Ticks on dogs. Remedies for dog ticks

How to identify a tick

Ticks are a type of ectoparasitic mite, that is, parasites that settle in the bodies of other living creatures to feed on their blood. Typically, when these parasites jump on our dog to establish themselves as guests, they are small in size, which increases in size as they feed on our dog's blood. It is ideal to identify them when they are small , as they are much easier to eliminate with home remedies. But if we see them when they are already large, we will have to remove them ourselves using tweezers.

To know how to identify a tick in our dog, we must remember that the time of year in which they are most active is from spring to autumn . Therefore, if we are within this period of time, we should check our dog's coat daily. Ticks usually live in areas with tall grasses or bushes, so if we walk our dog through parks or forests with this type of vegetation. We must take care of the body when we get home as it is likely that they have become infected with ticks.

It is very important to remove ticks from your dog quickly because they carry diseases such as Lyme disease , a common disease in dogs that can lead to illnesses like:

• Inflamed joints
• Changes in your dog's skin
• The appearance of fever and malaise in a dog
• Muscle pain

However, if ticks are still small in size, how can we identify them? Very simply, paying attention to the main symptoms:

• The dog scratches more than usual in areas such as the neck or ears.
• Light bleeding on the skin, which may be associated with a small rash, swollen area, or redness.

Preventive actions

It is advisable to walk your dog in areas without tall grass and bushes. After a walk, you need to carefully examine the animal. Ticks can be found on skin or fur. Particular care should be taken to check the area behind the ears, eyebrows, neck, sides, paws, armpits, stomach and groin. You can comb your pet's fur with a thick comb.

If a tick is found on the skin, it must be carefully removed with tweezers using rotational movements. Under no circumstances should you try to sharply pull out a tick. The parasite must be removed carefully so that the head does not come off. Treat the bite site with iodine or alcohol.

Using folk remedies for ticks for dogs cannot guarantee 100% protection for your pet. Therefore, careful examination and observation of the animal is necessary. The owner should be alert to any changes in the behavior of his four-legged friend. For example, the dog has become restless, itches, and refuses to eat. This may indicate the presence of a tick. Early detection of a blood-sucking parasite and timely measures taken will protect your pet from contracting dangerous infections.

Say goodbye to ticks on your dog with chamomile

Chamomile is a home remedy that can help you remove ticks from your dog effectively. The smell emanating naturally repels these parasites.

Make a chamomile infusion by boiling 1 handful of dried flowers in 1 cup of water. Let it warm up, take some cotton wool or a clean cloth, infuse it into the infusion, strain it and apply it to your dog's skin with care.

You can also eliminate mites using eucalyptus tincture . Prepare it and spread it over your dog's skin with a clean cloth or bathe it directly in the solution.

In the case of chamomile, remember that by applying this product to an animal's skin, we will be utilizing all of the healing properties of chamomile and also offering an excellent anti-inflammatory and natural antiseptic, ideal for relieving sting wounds. In addition to the above, another benefit of this product is that it can also be used on puppies .

Remember, it is very important that you disinfect your home to eliminate any traces of this parasite. Additionally, any infusion will not work to remove ticks from your dog, as there are a number of plants that are toxic to dogs.

Folk remedies

If it is not possible to purchase special medications and products, you can rid your pet of these parasites using folk remedies. Of course, the effectiveness cannot be compared with chemical compounds, but there is a big advantage: they are natural and therefore will not cause any harm.

The following folk remedies can be used to fight parasites:

• Sagebrush. Used to prepare a decoction in which to bathe the dog. Dry twigs are also placed around the house to repel fleas;
• Garlic and onions can be used to process wool. This is done mainly on the withers and ridge. That is, in those places where the animal will not lick it off;
• Eucalyptus and juniper. A decoction is also prepared from them for processing wool;
• Tincture of celandine - applied to the ridge;
• Citrus peels – placed in the pet’s kennel;
• Bathing with tar soap. It is the most effective folk remedy for combating this type of parasite.

How to remove fleas from a dog at home using folk remedies:

Homemade repellent with citrus fruits

Mites don't like the taste of citrus fruits at all, so this is another ideal natural remedy for eliminating them. With their help we can prepare homemade repellents , so get yourself a sprayer. The best citrus fruit is lemon, but you can also use oranges or any other.

To make this home remedy for eliminating ticks on dogs , you need to boil half a liter of water with two sliced ​​lemons. When it reaches boiling point, leave for a minute and reduce heat to low. Let simmer for an hour. After a while, let it cool and cool, place it in a spray bottle and apply the product to the dog carefully so as not to get it in the eyes. Remember, it will also be helpful to spray rooms in your home to disinfect them from ticks. When using this natural tick remover, be careful not to inhale it, as the smell of citrus is one of the smells that most dogs hate.

How to get rid

Only a qualified veterinarian should be trusted to treat a dog for this disease caused by subcutaneous mites. It is necessary to inoculate the collected material in order to determine the nutrient medium on which colonies of parasites form within a short period of time. To identify concomitant ailments, a general blood and urine test is taken, stool is also examined and an ultrasound is performed.

To treat demodicosis, various anti-tick products for dogs are used, available in different forms.

Group of drugs I. Injections, oil liniment

• Ivomek. Injected intramuscularly into the animal's thigh. When determining the dosage, the weight of the pet is taken into account (10 kg of weight per 0.2 ml of the drug). Injections are made no more than 2 times, with a break between injections of 10-14 days. It is very important to carefully follow the dosage. The price of the product is about 20 rubles per 1 ml.
• Amitrazine. The solution is applied externally to infected areas of the animal’s skin, once a day with an interval of 3 days. It is also necessary to carefully treat the area near the affected areas. Treatment is continued until the dog’s ticks completely disappear, this is approximately 6-8 sessions. If necessary, continue processing. Price - 30-40 rubles per bottle.
• Ivermectin. A product for intramuscular injection that can destroy immature forms of parasites. Price - from 80 rubles per 10 ml.

