As the first topic on animal health, we will talk about ticks, the diseases they transmit, and prevention; for this, we ask Dr. Péter Hauberger, expert clinical veterinarian at the Nyíregyháza Animal Hospital.
After winter and subzero temperatures, with the arrival of springlike warm weather, ticks become active. Since they cannot be exterminated, it can now be said that they are present almost year-round, just not equally active at all times.
Hello Doctor!
First of all, I would like to ask you where in nature ticks can be found, in which areas do they live in larger numbers, and where do ticks settle? Also, please tell our readers briefly what is important and necessary to know generally about ticks as parasites.
Ticks are external parasites belonging to the class of insects, 2-6 mm long with four pairs of legs. Their development is characterized by females laying eggs, from which larvae develop, then so-called nymphs, from which mature ticks develop.
Ticks feed on blood. On the host animal, they pierce the skin with a special mouthpart and suck blood from the capillaries near the skin. The tick remains on the host animal for 2-3 days, during which its body swells several times due to the engorged blood. It can grow even to 2-3 cm in size. Afterwards, it falls off the animal by itself.
Previously, ticks were found only in forests and fields, but nowadays they can be found almost everywhere. Ticks are found in forests near cities, city parks, and even yards and gardens. We also find ticks on dogs that have never left the yard.
Ticks, as external parasites, can seriously sicken our beloved animals and dogs. My next question is, what diseases do infected ticks cause in dogs? What are the symptoms of these diseases? If we notice them early in the dog, what is the chance of recovery? Also, I would like to ask about the treatments, Doctor?
Ticks can transmit several diseases among dogs, but the most common and important disease every dog owner should know is babesiosis. Babesiosis is caused by a unicellular pathogen, Babesia canis. The pathogen is introduced into the animal's body by the tick during blood feeding. Here, the pathogen attacks the red blood cells and destroys them. Consequently, the dog develops anemia and bloody urine. Typical symptoms also include fever, as a result of which the animal loses appetite and becomes lethargic. Perhaps these last two symptoms are the most noticeable to the owner.
Treatment involves administering a special injection, which due to deep intramuscular administration can sometimes be painful for the animal, but it is all the more beneficial. Patients detected and treated early recover quickly. However, untreated animals for several days develop life-threatening complications, such as severe anemia, kidney, and liver failure. That is why it is important not to delay taking animals showing symptoms to the veterinarian, as time is a crucial factor in curing the disease.
Earlier we spoke in detail about ticks, the diseases they carry, their symptoms, and treatments. Because of what was described above, and also for the health protection of our dogs, defending against ticks is extremely important continuously throughout the year. Now let us speak about prevention against them, that is, how can we protect our dogs from ticks?
It is important to regularly protect dogs against ticks. Ticks can be present year-round, but they are most active during spring and autumn periods. However, sometimes we forget about them during cooler summer periods and mild winters. We already remove ticks from dogs in February while there is still melting snow outside. Therefore, year-round protection is recommended.
The most effective against ticks are good quality tick-repellent collars and drops (spot-on products). However, it is also worthwhile to regularly check even dogs treated with tick protection, especially after a forest walk.
If we find a tick on our dog, we must remove it immediately! Use either tweezers or a special tick removal tool for this. Grasp the tick’s head as close to the skin as possible, then remove it with a firm twisting and pulling motion. This is the simplest and most effective method for removing ticks, so using any other method is not recommended. If we do not dare to remove the tick ourselves, we should ask our veterinarian for help.
In the video below, you can see how to properly remove an embedded tick from a dog's skin. Be careful, never grab the tick by its abdomen with the removal tool, but by its head!
Many thanks to the Doctor for the expert help, the good advice will surely benefit many dog-loving families and owners!
Focusing on important animal health topics, we continue to count on the future assistance of the Állatkórház veterinary team!
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