What is a Tick?
Ticks are tiny spider-like creatures that live in woods, areas with long grass, and sometimes in urban parks and gardens. They’re found all over the UK. Varying in shape, colour and size, ticks are generally oval, flat and small: the size of a sesame seed when unfed, but once completely full with blood, they grow to the size and shape of a coffee bean.
How Can Ticks Affect My Dog?
Ticks can attach themselves to your dog by inserting their mouthparts into your dog’s skin. Ticks wait for host animals on the tips of grasses and shrubs. When the plant is brushed by a moving animal or person, the tick quickly lets go of the vegetation and climbs onto the host. Ticks can only crawl; they cannot jump or fly.
Many ticks can also produce a sticky substance that helps them to remain attached. Once attached, the tick begins to feed on your dog’s blood. The places where the tick attaches will become red and irritated.
How Can I Protect my Dog from Ticks?
Ticks can attach themselves to your dog by inserting their mouthparts into your dog’s skin. Ticks wait for host animals on the tips of grasses and shrubs. When the plant is brushed by a moving animal or person, the tick quickly lets go of the vegetation and climbs onto the host. Ticks can only crawl; they cannot jump or fly.
Many ticks can also produce a sticky substance that helps them to remain attached. Once attached, the tick begins to feed on your dog’s blood. The places where the tick attaches will become red and irritated.
Ticks can attach themselves to your dog by inserting their mouthparts into your dog’s skin. Ticks wait for host animals on the tips of grasses and shrubs. When the plant is brushed by a moving animal or person, the tick quickly lets go of the vegetation and climbs onto the host. Ticks can only crawl; they cannot jump or fly.
Many ticks can also produce a sticky substance that helps them to remain attached. Once attached, the tick begins to feed on your dog’s blood. The places where the tick attaches will become red and irritated.
- Your rabbit becoming quiet and tired
- Lack of appetite
- Stopping drinking
- A strong smell from them or from the hutch
- All rabbits should have their bottoms checked twice daily, especially in summer
How Do I Know if my Dog has a Tick?
Carefully run your hands over your dog’s body to feel for any small bumps on their skin which could be a tick. Ticks like to settle in hairless areas, so pay particular attention to your dog’s head, neck, groin, feet, armpits and ears.Even if you cannot see live maggots, if your rabbit seems unwell, always take them to see your vet. Rabbits naturally hide being unwell, so if they are showing signs of distress they are often quite sick.
How to Remove a Tick From a Dog
Pet shops sell handy tick-removal devices to make this procedure easier.
- Once the tick is located, gently part your dog’s fur.
- Slowly push the tick remover under the tick.
- When you have a firm grasp of the tick, twist it slowly in a clockwise direction until the tick comes loose. You do need to be careful not to squeeze the tick’s body or allow its head to get stuck inside your dog.
- Once removed, try to get rid of the tick by popping it inside a piece of tissue and flushing it away. Never use your fingers to crush the tick.
- All rabbits should have their bottoms checked twice daily, especially in summer
Remember to wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.
What Not To Do!
Resist the urge to just pull it straight off as this could be very painful for your dog. Ticks always need to be detached slowly and carefully, otherwise embedded mouth parts can be left behind.
If stressed, ticks may regurgitate their bloody meal back into their host along with any disease they’re carrying, thereby increasing the chances of disease transmission.
You should never:
- Poke or prod them
- Burn them with a flame
- Cover them in Vaseline to suffocate them