How to Keep your Dog Tick-Free

Dog ticks are very common in dogs that are always in the woods or are always out on a hike. Ticks can affect other household pets so try to keep them apart whenever one of them is suffering from this condition.nnWhile there are dog tick creams and lotions that do work in killing ticks, they rarely can physically eliminate them. Dead ticks end up still attached to your dog’s hair, making them feel itchy and uncomfortable. nnRemoving dog ticks with tweezers is bad practice. There are different types of ticks and there are some species that can attach themselves to humans. Using tweezers alone don’t really protect you from these parasites. Also, tweezers may burst the tick’s body, thereby poisoning your pet even more. Certain dog ticks can cause blood poisoning and you definitely wouldn’t want this to happen to your pet. nnThe best way to remove ticks from your dog is to use your hands. Of course, you have to be equipped with the right protection like surgical gloves and a long sleeved shirt. Put several sheets of newspaper on the floor and let your dog sit on it. Look for the ticks that have possibly found their way in your dog’s body. If you do find one, slowly remove it with your hand. Pinch and then twist it in a counter clockwise direction while pulling outwards.nnDon’t apply too much pressure on the tick as its body could burst open. However, if you’re having a hard time taking them out, add a little more pressure up until you can fully eliminate them from your dog’s body. Once the tick is out, you have to dispose of it by crushing it within the pages of the newspaper. You can also put it on a bowl filled with bleach and then flush all of them in the toilet afterwards. nnTicks cause small wounds in dogs. Imagine them as blood-sucking parasites that permanently stick their mouth into your dog’s skin. They take as much blood from your pet as they want. This is the reason why they are very hard to remove at times. And once you had taken them out, there will be small wounds to take care of. Clean and disinfect such wounds by applying antiseptic creams topically. Dettol and Germolene are good brands. nnTicks are in their prime during April to October. As such, you should minimize taking your dog out in the woods or open fields at this time of the year. Ticks love the warmer weather. The only time they can’t thrive is during the winter days. If in case you really have to take your faithful dog for a hike during the summer, at least give it some protection from these parasites.nnNatural tick repellants such as garlic and vinegar can help. Just a few drops added to your pet’s drinking water would do the trick. Also, the commercially available anti-tick powders, creams, and oil, also work. Tick-repelling collars are widely available these days too. Be sure to attach it to your pet whenever you two would like to have fun under the sun. n