Removing ticks from your pets

EVEN if your dog has dark coloured fur, it is still quite easy to find ticks, especially when the ticks are coming to the end of their seven day blood sucking and feeding cycle as they are fat and filled with blood

They are blue in colour. There are several types of ticks found in South Africa and all are from the arachnid family (same as a spider – eight legs).

The mouth of a tick is quite complex and is designed to prevent easy removal from the skin of the host. The most common mistake dog owners make when trying to remove a tick is that they leave part of the head of the tick behind in the skin. The head section may cause secondary infection and an abscess.

It is advisable to maintain monthly tick control to ensure your dogs are tick free throughout the year.

Babesiosis/tick fever

Babesiosis/tick fever is transmitted by the brown dog tick, but it can also be transmitted from dog to dog if an infected dog bites another (fighting, etc.). Babesiosis affects red blood cells, and as a dog’s immune system tries to eliminate the infected blood cells, anemia, pallor and general weakness may result. Babesiosis can affect people as well as pets.

Symptoms:

• Loss of appetite

• Listless and lethargic

• Pale gums (mucous membranes) and insides of the eyelids (conjunctiva) – almost white

• Heartbeat is rapid

Advanced Symptoms:

• Dark or red urine

• Nervous

• Severe lethargy

• Deep laboured breathing or panting

• Rapid and weak pulse

Tick control

Some products will effectively control ticks and fleas (e.g. Frontline, Advantix, Certifect, Promeris Duo, Prac-tic and Ultrum Ultimate.) A new tablet (for dogs only), launched in 2014, now kills ticks (and fleas) for three months, and there is a collar (dogs and cats) which lasts for eight months, killing both ticks and fleas for a prolonged period

JSPCA dip-bath: Open for the public to use for their dogs.

The JSPCA has a dip-bath on their premises which members of the public are welcome to use.

Note: This dip is only suitable for dogs or puppies that are older than six months old.

How to dip a dog:

• Make sure the dip you use is for the correct species of pet. Don’t use a dog dip or shampoo on a cat.

• Do not get the dip into your pets eyes or in the ears, and do not let your pet drink the dip water.

• Do not let your dog ‘soak’ to long in the dip. It should be a five minute process.

• Put the dog into the bath, and wet the fur. Remember to rub the dip into the coat, allowing the dip to get to the skin of the pet. The dip will be ineffective if it doesn’t penetrate the bottom layers of hair.

• Wet your hand with the dip and rub your hand over the dogs face and ears. Remember not to get water into the ears or eyes.

For more information contact JSPCA on 011 681 3600, email: jhbspca@jhbspca.co.za or visit them on www.jhbspca.co.za

A message from JSPCA veterinarian Dr Asheena Surajpal.

Also Read:

Tick bite fever: What you need to know