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Is your little pooch scratching too much these days?May be he has ticks. Don’t panic, keep reading…
Is your little pooch scratching too much these days?You observe your pet scratching a lot and wonder what’s bothering your furry friend. You move your hands over his body and find a creepy creature sucking on your little pet’s blood.
Ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of a dog, cat or other mammals. They attach themselves to the skin of the host, through their mouth. This sucking of blood can cause anemia (blood loss). The lifecycle of ticks has 4 stages : egg, larvae, nymph and adult. Sooner you identify them, better it is for your pet.
So how do you remove ticks? Here are a few ideas you can consider…
Use Spot-on Treatments:
If your pet is affected with a tick-attack or flea-attack, it might be difficult to pluck or pull them individually. In such cases, the spot-on treatments are the most effective. These are strong medicines that can be bought over the counter from a pet store or a vet. In case, your pet is a sensitive breed, it is suggested to take advice from a professional vet before using it. These solutions are quiet strong. Children should be kept at a distance after immediate application on your pet.
Anti-tick shampoos:
Special anti-tick and flea shampoos are easily available in market. Apply this shampoo on your pet’s body and leave it for 8-10 minutes or as directed by the shampoo manufacturer, and rinse off. Repeat this process every two weeks until your pet is free from these parasites. After using such shampoos, you might find ticks shedding from your pet’s body throughout a day or two. Observe your pet and keep throwing these ticks in a mug containing an antiseptic solution like savlon.
Use oral Medicines:
For pets that can be easily given oral tablets, some medicines are available in market. These medicines can be given to your pooch monthly and they can keep your puppy safe from nasty ticks and fleas. However, do not buy them over the counter from a pet store on your own. Do consult a vet for professional advice.
Use Tick-Twisters:
The conventional method of removing a tick from your pet’s skin is to pluck it from your pet’s skin using a tick twister. If you do not have a tick-twister, you can reach out to a normal tweezer, grip the tick close to the skin, twist a little and pull it out with a quick outward movement. The key is to remove the tick completely without leaving a bit of this parasite on your pet’s skin. Next, clean the area where this dangerous parasite was holding on the skin, with a mild Savlon solution or plain water.
Use medicated powders:
Special medicated ticks and flea repelling powders are also helpful in keeping your pooch safe from these blood-sucking parasites. Before using these powders, read on to the product label to confirm if it will keep fleas also away from your little pooch. However, these products need to be used very carefully as they may be irritant to mouth and lungs if inhaled. So, take them in small quantity and rub into the skin. Keep it away from face and eyes while applying. You might have to re-apply this powder every week.
Use chemicals to keep your house clean:
If your pet is badly affected by ticks and flea, in no time you will find them crawling over your walls, ceiling or even curtains. Once you spot them strolling openly all over your house, please realize it’s a red-warning signal for your as well as your puppy’s health, as it means they have full control over your pet’s body now. So treat your pet and ask your vet to suggest some chemicals that will keep your house also clean. You may consider a professional for using these chemicals in your house.
Use tick collars:
Tick collars are good tick-repellants. They should be used preferably once you are sure that your pooch is free from any tick or flea. These collars are medicated and need to be in contact with your pet’s fur or skin. They release chemicals on their body which helps in keeping the ticks away from your dog. You need to keep a gap of two fingers between the collar and your dog’s skin. Cut-off the excess length of this collar to ensure your dog doesn’t chew it. Observe your pooch for a few days to ensure his body isn’t reacting negatively to this collar.
Keep your pet away from his infected friends:
Taking your pet out for a routine walk or run is good for keeping them physically fit. However, taking them out in lawns that have lot of wood around or other infected animals around might expose your dog to these dreaded parasites. Ticks do not jump and hence they usually stick around long grasses. Keep your pet away from grass. Always apply anti-ticks powder on their paws before taking them out for a walk.
Keep a check on your dog after a walk:
It might not sound a great idea to always keep your pet indoor, but this would help him in staying healthy. Avoid taking your puppy in grass or in tick-prone areas. Keep the surroundings of your house clean and play with your pet in that area to fill his needs of going outdoor. Once you are back from the walk, check his paws very carefully for ticks that might have attached themselves on his body or fur.
Medicated sprays:
Tick sprays can also be used when you plan a day out with your puppy in wooded area. These sprays are medicated, hence should be applied from a distance (as mentioned in the product label) and away from your dog’s eyes and mouth.