Ticks - Why prevention is important for dogs and humans

The best prevention for dogs is effective tick protection. Bonn. Ticks are now part of everyday life almost all year round. Mild winters and longer periods of activity significantly increase the risk of tick bites for dogs and cats. Ticks can become active at around +7°C. The meadow tick (formerly also known as riparian forest tick) is particularly cold tolerant and can be active even at temperatures around +4 °C or at night when the ground is frosty.

Why tick protection is so important
Ticks transmit various pathogens such as Borrelia, Anaplasma and – particularly relevant for dogs – Babesia. These are single-celled blood parasites. Babesiosis caused by Babesia, previously known primarily as a travel illness, has now become common in many regions of Germany. The meadow tick, which serves as a vector, is mainly responsible and has spread significantly in recent years and can be found throughout Germany, including in the north. Babesiosis has only been observed sporadically in cats in Germany. Symptoms and treatment are very similar to babesiosis in dogs.

One Health: Health for people and animals
Ticks and the pathogens they transmit are not just a risk for the animal. They can also carry pathogens relevant to humans, especially the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBE) and the pathogens that cause Lyme disease, so-called Borrelia. Since ticks can move between wild animals, pets and people, the risk of infections increases significantly – consistent tick protection is therefore more important than ever.

Effective tick protection:
What options are there?
Continuous tick protection is particularly useful for dogs and free-roaming cats. There are basically two protection principles available: Preparations that repel ticks (repel) and thus prevent the bite, as well as systemically effective acaricides that kill ticks quickly and safely after they have attached.

Ticks lurk in forests, tall grass or bushes for potential hosts There are different dosage forms such as spot-on, collars or tablets (for dogs) Injections. The duration of action ranges from a few weeks to a year, depending on the active ingredient. It is crucial to use the products regularly and at the recommended intervals so that protection is maintained without gaps. Most preparations also offer action against other ectoparasites (e.g. fleas and mites) and sometimes also endoparasites, depending on the animal's lifestyle (e.g. planned trips abroad, living in close quarters with small children or people with weakened immune systems, letting cats go outdoors) can be advantageous. An individually suitable tick protection is ideally selected in the veterinary practice.

Daily scanning: important and simple
Even with good prophylaxis, daily screening remains important. Ticks are particularly common:

on the head, ears and lips,
on the neck, chest and armpits,
on the stomach, groin and inner thighs,
between the toes,
in cats often also on the neck and stomach.

The earlier a tick is discovered, the lower the risk of infection.

Tick bite – what to do?
If a tick is found, it should be removed quickly:

Insert tick tweezers close up,
do not twist, do not squeeze,
Disinfect the injection site afterwards.

If a small residue remains stuck, it is usually not a problem. A visit to the vet makes sense if the area is severely irritated, inflamed, or if the animal shows abnormalities such as fever, fatigue or lameness.

Risks of infection after the tick bite –
How quickly does it become dangerous?
A tick bite generally represents a relevant risk of infection, as various pathogens can be transmitted during the act of sucking. Factors such as tick type, developmental stage, environmental influences and the duration of the blood meal have a significant influence on the risk. If the tick is disturbed while sucking blood, this can even accelerate the release of pathogens. Therefore, every tick bite should be assessed as potentially infectious.

Ticks are now a year-round challenge. Consistent tick protection individually tailored by the veterinarian, daily checking and quick, correct removal significantly reduce the risk of infection – especially in regions where babesiosis is now considered to be established. If an animal shows abnormalities after a tick bite, you should not wait: early veterinary evaluation is crucial in order to avoid serious illness.

Early diagnosis counts

Early diagnosis counts: This is how infections are clarified

Because ticks can be active all year round, targeted diagnostics play a central role in the event of a potential infection – especially when an animal shows symptoms or has been in a known risk area. Typical signs of a possible tick-borne disease include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, movement disorders or pale mucous membranes. Early diagnosis is particularly crucial for babesiosis, as rapid treatment significantly improves the chances of a complete recovery.

Blood tests (e.g. antibody tests) can indicate contact with pathogens. These tests detect most tick-borne pathogens (e.g. Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Borrelia) Antibodies after. However, antibodies often only mean contact with the pathogen in the past and not necessarily an illness that currently requires treatment. A positive test result in a clinically normal animal is therefore often not a reason for immediate therapy, but rather an indication that further findings should be taken into account (e.g. clinical symptoms, course or a confirmatory test). Additional blood tests (so-called blood count, blood chemistry) provide certain indications and information about changes in the body (anemia, inflammatory pattern, increased liver or kidney values), which may be associated with some diseases.

Conversely, an antibody test can be negative at the beginning of an infection because of the formation of antibodies (seroconversion) can take up to about three weeks. If clinical evidence and findings support the suspicion of an early tick-borne disease, a PCR test is often also carried out in the laboratory, which directly detects pathogen DNA. The direct detection of certain pathogens also includes a microscopic examination of blood smears. Depending on the clinical situation, targeted therapy can be initiated before all the results are available, which increases the chances of success. What is always crucial is the joint assessment of test results, clinical picture and history.

Editor's tip: Ticks on dogs? A theme all year round

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