Ticks are dangerous for dogs because they carry a serious parasitic disease - piroplasmosis. When bitten by an infected tick, the pathogens of this disease - piroplasma - enter the blood of the animal. They parasitize and destroy red blood cells. Most animals die without treatment. Unfortunately, Russia does not yet have a certified tick vaccine for dogs. However, you can protect it from ticks in the summer in the following ways.
Instructions
Step 1
Purchase a special collar to protect your dog from tick attacks. You can buy special sprays or drops. When buying protective equipment, pay attention to the tightness of the packaging, the date of manufacture and the expiration date.
Step 2
Apply drops or spray to the dog's skin in several places where he cannot lick them off. Repeat this procedure once every two to three weeks until late autumn.
Step 3
The principle of action of the means of protection is as follows: the active substance, which is in drops, sprays or with which the collar is impregnated, is absorbed into the skin and enters the follicles. Then it is secreted with a greasy secretion and repels ticks. This process takes time for the animal's organism, so the drops should be applied in the spring when the snow melts.
Step 4
Examine your dog after every walk, as these remedies do not provide one hundred percent protection against tick bites. When examining, pay special attention to the armpits, groin, withers, chest, muzzle and paws (between the toes) of the pet.
Step 5
If you find a tick in your dog, remove it immediately. Ask someone to hold the dog. Drop a dropper of sunflower oil onto the tick and wait for a while. Grab the bloodsucker with tweezers and slowly begin to twist around its axis. It is impossible to pull it out sharply, since the jaws will remain in the place of the bite. In this case, you need to contact a veterinary clinic.
Step 6
Burn the tick. Wash your hands thoroughly, disinfect the dog's wound with iodine, and wash your hands again.
Step 7
Observe the condition of the dog after a tick bite for three days. Signs of incipient piroplasmosis are darkening of urine, loss of appetite, the animal becomes lethargic, lies down all the time. In this case, immediately contact your veterinarian, if this is not done in time, the dog may die. If, after three days, the dog's health does not deteriorate, it will be possible to calm down - the tick that bit the dog was not contagious.
