It’s official, the number of ticks in the UK is growing. And rumour has it that this year is going to be yet a another good year for them, which makes us wonder if it’s going to be a bad year for us! Not necessarily, because with the right tools and some knowledge you can set yourself up for success this year. And if you’re unsure about anything on this subject, we’re here to help you.
What’s wrong with ticks?
It may seem like this message is overkill but, aside from ticks just being nasty wee itchy critters, ticks can pose a serious health threat to your dog, and to you too. One of the most concerning diseases spread by ticks is Lyme disease. Wild animals such as deer and rodents are natural carriers of Lyme bacteria and when ticks feed on them they can become infected. Don’t be fooled though, they don’t only exist in rural environments and are living comfortably in Edinburgh city parks. Ticks don’t fly or jump like fleas, instead they’ll cling onto your dogs coat as they walk through grass or foliage before making their way onto the skin. The bite is painless and initially the ticks can be hard to spot due to their size, often mistaken for poppy seeds or specks of dirt. They waste no time getting into your dogs coat and down to their skin. Here they’ll feed on your dogs blood for a couple of days up to as long as two weeks, growing in size as they do, becoming more visible and prominent to touch. Needless to say, they aren’t pretty! They vary quite a bit in appearance at different stages, so it’s important to be able to have a close look and identify them.
Symptoms of Lyme disease
Usually you’re looking at a grace period of 24 hours before infection starts, and when it does it won’t take long for your dog to start showing symptoms. The most obvious are lameness, lethargy, swollen joints and loss of appetite. If caught early enough though, your dog can be treated with antibiotics, so if you are concerned, get in touch with your vet.
Prevention and Management
The best and most effective way to manage ticks is prevention. Some good practices and routines include:
- Checking your dog for ticks after walks, especially woodland, marshland or grassy spots where ticks like to hang out.
- Checking for ticks while doing your grooming routine from Spring to Autumn.
Spot-ons, Sprays and Supplements
- Use tick preventative to help minimise the risk of ticks attaching. Your vet might recommend an oral treatment, or spot ons and collars can be bought here in store. The period of protection does vary per product, so make sure you check the packaging. Top tip! Take a note of the next dose date in a calendar or in a reminder so you know when cover is about to run out.
- A natural product, which can be used alone or in conjunction with the above, is Neem Team Spray. Spray a light mist on your dogs coat before a walk (or spray your hands and rub on if your dog doesn’t like the spray) and ticks will quite literally look the other way. This product was put to the test by the staff here at Just Dogs last summer, and we were truly shocked at how effective it was! For that reason, this is our top recommendation. And if you’re a professional dog walker and you need a bit of extra protection for your dog/dogs, just spray and go without any worries! We also now stock their shampoo (which smells lovely and fresh!) and home treatments should you need them.
- If you prefer something more natural for your dog, a food supplement such as CSJ Billy No Mates can be very effective at repelling ticks, fleas and mites too. We stock both the powder and the tincture which is added daily to their food.
What’s the best one for tick protection? Spot on, tablet or supplement?
There’s not a one-size-fits-all answer for this, it’s very much a personal choice. And there’s not a huge difference in terms of effect, all are designed to make your dog taste unappealing. Some owners prefer convenience, a longer protection period, or some prefer more natural products. It’s also worth thinking about what’s best for your dog, for example you might have a dog that doesn’t do well with tablets or you have a dog that wolfs anything down.
How to remove a tick
If you do find a tick, it’s really important to remove it with care. We always recommend using a proper tick remover for the job. Our store staple for many years has been Johnsons Tick Remover, complete with hooks in two sizes to ensure that even the smallest (or biggest) ticks can be dealt with quickly and effectively.
Ticks must be removed gently without force. By twisting them from under the body, they release their grip without causing damage to the skin. Never burn off, smother, cut, pick or pull off with tweezers or needles as this can increase the risk of the head staying in the skin. Essential oils are also a no no, and never squeeze one as you could push the fluid back into the skin. (I know, absolutely disgusting!)
If you can, our advice is to flush the tick down the toilet. If the tick is swollen and looks to have been latched on for more than a day or two, you might want to keep hold of the tick (by popping it into a bag/container and freezing it). If your dog develops symptoms it can be really useful for the vet to have the culprit for testing as part of your dog’s treatment.
As we’ve come to expect with the team at Blue Cross, yet another fantastic step-by-step video is available to view.
If you need help or advise, we are always on hand here at the shop. As part of out service to you, our friendly and experienced staff have all been trained to identify and remove ticks. We can also give them their tablet if you struggle with that, as there are lots of happy distractions in store and it’s altogether less suspicious than at home!