Warding Off Ticks

Ticks are small bugs that feed off of the blood of mammals. Ticks are very sneaky and will climb onto leaves and branches a few feet off the ground in order to grab onto unsuspecting mammals that may brush against the leaf or branch. Ticks will also hide in tall grass for the same reason. Once they have grabbed onto a mammal, ticks will look for a place to burrow into the mammal's skin and suck its blood.

Dogs are frequent targets because they often run into tall grass, small shrubs, or wooded areas. Because ticks are so small, it can be difficult to detect them once they have hidden themselves in a dog's fur. Here are a few methods for warding off ticks, so owners can keep their dogs tick free.

Tick Prevention

One of the best ways to ward off ticks is to prevent them from getting on the dog in the first place. Owners will need to spray their yards, sheds, and fences. They should also keep their grasses and weeds cut short and their dog clean. If at all possible, owners should keep their dogs from playing in wooded areas or from venturing off of a hiking trail. By keeping rodents off of the property, owners will prevent ticks from getting a free ride into the yard.

Tick Vigilance

No matter how hard an owner tries, it is likely that their dog will pick up a tick at some point. This is not the end of the world. Ticks do not multiply as rapidly as fleas, but they can cause serious problems if they are not dealt with rapidly. Owners should make sure to comb through the dog's fur looking for ticks frequently. This should always be done after the dog has played in a wooded area or in tall grass. After the dog's weekly bath is another great time to comb for ticks. If ticks are found quickly, they will not be able to do any damage.

Killing Ticks

Ticks can carry very dangerous diseases that can seriously affect both humans and animals. Lyme disease is one of them. When an owner finds a tick that has not burrowed into their dog's skin, they should spray their dog with a tick insecticide. Chemicals that contain permethrin are very popular and safe. Once the dog has been sprayed, owners should comb through the dog's coat to get rid of the dead ticks. Pet stores carry combs designed specifically for this purpose.

Dislodging Ticks

Because ticks are so small, owners may not catch a tick until it has burrowed into their dog's skin. If this is the case, owners will need to remove the tick from the dog. This can be tricky, because if the tick's head is left in the skin, then it is possible for the dog to get sick from the tick. Owners should use tweezers and pick the tick out of the dog's skin making sure that they have removed the tick's head.

Some people maintain the theory that sticking a lit match near the tick's rear end will cause the tick to back out of its burrow. Whether or not this is effective, it is very dangerous for dogs that are covered in fur. If the match were to catch the dog's fur on fire, the dog could become seriously injured. It is best to just pull the tick out with tweezers.

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