Pet Articles
Dog has Ticks – Cat has Ticks
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
5 Responses to this Article, So Far
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My cat had an engorged tick removed from the back of her neck a couple of months ago. The vet told us the bump would heal and there would be a small bald patch on her neck. Her neck healed fine but the bald patch is still there and has tiny black spots around it. I just noticed she has two more of these bald spots but I’ve found no other ticks on her. Can you tell me what these bald spots are from?
Sorry Pam this really needs to be seen by a vet. I’d feel very uncomfortable speculating. Good luck!
My dog was just tested for a variety of things in his spring check-up, everything was ok but he had tested positive for lime disease, but only a very slight positive. Can we get him on antibiotics immediately and stop the disease from developing? We also have cats in the home, what do we do with them, they do not go outside, what about the family, do we need treatment as well?
Worried,
C. Match
This question is better asked on our forum where you can get a better exchange from people that have gone through the same thing.
Good luck!
My dog was just tested for a variety of things in his spring check-up, everything was ok but he had tested positive for lime disease, but only a very slight positive. Can we get him on antibiotics immediately and stop the disease from developing? We also have cats in the home, what do we do with them, they do not go outside, what about the family, do we need treatment as well?
Worried,
C. Match