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Having a dog means lots of time spent outside with your four-legged companion. Whether you hike through woodlands, play fetch in the fields, or stroll around your local park, your dog will love exploring the world with you.
However, time spent in nature brings with it the threat of ticks, tiny blood-sucking arachnids that can pose a serious threat to you and your dog. Understanding the threat of ticks can help you deal with them should your dog encounter a tick bite.
In this blog post, we'll help you easily identify ticks and teach you how to safely remove them to protect your dog from developing problems from these pesky parasites. We'll also explain the main symptoms of tick-borne diseases so you know what to look out for should your dog come off badly from a tick bite, and teach some preventative measures so you never have to worry about ticks again.
Table of contents:
How to check for ticks on a dog
How to remove ticks from a dog at home
What do dog ticks look like?
Ticks are small arachnids that are greyish-brown in colour. Depending on their life stage, they may have six or eight legs, resembling a small spider.
Ticks vary in size and can be anything from one millimetre to one centimetre, but they grow in size and become darker in colour when they are filled with blood from feeding.
Where are ticks most commonly found?
Woodland, heath and grassland areas are the most common places to find ticks in the UK, but they can also be found in your garden if you live somewhere with a lot of wildlife.
They are most prevalent in spring and autumn but are active all year round, particularly in areas where sheep and deer are heavily populated. They survive in the grass, and although they can't jump or fly, they sit in the tall grass waiting to latch onto passing animals to feed.
If you are considering taking your dog abroad, consult your vet before travelling, as these ticks carry different diseases than those in the UK, so your dog must be protected.
How to check for ticks on a dog
If you're wondering how to check for dog ticks, the good news is that they can be easily found on your dog's skin after feeding on its blood; as they grow in size, they are easily identified.
Run your hands over your dog's body after a walk, and if you feel any bumps or spots, check them, as they may be ticks. The common areas ticks attach themselves are the head, neck, face, ears, feet, around the tail and between the legs.
If you find a tick, try not to panic and don't try to pull it off with your fingers, as this improves the chance of infection for your dog.
In this next step, we'll teach you how to remove the tick safely and efficiently without hurting your dog.
How to remove ticks from a dog at home
The easiest way to get rid of ticks on a dog is to invest in a Tick Twister.
A Tick Twister is a small tool designed to remove them easily and without causing your dog any pain. Easy to store in your dog's first aid kit, it's inexpensive equipment that could prevent your dog from contracting any tick-borne diseases.
If you find a tick on your dog's skin after a walk, be careful not to squeeze its body as this can release blood back into your dog's bloodstream, which increases the chance of infection or, in the worst case, could separate the body from the head.
Before following the steps to remove the tick, if you are concerned about doing it yourself, consult your vet for further advice.
- Start by putting on latex gloves to prevent the spread of infection, then part your dog's fur to locate the tick.
- Take your Tick Twister and place it under the tick.
- Once you have a firm grasp, twist the tick clockwise several times until it comes loose.
- Inspect your dog's skin to ensure the tick is properly removed.
- Dispose of the tick by putting it into some alcohol or taking it into a tissue and flushing it down the toilet.
Once the tick has been removed, the bite area may become inflamed as ticks have anti-inflammatory properties, so whilst they are connected to the skin, there is no swelling. Any swelling should reduce within a week, but consult your vet if you notice any further swelling, pain or discharge.
As tick-borne diseases can be notoriously difficult to diagnose, monitor your dog for a few weeks after its tick bite. If you notice any changes to your dog's health, consult your vet and mention the bite to help them with their diagnosis.
Are ticks harmful to dogs?
Ticks don't cause immediate pain to dogs but can cause further problems if left untreated. They carry diseases, passing infection from animal to animal by biting on them and feeding on their blood. The most common disease ticks carry in the UK is Lyme disease and, in some rare cases, babesiosis.
Lyme disease
Lyme disease is a serious bacterial infection that can infect dogs and humans. If you live or regularly walk in areas with sheep and deer, check your dog regularly for ticks and watch out for the following symptoms, and if you notice any changes, contact your vet:
- Sudden loss of appetite
- Fever
- Depression
- Lameness
- Painful joints
- Swollen lymph nodes
Your vet can test your dog for Lyme disease and treat it with antibiotics, should they have it.
Babesiosis
Babesiosis is extremely rare in the UK and carries a specific type of tick that can only be found in Southern England and Europe. It's an infection which attacks and destroys red blood cells, but it can be difficult to diagnose, taking two weeks for early signs to show, with some dogs failing to be diagnosed until months or years after transmission.
Symptoms of babesiosis include:
- A yellowish tint to the skin
- Pale gums
- Depression
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- A swollen abdomen
If you notice any changes to your dog's health or any of these symptoms develop, contact your vet and let them know if there's any chance that a tick could've bitten them.
How to prevent ticks on dogs
Although there’s no way to completely stop your dog from getting the occasional tick, you can take a few measures to lessen the risk and prevent your dog from contracting a tick-borne disease.
Avoid areas with longer grass during warmer months
Ticks thrive in long grassy areas, so avoid them in the warmer months and stick to paths and open spaces instead. If you’re curious about the number of ticks and species in your area, check Gov UK’s tick awareness scheme for up-to-date local information.
Check your dog regularly and tick treat them
Get into the habit of checking your dog for ticks after every walk; you may find them before they can attach to your dog. Check the head, ears, armpits, groin and stomach, as these are the most common areas to find them.
Regularly treat your dog with a spot-on treatment to protect them from ticks. A tick treatment usually lasts for six to eight weeks, and should a tick bite your dog once they’ve been treated, they should die and drop off within 24 to 48 hours. If you do find a tick on your dog, it’s still sensible to remove it to prevent your dog from contracting any diseases.
Use tick repellent
If you live in a high-risk area for ticks, you may want to put more permanent measures in place. A tick-repellent collar will prevent ticks from attaching in the first place and protect against other parasites, such as fleas. Speak to your dog’s vet to find the best treatment solution for your dog.
Shop skincare and parasite control at Groomers
Now you know how to find, remove and prevent ticks, so why not browse our skincare and parasite control range and keep your dog safe from pesky parasites? Whether you’re looking for tick and flea prevention at home or in your grooming salon, you’ll find antiseptic wipes, antibacterial shampoo and fumigation kits when you shop with Groomers. Or, for more ways to care for your dog, explore our complete health and wellbeing range.
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