After a day of playing in the woods or an afternoon at the park, it’s essential to inspect your dog for ticks. Ticks latch onto the skin and can be hard to remove if you’ve never dealt with them before. If you spot a tick while grooming your furry friend after an outdoor adventure, use the following guide to learn how to handle the situation.

A Dog Owner’s Guide to Handling Ticks 

What do ticks look like? 

Ticks are slightly larger than the head of a pin, so their size is significant enough to see when combing through your dog’s fur. These spider-like insects can be gray-white, brown, red-brown, or black, but their bodies become darker and larger as they take in blood.

Ticks cannot fly or jump, but they will latch on to a passing animal if they get close enough. These creatures will burrow through a dog’s fur coat and attach to their skin, where they begin taking in blood. 

Are ticks dangerous? 

Ticks can pose a threat to your dog’s health if they aren’t quickly removed. These insects may carry Lyme disease, which is a bacterial infection that causes fevers and swollen joints.

They can also cause Babesiosis, which is a rare and life-threatening, dog-specific condition that attacks the red blood cells, causing fevers, lethargy, and a swollen abdomen. If your pup has come into contact with ticks and is showing symptoms of either disease, it's critical to take them to a veterinarian.

How do you remove ticks? 

If you spot a tick on your dog, try to remove it as quickly as possible to lessen the chance of disease. Use a tick removal device and gently pull the insect away from your pet’s skin. Follow the instructions for using the removal device so that the insect’s head doesn’t remain embedded in your dog’s skin. Try not to puncture the tick’s body since this can increase the chance of disease.

How can you prevent ticks? 

If you enjoy partaking in outdoor activities with your dog, tick encounters are likely inevitable. However, you can protect pets with antitick medications, creams, sprays, and collars.

Discuss the preventative options with a vet to find one that will work best for you and your four-legged friend. Always plan for a quick grooming session after spending time outside. 

Robinwood Kennel in Highland Heights, KY, offers grooming and boarding services for dogs. They’ve been in business since 1970 and serve pet owners throughout northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, OH. This kennel maintains a safe, clean, and stimulating environment so that pets stay busy and happy while their owners are at work or on vacation. Call (859) 781-2352 for a tour, or learn about their services online.