Ticks in dogs

Ticks are undoubtedly feared enemies of both people and their pets. Besides the unpleasant sensation caused, ticks can also transmit diseases that can cause anemia or even paralysis. Any dog owner must know some information about risks, prevention and removal of ticks. Basic knowledge about ticks can be very helpful to keep your dog tick werewolf.
Ticks are parasitic arthropods that feed on blood of living things that are attached. Ticks are attracted to heat and movement, often attaching to mammals, including dogs. These mites prefer to hide in tall grass or wooded areas on the plants where the future awaits "host". Once you have attached to a body, ticks begin to feed for several hours or even days.
In dogs, ticks prefer to attach in areas with little hair and the ears, between fingers or in folds of the coat. Most species of ticks will pass through four life stages - egg, larva, nymph and adult. In all stages, except eggs, ticks need a "host" to feed on blood. Depending on the species, ticks can live in a few months to several years and females can deposit thousands of eggs at once.
Not all ticks transmit diseases, but the presence of this parasite must always be treated with utmost seriousness.Most of tick-borne disease will reach "home" after a few hours after attachment, so it is very important that the parasite to be removed quickly. Symptoms of most diseases transmitted by ticks include weakness, limping, swollen joints or anemia. The first signs of disease can occur after days, weeks or even months after infection.Some ticks can cause a severe reaction, which culminates with paralysis. This serious situation is rectified after the parasite is removed gradually.
If you see one of the symptoms that would indicate the presence of any disease caused by ticks on your dog, dog emergency go to the veterinarian. Among the most common diseases caused by ticks include: Babeioza, the Rocky Mountains meningitis, Ehrlichioza and anaplasmosis.

To search for ticks on dog pet animal whole body, paying attention to ears, neck and skin folds. Try to identify any unnatural lifting the skin and examine the animal with a strong light source. Depending on the species and stage of life, a tick is the size of a pencil tip or small as a grain of beans. If you live in an area bordering the forest, you should check your dog for ticks at least once a day.
To remove a tick you should wear surgical gloves. Use tweezers or a special tool to remove the tick from the skin of the animal. You have to grab the tick as close to the point where it attached. Be careful not to squeeze the tick's body. Pull slowly and firmly parasite leather (without return tweezers). The dog can choose a small wound that would be able to detach a bit of skin, but this is normal. If your dog is bleeding, press lightly on the wound.
If a part of the tick's head remains in the skin, use tweezers to remove it easily. If you fail to remove the whole head tick, do not be alarmed because many times, it will fall after a while. After taking your dog parasite in the skin, wash the area in which the tick with soap and water. Watch how the animal skin reacts to the place where the tick was attached to sense if irritation or infection. If bitten area does not heal after several days, walk the dog to a veterinarian.
Never a tick will not detach from the "host" to finish them before feeding. Do not apply on the area where the tick lit match sticks, nail polish, alcohol or other chemicals. These methods are not effective and may even hurt the animal.
Periodic monitoring of the surface skin is the best way to keep your dog tick. Also, you can trim the yard or lawn pesticide use (but be careful not to use substances that can harm animals or plants). Another method is to use products specifically designed for dogs against ticks. However, you must use these products carefully, always on the recommendation of vet and consider that most of these substances are toxic to cats against ticks.