FOUR PAWS gives tips on how to protect dogs and cats and safely remove ticks
Hamburg. Ticks are now active almost all year round, but special caution is required now in spring. Ticks can transmit pathogens to dogs or cats that cause dangerous diseases such as Lyme disease, babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis and TBE. The global animal welfare foundation FOUR PAWS gives tips on how owners can protect their pets and get them safely through the tick season.
Ticks wait for potential hosts in forests, tall grass or bushes. If a warm-blooded animal – such as a dog or cat – walks by, they drop or are brushed off and work their way through the fur to the skin. The parasites are primarily drawn to soft, well-supplied areas of the body such as the armpit and lumbar area or the ears. They also like to attach themselves directly to the face or neck area when sniffing or roaming in the grass.
“After every free run and every walk, you should check your dog thoroughly and outdoor cats should also be checked regularly for tick infestation. Ticks discovered must be removed immediately because when they suck, the parasites secrete saliva that can contain dangerous pathogens,” says Dr. Sabrina Karl, pet expert at FOUR PAWS.
Pull slowly, do not jerk!
If a tick has already attached itself, you should remove it immediately and not wait until it falls off when it is full. Using disposable gloves as a protective measure, tick tweezers and a bit of sensitivity, you can carefully pull out the tick.
“Tick tweezers are particularly recommended because they do not actively squeeze the parasites during removal. Alternatively, you can also use tick hooks, cards or snares or tweezers with a fine tip. Place the tick remover as close as possible to the animal's skin without squeezing it or the parasite. Then pull the tick out with a slow, even movement straight up. A jerky motion By the way, pulling out or turning the bloodsucker is counterproductive: the mouthparts often remain in the host animal and can become infected,” explains the FOUR PAWS expert.
Have your dog or cat become infected?
After removal, the bite site should be cleaned with a veterinarian-recommended product to prevent infection. Even after that, you have to stay vigilant. Pet expert Dr. Sabrina Karl recommends: “If the skin remains red after the bite or inflammation develops at the site, the animal must be taken to a veterinary practice. You should have it checked, especially if the affected dog or cat shows symptoms such as fever, fatigue or swollen lymph nodes. Ticks can transmit pathogens that trigger dangerous diseases such as Lyme disease, babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis and TBE, a form of meningitis.”
Be careful with the active ingredient permethrin
In order to optimally protect your pet from a tick bite, it is now worth seeking advice from a veterinary practice. “Not every tick preparation is suitable for every animal,” says Dr. Sabrina Karl.
“Spot-on” preparations recommended by veterinarians often provide protection. They are dripped onto the neck and at the base of the tail, where the animal cannot lick them off or it is difficult for them to be licked off. There are preparations that have both a repellent and a killing effect against ticks. “Caution is advised with the active ingredient permethrin: While dogs tolerate the preparation very well, it can cause serious poisoning in cats,” explains Dr. Charles.
Coconut oil or fat as an alternative
“As a popular herbal alternative to conventional spot-on products against ticks, you can also use natural coconut oil or fat. Scientifically proven, the ingredient lauric acid can have a supportive, repelling effect on ticks. However, since the protective effect only lasts for around six hours, the coconut oil or fat must be spread on the fur at regular intervals. Depending on the size of the dog and the length of the fur, you have to plan enough to distribute,” says the expert.
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