this could be a sign of illness, and you should see a doctor.
What to look out for if your dog is bitten by a tick
If your dog has been bitten by a tick, remove it as soon as you notice it. Next, just like you would with yourself, keep an eye on your dog and the area where it was bitten. If the area becomes large or oozes, contact your veterinarian, as well as if your dog develops a fever, is more tired than usual, has an unsteady gait, develops muscle pain, or is lame.
Prevention is the way forward