Ticks are a common problem that can cause Lyme disease and other diseases to spread, so it’s essential to know how to control ticks on your dog and home.
Checking your pet regularly for ticks is an effective way to prevent infection and keep your dog healthy. It’s also important to be aware of peak tick season in your area.
Reducing Tick-Friendly Habitats
Ticks can cause serious health problems for your dog. They are mainly active during spring and summer, so reducing tick-friendly habitats for your dog and your home is essential.
Use the following strategies to reduce tick-friendly habitats:
Landscape management, i.e., mulches and hardscapes (patios, paths, decks, etc.) can reduce tick habitats and increase sun exposure, reducing humidity to facilitate desiccation of ticks. Limiting dense ground cover and decreasing shrub density, particularly in frequently traveled areas of the property, may also limit tick habitats.
Avoid wooded or brushy areas with tall grass and leaf litter. These habitats can provide ideal conditions for nymphal black-legged ticks attracted to accumulating leaves and other plant debris.
If you must walk in wooded or brushy areas, wear light-colored long pants and a long-sleeve shirt to keep ticks off your skin. Likewise, if you’re walking your dog on a trail or in the woods, inspect your pet for ticks when you get home.
Bathing
Bathing is a very important part of maintaining your dog’s overall health and wellness. It’s an excellent way to keep them clean, check for unusual scratches or thorns, and remove fleas.
It’s also an opportunity to brush your dog’s teeth, which can help prevent gingivitis and other dental issues. You can find specialty dog toothbrushes and dog toothpaste at your local pet store or vet’s office.
You can also choose a special shampoo and conditioner for your dog’s needs. But remember, if you use conditioner, thoroughly rinse the soap off your dog’s fur and skin.
The most common and easiest place to bathe your dog is in a bathtub. However, if your dog is large or you have a skittish pup who’s not too comfortable with water, consider using a separate tub just for their bathing needs.
Topical Treatments
There are many different topical treatments for ticks on the market. The most effective ones kill or repel ticks that attach to your pet.
However, these products can cause side effects or adverse reactions in some pets. Be sure to check with your vet to see if they’re safe for your dog.
Alternatively, you can use a product that contains a combination of chemicals called imidacloprid and dinotefuran, which kills ticks by mimicking the effects of nicotine on insects. But read the label carefully, as these pesticides can also be toxic to bees.
Permethrin and permethrin-combination products are the most common insecticides used to treat ticks. These products are effective against most tick species and can help control infestations on your dog and in your home.
Tick Removal
Ticks can infect your dog with various diseases, including Lyme disease. It takes ticks anywhere from 3 to 48 hours before they transmit their infectious saliva, so it’s essential to remove them as soon as possible.
Removing ticks from your dog is easy, especially if you have some tweezers or dental floss around. If you don’t have these tools, try using a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol or liquid dish soap to grab the tick and get it out.
Once you’ve removed the tick, dispose of it properly. You can put it in a sealed container or save it for identification and testing.
Tick removal can be difficult, but it’s important to do it right. The wrong method can cause the tick to stay in your pet, and it’s also possible for pathogens to transfer from a dead tick. Always use gloves when removing ticks from your dog to protect your hands.
