Ticks—the tiny yet formidable creatures that wreak havoc on your summer adventures—are at their peak in warm seasons. When the temperature rises and outdoor activities increase, it is their prime time to thrive and breed.
Commonly found in wooded regions and areas with tall grasses and shrubs, ticks patiently wait to latch onto any passing host. So, the risk of encountering ticks increases significantly with every outdoor stroll. They are not just a huge nuisance but also carriers of diseases and infections that affect both humans and their pets.
These pesky creatures are parasites known for their blood-sucking behavior. They are major troublemakers that force their way during warmer seasons and cause allergies, irritation, and discomfort. As summer months provide an ideal environment for growth, ticks become more active and can be found in abundance.
Using the best flea and tick shampoo for dogs or dog wipes alone will not benefit your furry companion unless you are fully equipped to keep ticks away this summer.
In this blog, Pawsome Pals will explore more about tick attacks and ways to keep ticks away from your yard.
Dogs And Tick Season
Ticks commonly latch onto animals. Detecting a suitable host is easy for them because of their ability to identify vibrations and odor in search of a blood meal. Thus, your dog becomes an easy target. Whether your pooch is rolling on the grass or jumping around in the bushes, they are the prime target of the parasites.
Apart from feeding on your canine companion, ticks are highly likely to be transmitted easily. In the process, they can cause several bacterial and viral infections, leading pathogens into your dog's body and causing tick-borne illnesses.
Tick infestation in dogs doesn't stop here. It can further progress to cause local irritation and inflammation at the site of attachment, discomfort, fever, lameness, joint swelling, lethargy, loss of appetite, blood loss, anemia, and, in severe cases, tick paralysis.
Spotting Ticks On Your Dog
Spotting ticks on your pet can be tricky. They come in all shapes and sizes— some are as minute as seeds, whereas fully grown ticks can be the size of a pencil eraser. To make sure that your dog is struggling with a tick attack, you can keep an eye out for these symptoms.
1. Skin irritation
Ticks tend to cause irritation and inflammation in the areas they are attached to. Redness, swelling, and tenderness are common in the body parts where ticks have attached themselves to your dog's skin. Your dog may lick or scratch the infested area more than usual.
2. Physical changes
Your pooch can undergo physical changes as a sign of tick-borne diseases. Dogs are more prone to diseases. Specific diseases may include fever, lethargy, lameness, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. If you suspect your dog is suffering from tick-borne illness, it is crucial to seek medical treatment.
3. Behavioral changes
Behavioral changes may not be common among dogs, but they cannot be ignored. In some cases, dogs infested with ticks will likely demonstrate restlessness and agitation. Other dogs feel lethargic and exhibit lameness.
4. Visible ticks
Ticks appear black or brown on the surface. To spot them on your furry friend, check them closely. Pay extra attention to body parts that are these parasites' most preferred hiding spots. More often, ticks tend to latch onto the ears, neck, underarms, between toes, and around the tail base.
5. Unusual bumps and lumps
Unusual bumps or lumps are the most obvious indicator of ticks on your pup. If they seem embedded or attached, other than skin tags or moles, they are likely ticks. If ticks have fed and become engorged with blood, the bumps will be unusually grown or swollen.
Protecting Your Dog
You have encountered ticks on your furry companion. Now is the time to take prompt action to eliminate the ticks and prevent them from further harming your pet. There are a number of solutions to help your pet recover from a tick attack.
1. Use tick prevention products
Consult a vet. Use only the best flea and tick shampoo for dogs to kill ticks in contact. Determine the most suitable way of treatment for your pooch. You can also choose to give them medications, use topical treatments, or tick collars.
Apart from this, manual removal is also effective. You will need tweezers to pull the embedded ticks and dog wipes to clean the infested area after tick removal. Use only the best dog shampoo for itchy skin to reduce irritation or itchiness.
2. Maintain regular grooming
Regular grooming is not only essential for your pooch's cleanliness but also offers a chance to spot and remove ticks. If you can diligently stick to a grooming routine for your dog, it can reap great benefits along with significantly reducing the risks of ticks.
Additionally, regular brushing helps to remove loose fur, dirt, and debris from your dog's coat, making it less hospitable for ticks. So, keeping your dog's coat clean and well-maintained can help deter these pesky parasites.
3. Avoid tick habitats
Ticks generally reside in warmer areas and leafy litter. It is better to steer clear of such places during outdoor visits with your furry friend. Choose well-maintained areas with open trails to reduce the risks to ticks.
Stick to cleaner paths, away from grasses and bushy vegetation. In case you enter a tick-prone region, use repellent spray for safety.
Treating Your Home And Outdoors
Treating your dog alone wouldn't be sufficient to keep ticks away during summer. Preparing your home and outdoor space is equally important. While a well-groomed dog faces reduced tick attacks, clean and tidy indoors and outdoors keep ticks at bay.
Prepping your home and outdoor space to keep ticks away is essential for creating a safe and tick-free environment for your dogs and family.
Preparing indoors
1. Regular cleaning
Cleaning is the best way to maintain a hygienic living environment and keep ticks at a distance. Vacuum your living space regularly. Be extra attentive while cleaning the areas where your pooch spends most of their time, such as carpets, rugs, and furniture.
2. Using dog wipes
Dog wipes can be conveniently switched for cleaning dogs' belongings. They are easy to use and effective in cleaning your dogs' essentials, keeping them fresh, clean, and odor-free.
3. Wash bedding
Wash all your and your pet's bedding. Tumble all linens and bedding into hot, soapy water and rinse thoroughly. This would kill the remaining ticks and their eggs. Blankets and toys can also be cleaned in the same manner.
Preparing outdoors
1. Treat your yard
Tidy up your yard at regular intervals. Mow the lawn, remove leaf litter, and trim bushes and shrubs. As dense vegetation attracts insects and ticks, a well-maintained yard will be of much help when getting rid of ticks.
2. Use tick repellants
Tick control sprays or granules are effective tick repellents. Use the spray or simply disperse granules in tick-prone areas to create a barrier. Focus on areas where ticks are most likely to hide, such as along the perimeter of your yard and around outdoor living spaces.
3. Consider landscaping
Landscaping can involve choosing plants that are effective at repelling ticks and other pests. Select less dense plants that are easy to manage and have low risks of attracting ticks, such as lavender, rosemary, and marigold.
Conclusion
As summer approaches, it is best to stay prepared to fight the challenges posed by ticks and enjoy a safer season. Your proactive approach to identifying the problem and preventing it will minimize the damage caused and reduce risks to a greater extent, allowing you and your furry companion to revel in outdoor adventures without the fear of tick attacks.
