Controlling Ticks on your Dog

Ticks don’t just bite your dog and drink his blood.  Ticks also carry several diseases (Lyme disease, Rocky mountain spotted fever, and other tick borne diseases).  These diseases can cripple and even kill your dog.    However, there are ways to protect your dog from being bitten or get the ticks off quickly, before the dog gets sick.  Most tick borne diseases require the tick to be feeding on the dog for two to three days before they are transmitted to the dog.  It is a good idea to check your dog completely any time he has been outside to make sure he has no ticks.  If you find a tick on your dog, grasp the tick firmly between your fingers and slowly pull the tick backwards until the tick lets go and you have it in your hand.  However, here are five ways to treat your dog to keep ticks off in the first place.

Spot-on treatments. There are many products that you place in the space between the dog’s shoulders and that kill ticks.  Some of these are available only from the veterinarian while many are available at the pet store.  Make sure you read all the labels and get the size product you need for your dog.  You also need to keep children and other pets away from the treated dog for the length of time the label tells you to.

Pills that are given once a month and help control ticks are also readily available.  Most of them have to come from the veterinarian.  Some of the combination pills that kill heartworms, fleas, ticks, and other worms are fairly expensive.  Others treat only fleas and ticks and are not as expensive.  The up side is you do not have to keep children and other pets away after giving your dog this pill.

Shampoos to get rid of ticks and fleas usually kill them on contact.  The shampoo must stay on the dog for the time it says on the label before washing it off.  Most shampoos have some residual protection, but it only lasts about twelve days so you will be bathing your dog a lot if you choose to use this method of tick control.

Powders.  There are topical controls that are rubbed into the dogs fur and skin and kill the ticks on contact.  They have to be reapplied frequently to remain effective.  Also, you have to make sure you do not get the powder on the dog’s face around his nose and eyes.  The powder should be applied to the dog outside to avoid getting it all over the house.  Some powders are labeled to be put in the dog’s sleeping area to kill the ticks that might be there.

Tick Spray. This is another topical medication that kills ticks on contact and has some residual action.  It can also be used as a preventative when you know that you and your dog are going to places ticks frequent, such as wooded areas.  Be careful not to spray the chemical around the eyes or nose.  Don’t touch the dog until the spray dries to avoid getting it on you.

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