‘Ticks are often mistaken for growths or skin tags but they’re quite different. They are smooth and shiny on the surface and we can see their black spindly legs if we look closely. If left on the pet, they engorge with blood and grow quickly over a period of about 4 or 5 days before falling off.
Ticks are very common where deer graze, so places like woodlands as well as grassy fields. While they’re there all year, we see the most in the spring and summer here in the UK.
Most ticks don’t carry disease but there is a risk of your dog contracting tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease. These diseases can make your dog very poorly, with signs including a fever and lameness. Importantly, these diseases can potentially be spread to humans. If your dog does become unwell after a tick bite, it can take about 1 to 3 weeks for signs to develop.
If an owner sees a tick, we advise them to remove it immediately. This means using a tick remover or tweezers to twist the tick until it lets go, then killing it in an eggcup of rubbing alcohol. If not comfortable doing so, bring them to the nearest vet and they can do it for you.
If your dog has had ticks before or lives in an area with ticks, you should keep them up to date with a Preventative such as a monthly Frontline spot on or Seresto collar.’
If untreated, Lyme disease can lead to kidney damage, heart issues and neurological problems, according to Pooch & Mutt. Below Pooch & Mutt discuss common signs of Lyme disease in dogs to watch out for as well as a step by step guide on how to remove a tick from your dog.
Lyme disease in dogs
Ticks are most often linked to Lyme disease, and symptoms can take up to five months to appear after your dog has been bitten.
These are the most common signs that your dog may have contracted Lyme:
- Your dog is lethargic, seeming generally tired and downbeat.
- Your dog will show a general loss of appetite.
- A mild to moderate fever might develop.
- Your dog might find it hard to walk, but is limping with no specific leg, moving from one leg to another.
- Swollen joints. Your dog may swell in their knees and ankles and appear stiff when walking and moving.
If you noticed any of the above symptoms, whether you have successfully found and/or removed a tick, be sure to seek veterinary attention.
How to remove a tick from your dog: step by step
If you’ve found and correctly identified a tick on your dog, you’re going to want to remove it as fast as possible to reduce the risk of diseases. If you don’t feel comfortable removing the tick yourself, be sure to contact your vet.
When attempting to remove a tick yourself, here is the easiest way to do so:
Step 1: Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool. Wash your hands and put on surgical gloves if you have any, as this can reduce germs spreading.
Step 2: Try to stay calm. If you’re coming off nervous or stressed, your dog will pick up on it and may get anxious over what you’re doing.
Step 3: Grip the tick by its head with the tweezers, as close to the skin as possible. The head will be borrowed into the dog’s skin, so hold it gently, without squeezing it.
Step 4: Pull out the tick very slowly, with gentle and steady pressure. It’s essential to do this in one straight and steady movement, without twisting it so you can avoid leaving the tick’s mouth parts behind.
Step 5: Check the bite site. Ideally all of the tick’s body parts are out, but if you see anything left, don’t try to dig them out – eventually they’ll fall out on their own.
Step 6: Either dispose of the tick, or put it in a small container to take to the vet (if you believe your dog has any side effects or symptoms, or it’s a particularly nasty bite or well-fed tick).
Step 7: Use an antiseptic ointment on the bite site by gently dabbing onto your dog’s skin. Your dog should hopefully have stayed still and calm, so give them lots of praise and a tasty dog treat.
When to see a vet
You can remove a tick yourself if you spot one on your dog, but if you’re nervous or unsure, feel free to call your vet for advice. If you’re worried about a specific tick bite; if it seems infected, or if you’re concerned about symptoms of Lyme disease or other tick-related illnesses, absolutely inform your vet. Bring the removed tick with you, and they can give your dog a thorough assessment.
