Client Education

A Dog Owner's Guide to Ticks

Pet owners in Lloydminster have one more thing to worry about this year - ticks. Up until now, ticks were rarely seen, unless the dog had travelled out of province. Things have certainly changed, as our clinic has seen four cases of tick-infested dogs this spring, and two of these pooches had not left the city.

What are ticks?

Ticks are potentially dangerous parasites found throughout the world. Contrary to popular belief, ticks do not drop onto you dog or drop out of trees. Instead, they climb onto grass, bushes, and other low-lying vegetation and wait for an animal or person to brush against them.

Ticks obtain all their norishment from the blood of their host, which commonly include dogs. They suck blood through mouth parts that they "cement" into their host's skin when they bite. Since ticks act as vectors of disease, an infection can be passed via saliva to its host. Ticks can carry and spread the organisms that can cause Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain spotted Fever, and other potentially deadly diseases.

Is your dog at risk?

The risk of being bitten by ticks is increased if:

You and your pet spend time camping, hiking, or hunting in wooded or undeveloped areas.
Your dog is exposed to wildlife that are frequent tick hosts (deer, rodents, rabbits, racoons, etc.)
Your yard has dense shrubs, tall grass, or leaf litter which serve as common tick habitats
You take your dog to wooded areas or grassy meadows for walsk
Your pet is not on a tick control product.

What should you do if your dog has a tick?

If you notice a tick on your dog, please call your veterinary clinic as soon as possible. Do not try to remove the tick yourself. There is a proper way to remove a tick that will prevent the spread of further infectious organisms.

Folklore remedies such as petroleum jelly or hot matches do little to encourage a tick to detach from skin. In fact, they may make matters worse by irritating the tick and stimulating it to release additional saliva, increasing the chances of transmitting the pathogen. These methods of tick removal should be avoided.

Tick Prevention
Preventing ticks by repelling them is the best way to ensure your pet is not infested. This will also minimize the transmission of disease-causing organisms from the tick to your dog. Our clinic carries an easy-to-apply topical solution which repells and kills ticks. Your dog does not even need to come into the clinic! As long as you know how much your dog weighs, you can apply the product at home.