Dogs tend to spend more of their summer time outdoors. Therefore it is very important to be careful of parasites, bugs and micro organisms that can harm your pet while they get their whiff of fresh air. Precautions are necessary to keep these dangers away from your puppy. One of these pests that can cause a lot of nuisance and damage are ticks since they carry diseases. In particular Lyme disease. Avoiding ticks should be a priority to the new pet owner.
Why Ticks?
Ticks tend to stick to warmer temperatures, water, and movement. Ticks do not transmit through the air. Their motion is limited to crawling. They transmit themselves by climbing up taller structures or plants and drop onto any living and moving human or animal. Puppies and adult dogs frolicking in the outdoors is very susceptible to acquiring these pesky little creatures. The danger of having ticks on your dogs body begins once the tick bites. The bite itself is painless and unfeeling but the place of bite might get infected in no time. Consulting a veterinarian is advisable for treatment which normally involves oral antibiotics. If your pet dog is diseased due to a tick bite, there is a risk of infection spreading to other pets.
How to keep ticks away from your pet dog
The best way to avoid ticks is to avoid walking your dog in the midst of vegetation during tick season. Always keep the vegetation around your house trimmed. Certain preventive medication products are also available, but first consult with you veterinarian for proper application and products. Products vary depending on the dogs age and weight. Remember these medications are suited for a particular pet, meaning what is used on an adult dog may not be suitable for a puppy. Again it is recommended you consult with your vet before purchasing or administering any medication to your puppy or adult dog.
Removing Ticks
When your pet comes back from outdoors make sure to check him carefully for ticks by inspecting his or her body. For long haired dogs it will require some moving of the hair around so you can get a good luck at your pet. Check the underside of the pet and areas that are not easily noticeable upon looking at the dog. They are normally found in warm areas, under the arms, in the ears, between the toes and in the folds of the skin. If you find any, remove them carefully. Do not touch the tick, use a alcohol swab, then pull it up slowly with tweezers. Make sure not to leave any parts of the tick sticking to your dog. If you are unsuccessful contact your vet for advice.
Part of puppy and dog ownership is assuring your pet is healthy and happy. By attending to your pets health needs you can expect many happy and healthy years with your pet.
