It’s that time of year again where ticks come out and as it’s Lyme disease awareness month I thought it was the best time to write about them. So what are ticks anyway? Ticks are parasites which feed on blood. They’re very small but can grow up to the size of a small pea when they have been feeding. They are most commonly found in long grass, vegetation and woodland.
Certain types of ticks (deer ticks for example) can spread Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a bacterial virus which can be transmitted to both humans and dogs if they get bitten by an infected tick. The bacteria attacks tissues around the body such as the joints and organs.
Dogs with Lyme disease may show different symptoms depending on what the bacteria attacks. The most common symptoms are: a high temperature; lethagy; swollen joints; limping; diarrhoea; sickiness; swollen glands and drinking and urinating more than usual. If you think your dog may be suffering with lymes then it’s important that you take them to the vets as it can be fatal if left untreated. Dogs with a mild infection can be treated with antibiotics and those with a more severe infection may have to go on a drip. Humans with Lyme disease may have a rash appear around the area that they have been bitten. This can look like a bullseye. Other symptoms include: a high temperature, headaches; feeling shivery; lethargy; tiredness and muscle and joint pain. If you feel like you may have Lyme disease it’s important to go to your doctor who can prescribe antibiotics and you can have tests at your local hospital.
There are ways to avoid getting ticks on your dogs such as spot on treatments, sprays, tablets and collars but you should still check over your dog after a walk in areas where ticks live. The places they tend to attach are on the head, armpits, belly and ears.
If you find a tick on your dog,or yourself, you should remove the whole parasite as soon as possible. If the mouth or legs are left in then this can cause an infection. I find that ‘Tick Twisters’ are the best way to remove them. You place the hook at the base of the tick and turn anti clockwise until the tick is lifted out. You shouldn’t pull it as this can leave parts of the body in the skin. Once the tick is removed I’d recommend putting some ’Leucillin’ (animal antiseptic) on the area. If you don’t feel comfortable removing the tick you’re more than welcome to pop into my salon and I can remove it for you.
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