How to keep your dog free of ticks?

Any domestic dog, regardless of its breed, size and temperament, needs protection from the owner. After all, the danger can lie in wait for the dog anywhere, and in the warm season the situation is only aggravated. The onset of spring is inevitably associated with the activation of blood-sucking insects, which cause serious concern to pets. But the main threat comes from ticks, which are carriers of deadly diseases. The search for effective methods of dealing with these bloodthirsty parasites is becoming a headache for many owners of four-legged friends. In this article, we'll show you how to keep your dog free of ticks.

What is the danger?

As mentioned above, ticks can cause an animal to become infected with serious diseases. In this case, infection does not always occur at the time of the bite, but can occur after a few hours. Therefore, in the case of self-removal of the parasite from the skin of the dog, it is necessary to observe the condition of the pet for at least a couple of days. Ideally, after detecting a bloodsucker, it is better to immediately seek help from a veterinary clinic.

It will also be useful to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of diseases transmitted by insects in order to recognize the signs of infection in time. Such ailments include tick-borne paralysis, Lyme disease, piroplasmosis, hepatozoonosis, tularemia, spotted fever, etc. Occasionally, skin lesions such as erythema or folliculitis are observed at the site of the bite. If there are several parasites attached to the body at once, the dogs may also show signs of anemia. It is worth noting that dogs with long ears, tail and hair are at greater risk in terms of tick damage.

Methods of protection

Let's go directly to the search for an answer to the question of how to protect a dog from ticks. The modern pet products market offers a wide range of specialized protective equipment of various actions. Although all of them significantly reduce the risk of possible infection, they still do not give one hundred percent guarantees. Let's take a look at the most common pet protection options.

Overalls

Minimize the risk of tick damage by tightly fitting clothing to the animal's body. Most overalls are made of lightweight, smooth fabric, equipped with elastic bands on the cuffs of the legs and pockets on the body. Since the bloodsucker has a tendency to move exclusively from the bottom up, he inevitably falls into a trap, from which there is simply no way to get out. If desired, the pocket can be treated with special anti-ticks to neutralize the parasites that have found themselves in it.

Collars

Have a deterrent effect. However, the effect is not observed immediately, but only after a few days from the start of using the accessory. The collar must be worn on the dog before going outside. Of course, when combining different drugs, it is necessary to use them at some intervals. For example, you can treat the animal's fur with drops, and after a week, put on a protective collar on it. This will minimize the risk of side effects.

In conclusion, it should be noted that even reliable and proven anti-mite drugs sometimes fail. Therefore, you should not blindly rely on modern means, forgetting about elementary methods of prevention. Regardless of the place of residence and walking conditions of dogs, it is necessary to regularly examine them for the presence of parasites, paying special attention to the most vulnerable parts of the body. If possible, play in dense tall grass, bushy areas, etc. should be avoided. If a tick is found on the dog's body, it must be immediately removed and burned. By the way, infection will not occur if the bloodsucker is removed within 24 hours of the bite.

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