What to do if there are ticks on your dog
Recently, pet health issues have become one of the hot topics on the Internet. Especially in summer, when the temperature and humidity are high and ticks are active, many dog owners have asked for help on how to deal with ticks on their dogs. This article will provide you with a structured solution to help you quickly deal with this common dilemma.
1. The harm and identification of ticks
Ticks are common external parasites that not only suck blood but may also transmit diseases (such as Lyme disease, babesiosis, etc.). The following are typical characteristics of ticks:
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Oval shape, about the size of a sesame when not sucking blood, and can reach the size of a soybean after sucking blood. |
| color | Common brown or gray-black |
| parasitic site | Weak skin areas such as ears, neck, armpits, groin, etc. |
2. Emergency steps
You need to take immediate action when you find a tick, but do not remove it directly! The following is a scientific approach:
| steps | Operational points | Tool recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Immobilize the tick | Use tweezers to grasp the tick's head (not its body) | Special tick tweezers, elbow hemostats |
| 2. Pull out vertically | Maintain steady force and slowly pull it out vertically. | - |
| 3. Disinfection | Clean the wound with iodophor and observe whether mouthparts remain | Iodine swab |
| 4. Tick Disposal | Put it into a sealed container and soak it in alcohol or incinerate it. | Sealed bottle, 75% alcohol |
3. Complete list of preventive measures
According to veterinary advice, prevention is more important than treatment:
| prevention method | Frequency of use | Representative products |
|---|---|---|
| external anthelmintics | 1 time per month | blessing, great favor |
| Insect repellent collar | Continuous protection for 3-8 months | Seresto |
| Environmental disinfection | 1 time a week | Antidisinfectant |
| herbal spray | Use before going out | Lemongrass repellent spray |
4. Analysis of common misunderstandings
Regarding the incorrect methods circulating on the Internet, we would like to specifically clarify:
1.Wrong method:Burn ticks with fire
Hazards:May cause ticks to be stimulated to release more toxins and easily burn pet skin
2.Wrong method:Apply essential oil/alcohol
Facts:These substances do not kill the tick, but instead increase the time it takes to bite.
3.Misconception:No need to deworm in winter
The truth:Tick activity still exists in heated rooms in the north and warm areas in the south
5. Handling special situations
Please seek medical attention immediately if:
- Tick bites that have not been removed for more than 24 hours
- The dog has symptoms such as fever and loss of appetite
- After pulling out, the mouthpart remains and cannot be removed.
- Multiple ticks found at the same time (more than 5)
6. Health monitoring suggestions
Observation is required for 1 month after the bite:
| Time node | Observation points |
|---|---|
| Within 24 hours | Is the wound red, swollen and suppurating? |
| Within 1 week | Appetite, mental state |
| 2-4 weeks | Whether there is joint swelling or lameness |
Through the above systematic treatment plan, we can not only effectively solve the current problem, but also establish a long-term prevention mechanism. It is recommended that pet-raising families keep anthelmintics on hand and check their pets' skin regularly to keep their dogs away from the threat of ticks.
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