How to protect your dog against ticks

How to protect your dog against ticks

Find out what a dog tick is, which tick repellent could be best for your dog, and how to remove a tick from a dog. We also answer some of the most common questions about ticks.

What is a tick?

Ticks are small parasites that suck blood from animals. They look a little like spiders, having eight legs and a bulbous body. They grow and become darker when they’re filled with blood.

They’re common in woods and grassy areas. They don’t fly or jump, but rather climb or drop onto your dog’s coat when brushed past. Cats can also get ticks, although it’s less common.

What does a tick look like on a dog?

A tick on a dog looks like this:

Does my pet insurance cover ticks?

Dog insurance doesn’t tend to cover preventative treatments, such as tick and flea prevention, worming and so on. It’s common for vet practices to offer routine treatments for a monthly fee.

On the other hand, if your dog falls ill after being bitten by a tick, it’s likely that your pet insurance will cover this.

How can I protect my dog from ticks?

You can protect your dog against ticks with the help of various products. Some are over-the-counter while others require a prescription from the vet. Tick prevention (tick prophylaxis) can come in the form of collars, spot-on drops or tablets. The agents are repellent or killing, or both. You should not use your dog's tick repellent on a cat - they need a specific cat product.

Spot-on tick prevention 

Spot-on is applied directly to the dog's skin on the neck and in some cases also at the root of the tail if you have a large dog. The effect lasts about 4 weeks depending on the product. There are spot-on solutions that are over-the-counter and can be bought at pet stores, others are prescribed.

Keep in mind that some spot-on preparations are only for dogs. Some are toxic for cats. Make sure that your cat does not lick the spot-on solution. It’s a good idea to isolate the cat from recently treated dogs while waiting for the application site to dry.

Tick collar

Tick collars are put around the dog's neck and give full effect after about a week. The collar must be removed when bathing in order not to harm aquatic organisms in lakes, seas and other watercourses. Keep in mind that some tick collars are only for dogs and can be toxic to cats. The collars have an effect between 5 and 8  months, depending on the variety. Tick collars for dogs are over-the-counter and can be bought at pet stores.

Tick collars are not an option to recommend if there are other animals in the household who might play with the dog and bite the collar. Likewise if there are small children who can grab the collar, put the collar in their mouth or lick it. Dogs wearing the collar should also not sleep in the same bed as their owner, especially not in the same bed as children.

Tick prevention tablets

The tablets are given directly into the dog's mouth. How long the effect lasts depends on the tablet and usually varies between 4-12 weeks. There are both over-the-counter and prescription tablets. The prescriptions are written by a veterinarian.

Tick agent for puppies

There are some preparations that are considered safe to use on puppies from a certain age (rarely before 8 weeks). For many of these products, the puppy must have reached a certain body weight. It is very important to read the package leaflet.

Different tick repellents suit different dogs 

Remember to choose your tick product according to your and your dog's circumstances. Discuss with the vet about factors such as:

●    Diseases/sensitivity
●    Side effects/environmental aspects
●    Fur
●    Children in the household
●    Other pets (cat, puppies, etc.)
●    Presence of ticks and the infectious diseases they spread in the area where the dog will be staying 

When do ticks become active?

Exactly when our animals are affected by ticks depends on the weather. Ticks become active when it is warmer than 5°C.

Where do ticks settle on dogs?

Detecting ticks can be difficult, especially if your dog has long, thick fur. It's important to regularly go through your dog's fur, especially after forest walks or if you have walked in tall grass.

Tick-borne diseases and symptoms

The majority of ticks are not carriers, but the risk of your dog becoming infected is greater the longer the tick remains. There are more dogs infected without getting symptoms than those who actually get sick. The most common tick-borne infection that causes symptoms in dogs is Anaplasmosis.

Anaplasmosis

A bacterial infection that mainly affects dogs. The symptoms are fatigue, poor appetite, soreness and fever.

Lyme disease

A bacterial disease that can infect dogs but rarely causes any symptoms. Approximately 5% of infected dogs become ill.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)

TBE is caused by a tick carrying the TBE virus. Dogs can be infected with the TBE virus but rarely show symptoms. TBE occurs in some areas and people are recommended to be vaccinated there, but there is no vaccine for animals.

Talk to your vet about appropriate tick prevention for your pet and consult them immediately should you have any concerns.

To find out more, check out our video on tick and flea prevention.

More on tick control in pets:

●    How to protect your cat from ticks
●    Tick-borne diseases in horses

To find out more, check out our video on tick and flea prevention.

More on tick control in pets:

•        How to protect your cat from ticks
•        Tick-borne diseases in horses

Keeping an eye on your dog’s behaviour is key to ensuring that your dog stays happy and healthy. From common health issues in dogs to recognising stress in dogs, to examining your dog, we have plenty of guides to help you along the way.