Tick Bite on a Dog: Have you ever find a suspicious feeling on your dog coat? Yes it could be a tick on dog’s body.
Finding a tick on your dog can make you feel disgusted and anxious. Or you may be worried about the dangers of ticks on both your pet and your family.
But one thing is for sure – These ticks are undeniably terrible enemies for you both.
Since dogs spend a lot of time outdoors, it is natural for you to remove the tick from your dog at some point.
The actual process of removing a tick is not very complicated, but since ticks can infect dogs, it is important to monitor the tick bite site and learn how to identify problem signs.
Symptoms of Tick Bite on a Dog
Most tick bites can be detected by running your hand through your dog’s fur and spotting lumps or bumps on the surface.
Ticks often attach themselves to cracks or hairless areas.
Pay special attention to the soft, warm area around the face, ears and neck and especially the limbs in the groin area and groin.
- On light colored dogs, it is easy to spot brown or black protruding bump from the skin. It could be a dinner tick.
- On darker dogs, however, it may be necessary to inspect them further for attached ticks or scratches or bruises left by the meal offender.
However, if a tick has been added recently, it may not be too large; Even on light-colored dogs, small ticks are sometimes hard to spot.
Not all ticks are infected and just because a tick is found on your dog does not mean he is infected with something.
Also Read: 5 Best Dog Ramps for Cars, Beds, and Multi-Purpose Type.
However, tick-borne diseases can be fatal, and the threat of a bite should be taken seriously.
So if the tick is detected quickly and carefully removed, the risk of infection is reduced.
Most Common Tick Borne Diseases
The most common symptoms of many tick-borne diseases in the United States, such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spot fever and tick paralysis, are accompanied by fever and lethargy.
Some diseases can also cause weakness, lameness, arthritis or even anemia. With tick paralysis, the clumsy gait that causes paralysis begins gradually.
These signs usually begin to resolve as soon as the tick is removed.
If you notice signs of illness along with a tick bite in your dog, consult your veterinarian as soon as possible so that proper testing and necessary treatment can begin.
It is also important to remove the tick with tick Twister and clean the area with Antifungal, Antimicrobial, & Antibacterial Wipes as part of first aid for the tick Infection at home.
And note that it can take days, weeks or months for the symptoms of some tick-borne infections to appear.
Early tick bite scenario
Ticks bite your dog through her skin, and then they suck your puppy’s blood. If you notice a lump in your dog’s fur, remove the fur to see if it is a tick. When ticks feed, their bodies sink;
They can vary from pinhead size to grape size. Most ticks are black or dark brown and you can see when the tick legs are paired with your dog.
It is very important to remove the tick quickly as ticks can infect your dog within 3 to 6 hours of being bitten.
To remove the tick, use tweezers or a tick scoop and remove the tick through the head rather than its body. Use a firm upward motion to remove the tick and try not to place body parts on your dog.
If you have not already removed the tick or have questions about how to do it properly, it is a good idea to go to your vet.
In the process your vet will show you how to properly remove the tick to reduce the chance of your dog contracting the disease.
Signs of Danger with tick bites on dog
The area with the tick bite may initially appear slightly red or irritated. After you remove the tick, double-check the parts of the tick that are not in your dog.
Next, the infection can be prevented by rinsing the area with lukewarm, soapy water and treating it with antiseptic cream made for dogs and cats.
You should monitor the tick bite for the next several days as the site may be infected. Look for common signs of infection such as inflammation or rash in the area of the bite.
Your dog may also exhibit fatigue or muscle pain, which can be caused by a reaction to tick saliva.
If you notice any of those signs, take your dog to your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will probably prescribe an antibiotic and decide to test your dog for Lyme disease or other tick-burn diseases.
How am I able to prevent my pet from getting ticks?
It is important to check your dog daily for ticks and remove any finds, especially when ticks are most active during the year and when your dog walks in high-risk areas.
Be sure to check everything, including their feet, groin and armpits.
Cats can also be affected by ticks, but are very good at looking after them. If your cat gets ticks, they can appear on easily cleaned parts of the body, such as the head.
There are several types of preventative tick treatments available that can repel ticks, either after they are attached or both.
Infected ticks do spread infections such as Lyme disease until 48 hours after mating with the host.
Effective tick treatments kill the tick faster than this, meaning they can be killed before transmitting the disease to your pet.
Most of these treatments also prevent flies and other parasitic infections.