Summer is the most important day for pet owners. It is now that ticks are especially active - parasites that can seriously harm the health of your pet.
Ticks are different
In total, there are about 160 species of these unpleasant insects in the world. And they are all divided into two types: demodectic mites (those that live and thrive under the skin) and ixodid mites (those that prefer to settle on the surface of the skin).
Both those and others not only parasitize, but are pathogens and carriers of many diseases.
How to recognize a parasite
Ticks do not jump or fly. Contrary to popular belief, they do not live in trees and do not climb bushes to watch for their prey. Ticks live in the grass. Parasites sense the carbon dioxide produced by warm-blooded animals. A tick attached to clothes or a bag can be brought into the house and the owner of the animal. And then to be surprised at the veterinarian, they say, "we don't go to the forest either."
During periods of tick activity, in June and August-September, carry out a preventive examination of the animal after each walk.
The favorite places of these parasites are behind the ears, on the paws, on the neck and in the groin. The blood-drunk tick swells up to the size of a thumbnail. You may be puzzled what kind of wart with hairs appeared in your pet? And this is a tick.
Important
Many people mistakenly look at the moisture of the nose to determine the condition of the animal. This is not an indicator. The temperature can be very high and the nose is still wet.
Important! The sooner you start treatment, the more chances that your pet will not be severely affected by the tick bite. Therefore, carefully observe the behavior of the furry friend.
Apathy, loss of appetite, drowsiness are sure signs that something is wrong with the animal. Veterinarians note that recently the effects of a tick bite have become much worse, new symptoms have been added, for example, a cough.
Diseases and treatments
It occurs when the parasite settles inside the auricles. The vital activity of the insect causes itching, so the animal begins to behave restlessly. He constantly tries to lean against something and rub his ears, shakes his head. From scratching in the ears, wounds and abrasions appear, and areas of partial baldness appear. If you do not take action, then soon pus may flow from the ears. With a severe course of the disease, it can reach deafness and brain damage.
Demodectosis - This is most common in dogs. The mite that causes this disease can also parasitize humans. Demodectic mange is accompanied by severe forms of dermatitis, which cause real suffering in the animal. Neglected cases lead to damage to internal organs and general depletion of the animal. This condition is considered a life-threatening condition.
Pyroplasmosis. It is a tick-borne infection. It is very difficult: there is a high temperature, swelling of the extremities, and sometimes a cough. The animal refuses to eat. Without specific treatment, mortality from infection reaches 98%. But with timely treatment, piroplasmosis can be cured. Unfortunately, no immunity is developed to it. Pyroplasmas remain in the blood and manifest themselves as soon as the immune system weakens. The most dangerous thing is that with this disease the liver suffers. And it is impossible to determine this by eye.
Strengthening prevention
There is a vaccine against piroplasmosis, but, unfortunately, in Russia it is rare and expensive.
In general, there are quite a few remedies that protect against tick bites. These are special shampoos, powders, collars, aerosols, drops on the withers. Most often, veterinarians recommend a combination of any two means, for example, a collar + drops.
Important! All of these products are highly toxic. Therefore, strictly follow the instructions for use.
The latest developments include medallions with pulsed ultrasound. Statistics show that they are effective. But, unfortunately, they have not been certified on the Russian market, so their use is not guaranteed to be safe.
How to remove a tick
If you find a parasite on your pet, carefully remove it. You can use tweezers. It is necessary to pull very carefully so that the head does not come off and does not remain inside, this can lead to infection. Rotate the insect counterclockwise while pulling.
A special device for removing ticks can be purchased at the store. It is small in size and allows you to gently remove the entire insect.
It is also necessary to destroy ticks according to the rules. The fact is that they do not sink in water and practically do not dry out. They cannot be simply crushed; this can spread the infection. It is best to drown the tick in vodka or burn it in a closed container.
