Dog and cat articles - on Pets.ca

Your dog or cat has ticks - how to check for ticks - how to treat ticks.

Ticks and dogs - Ticks and cats

KEEPING OUR PETS PARASITE FREE
Common parasites of cats and dogs

Ticks have 4 life stages - Eggs- 6 legged larvae - 8 legged nymph - Adult).

Dogs and cats usually come into contact with ticks when they adventure into the woods and woodlands where ticks are found. Ticks have a special sensory organ (called the Haller’s organ) that allows them to sense humidly, odors, heat, movement and presence of a host. Ticks climb up to the tips of grass and wait for a host (animal or human) to pass by where they attach themselves and burrow close to the skin. Unlike fleas, ticks are slower moving and insert their heads beneath the skin to gorge on blood. Ticks feeding on blood will increase in size many times their normal body size!

How to check for ticks

Ticks can be found anywhere on your dog or cat’s body, usually in areas where there is less fur. They appear like a big wart or beauty mark.

Removing ticks

Wear gloves as many species of ticks can transmit diseases to both dogs and humans. Apply some flea product. Make sure that the product you are using is specifically for cats or dogs. Apply Vaseline or alcohol with a Q-tip to the tick’s body. This will cause the tick to withdraw its head from underneath the skin. Trying to remove the tick other wise, will cause the headpiece to remain under the skin and cause infection. Once the head is released you can grasp the tick’s body with a pair of thumb tweezers. Disinfect the bite wound with an Iodine solution and observe for excess redness and swelling. Place the tick in a small jar with alcohol and bring to your veterinarian for identification. Identifying the tick will be useful to eliminate any possible diseases transmitted and provide appropriate treatment.

© Chantale Robinson AHT,BS,MP
chantale@kilookas.com
www.Kilookas.com

© Pets.ca 2003
www.pets.ca