Preventing Ticks on Your Dog: Expert Tips & Advice

The arrival of spring means lots more time spent outdoors, which is great news for both people and pets. However, as trees and plants reawaken, so do all manner of bugs – some of which can be extremely harmful, such as disease-carrying ticks.

You might be wondering, what exactly are ticks? And how to remove ticks from dogs? Well, in this blog, our experts will explain all about ticks on dogs and how to prevent them. Here at Burgess Pet Care, we care about all pets! Our recipes, in particular, our dry dog food, aim to help support a healthier, happier dog all year round. 

For now, though, let’s discover how to prevent ticks on dogs… 

What exactly are ticks on dogs? 

First things first, let’s get to grips with what ticks on dogs actually are and do. 

Well, ticks are related to spiders, mites, and scorpions. There are many different types of ticks living in Britain, each preferring to feed on the blood of different animal hosts. While they can’t jump or fly, they can climb a nearby piece of vegetation and wait for a passing animal or human to catch their hooked front legs. 

Ticks are most commonly found in: 

• Woodlands
• Grasslands
• Healthlands
• Parks & private gardens 
• Shrubbery
• Deep vegetation 

Ticks might not necessarily bite immediately, but they can often spend quite a bit of time finding a suitable site on the skin, so if you do spot a tick on yourself or your dog, brush them off before heading inside. 

How to remove a tick from a dog 

With all that being said, it’s important to remove ticks as soon as you spot them. Ticks can be removed using a special tick removing device, which you can find from your local pet shop or vet. Ticks should be removed carefully and with the right equipment, so that none of it gets left behind. Here’s some tick removing advice: 

• Slide a tick-twisting tool under the tick, as close to your pet’s skin as possible. If the tool doesn’t fit neatly, use a different size (they usually come in packs of different sizes).
• Without pulling upwards, twist the tool in one direction until you feel the tick loosen – it will let go when you've turned enough.
• Slowly lift the tool away from your pet – the tick should release and stay in the hook.
• Get rid of it to ensure it doesn’t attach to other people or animals.
• Clean the affected area with warm salty water and monitor your pet for any signs of illness (such as redness, heat around the bite site, lethargy, or a reduced appetite).

>>Watch exactly how it should be done below<< 

How To Remove a Tick | Pet Health Advice

How dangerous are ticks? 

So just how dangerous are these teeny, tiny blood suckers, which can be as small as a poppy seed?

“Ticks feed on the blood of other animals. If a larval tick picks up an infection from a small animal such as a mouse, when it next feeds (as a nymph), it can pass the infection to the next animal or human it bites. Not all ticks carry disease, and infection rates in any one place may fluctuate from year to year,” explains Lyme Disease Action, which runs an annual Tick Bite Prevention Week each March.

However, the charity warns: “The risk of bacterial infections increases the longer the tick is attached, but can happen at any time during feeding. Viruses can be passed immediately.” Yikes!

If you do have pets and are worried about them in the summer months, it’s always best to be prepared and understand basic pet first aid. 

TERRIFYING TICK FACTS 

If you’ve been unsure about what ticks are, or how much harm they can cause your dog, learn more by reading our tick facts below… 

• Ticks are most active from March to October, but they can be active on mild winter days.
• A tick bite is usually painless, and most people will only know they’ve been bitten if they happen to see a feeding tick attached to them.
• Once a tick has started to feed, its body will become filled with blood. As their blood sacs fill, they generally become lighter in colour and can reach the size of a small pea, generally grey in colour.
• If undisturbed, a tick will feed for around 5 to 7 days before letting go and dropping off.
• The ticks you see on pets are larger because they are adult ticks and have swollen with blood from the pet.

How to prevent ticks on dogs 

Although some small animals, like cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs, can attract ticks if they spend a lot of time outdoors, dogs tend to be the prime target. 

What do Dogs Trust say? 

“If your dog has been bitten, you’ll usually see the tick on their skin. Regular grooming can be a good way of checking for ticks in a relaxed way. Some dogs may change their behaviour if they’ve been bitten by a tick and the area is irritating them. They might lick or chew a specific part of their body more than usual, for example.”

Here are some things you can do to reduce the risks: 

• In the warmer months, avoid long grass. Stick to paths and open spaces instead.
• Use the Tick Surveillance Scheme map to check how common ticks are in different areas.
• Regularly check your dog for ticks after walks – you may find them before they have had the chance to attach. They are most common on the head, ears, armpits, groin and tummy.

>> Unfortunately, as humans, we’re not safe from ticks! However, as a dog owner, there are some things you can do to minimise the risk of getting tick bites by taking simple precautions. You’re more likely to be bitten by ticks if you walk your dog in areas with a high tick population, such as woodland, moorland, and areas with high grass or dense vegetation. Make sure you’re wearing long-sleeve tops, tuck your trousers into socks, and use an insect repellent! << 

Support your pet with the help of Burgess Pet Care! 

And there you have it… Hopefully, you’re now a bit more clued up on how to remove ticks from dogs. If the idea of ticks makes you feel a bit queasy, even with all of our advice in this blog, you can always ask your vet to do it for you! 

Here at Burgess Pet Care, all of our recipes for dogs, cats, and small animals have been formulated by vets and nutritionists, so you can rest assured knowing you’re giving your companion the best nutrition they deserve. With a long tradition of supporting British farmers, we actively source all our ingredients as close to our mill as possible.

Looking for more information? Get in touch with our team! Or, be sure to join the Burgess Pet Club for exclusive offers and discounts.