Tick bite – the dog is very susceptible to it. How to protect your pet from contact with a tick?
What consequences can a bite cause in dogs? Dogs, just like humans, are exposed to contact with substances that may have health-threatening effects. Ticks are carriers of pathogenic pathogens, so under no circumstances should you underestimate this “enemy”.
They usually hide in dense bushes, both in forests, parks and home gardens. A tick attack is practically unnoticeable. The tick is blind and recognizes its prey, among others: by the smell. Ticks attack mainly in the morning and afternoon, so to minimize the risk of encountering a tick, it is worth choosing a different time for a walk with your pet, if possible. It is also worth paying attention not to choose wild, unfrequented places for a walk, because the risk of encountering a tick there is much greater. It should also be emphasized that ticks do not like sunny places, and their favorite place to live are dense bushes in shaded places, preferably with a body of water nearby.
To protect your pet from exposure, it is best to avoid such places and choose open, sunny spaces. If we have a home garden, it is worth making sure that we mow the lawn regularly and do not leave dense bushes in the garden. You can also consider planting in the garden, including: common tansy, marigold, catnip or garlic. To protect your pet from contact with ticks, it is worth investing in special antiparasitic agents for dogs, including: protective sprays, tablets, drops or collars against ticks.
How to remove a tick from a dog? It’s worth knowing
How to delete ? It is worth remembering that even despite using various protective methods, it is not always possible to avoid encounters with ticks. If you notice it in your dog, it should be removed as soon as possible. The duration of action is extremely important because usually the transfer of pathogens to the victim’s body occurs 24 hours after the injection.
To remove a tick on your dog yourself, you can use, for example: tweezers. It is recommended to wear protective gloves before removing a tick from a dog to reduce the risk of contact with the secretions of this arachnid. When removing a tick, pay special attention not to press it too hard. This may cause the tick to vomit and, consequently, release disease-causing pathogens.
Dog ticks should be removed completely. If the tick has broken off, every part of it should be removed from the pet’s body surface. The injection site should also be disinfected. If we do not have experience or confidence in how to remove a tick from a dog, we should seek help from a veterinary office.
Babsheiosis – symptoms in dogs
Babesiosis is one of the most dangerous tick-borne diseases for animals. Dogs most often suffer from babesiosis, although the disease is also diagnosed in cats. Protozoa found in saliva are responsible for the development of babesiosis. By inserting itself into the victim’s body, the tick not only draws blood from it, but also releases its saliva into the wound. As a consequence, protozoa enter the animal’s body and attack red blood cells and lead to the development of anemia. Another effect of pathogens entering the dog’s (or cat’s) body is the excretion of harmful toxins into the animal’s blood, which may cause damage to internal organs, including: kidneys and liver.
Babesiosis infection requires urgent veterinary intervention. The difficulty, however, is that the disease has no characteristic symptoms and the first symptoms are easy to miss. Changes in your dog’s behavior, such as lethargy and lack of energy, as well as fatigue and lack of willingness to play, should be of particular concern. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting often occur. The most typical symptom of babesiosis is dark-colored, sometimes brown urine. If your dog’s behavior worries you or you notice the above symptoms, take your pet to the vet immediately.
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Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