Group of drugs II. Antiseptics, ointments, sprays

• Fukortsin. Effectively relieves the animal from several skin diseases: abrasions, fungi, pustules, cracks, superficial wounds, pyoderma, erosion. Based on this drug, there is a spray for dogs against ticks, as well as ointment and gel. The price ranges from 10 to 25 rubles.
• Salicylic acid solution. The benefits of this product are great, and it is cheap. It is used as anti-tick drops for dogs. At sufficient concentration, salicylic acid destroys microbial proteins. Reduces itching and burning, pain, improves trophism. Used as a distracting, local irritant, anti-inflammatory, keratoplasty, keratolytic, drying and antiseptic agent.
• Acaricides. They have a local effect. Among such drugs are Akarabor, Amitan. They are used in the final stage of treatment. Destroy pathogens of demodicosis, itching and scabies. They do not irritate and do not cause allergies. The price ranges from 30 to 50 rubles per 2 ml.

Apple Cider Vinegar Is Deadly to Ticks in Dogs

Apple cider vinegar is another home remedy that ticks hate. Apple cider vinegar is composed of acetic acid and is also responsible for the bitter element and becomes a mite remover .

To perform this home remedy, you only need to mix water and vinegar in equal parts, dampen the mixture with a clean cloth or cotton, and gently and very gently wet your dog's skin, avoiding the eye area.

Natural oils that are very effective in eliminating ticks from dogs

Another one of the best home remedies to eliminate ticks from your dog is to use a mixture of a number of natural oils. Of course, to avoid damaging your pet's skin, it will be important to obtain natural oils and avoid those essential oils that are loaded with chemical solutions. In that sense, if you can make them yourself, much better! However, if you have no choice but to use essential oils, we recommend diluting them in one liter of purified water, adding only two drops.

As with previous home remedies, the effectiveness of natural oils in eliminating ticks in dogs lies in the aroma they emit, which these parasites hate, and therefore make them want to run away.

Rosemary, cinnamon and almonds

Mix two tablespoons of almond butter with a teaspoon of rosemary oil and another of cinnamon in a bowl. Remember that if you use stock solutions, you must dilute the specified amount in water.

After obtaining a natural repellent to eliminate your dog's ticks, soak cotton wool or a clean cloth in it and apply the mixture to the area affected by the parasite. As with chamomile, rosemary promotes wound healing, so it will help greatly relieve the discomfort caused by the bite.

Vitamin E in capsules and almonds

If your dog has mites near his eyes or ears, then this home remedy to eliminate them is just what you need. Both almond oil and vitamin E are products that do not harm the animal's skin or cause irritation when used in natural solutions; It is very important here to discard almond essential oil.

To make this natural tick repellent, mix 20 ml of almond oil with a vitamin E capsule. Add the solution to a dropper jar, place a few drops on the affected area of ​​the ears and massage very thoroughly. It is important to avoid introducing the mixture into the animal's ear canal and attempt to apply the medication only to the outer area. To apply to eyes, dampen gauze or damp cloth with repellent.

Basil, chamomile, lemon, lavender and cedar

Since we highlighted the antiparasitic properties of lemon and chamomile in the previous sections, they could not be missed in the list of the best oils for eliminating ticks in dogs. So, take a bowl and mix a tablespoon of basil oil, another with lemon oil, another with lavender oil and another with cedar oil with chamomile infusion.

Remember that if you use essential oils, you must first dilute them in water. Once the mixture is prepared, apply the home care product by soaking gauze or a clean cloth in it and lightly massaging the affected areas of your pet's skin.

Folk remedy for ticks for dogs

Tiny ticks can not only greatly annoy people and their animals, but also carry a variety of infections. These small creatures are capable of “rewarding” us with extremely dangerous diseases, which often even lead to death. For example, piroplasmosis with encephalitis can send a patient to bed for a long time or turn him into a disabled person. Therefore, it is advisable to know how to treat a dog against ticks, what ready-made preparations or folk remedies to use for this.

Choosing a way to protect dogs from insects

Typically, dog breeders are divided into two categories - active fans of introducing new store-bought products and ardent opponents of any chemicals. All kinds of drops, sprays, collars, tablets can keep your pets safe during walks, but any medicinal substances always have, albeit small, side effects. That is why many are trying to find ways to protect their beloved dogs from ticks using affordable and safe folk remedies.

It turns out that there are many recipes that are very simple and easy to use for dog breeders who want to avoid contact with these blood-sucking creatures. You just need to understand that the protection period of natural components is much shorter than that of store-bought drops or sprays; they are enough for a maximum of one walk. In addition, do not forget to always inspect your pets for the presence of parasites when you arrive home; in this way, you will be able to promptly get rid of insects that are resistant to natural oils. If you moved to your dacha in the summer, then the number of treatments with such homemade preparations should be at least two or three per day.

Fighting ticks in dogs with folk and environmentally friendly means

To begin with, try to create an extremely unfavorable atmosphere in your area for the life of these creatures. It is necessary to mow weeds and tall meadow grasses, remove thickets of unnecessary bushes and piles of old dry leaves and branches. After this, rodents and other tick carriers will begin to flee from your territory. It is even better to create protective strips of gravel up to a meter wide and enclose the estate with fences, preventing access for stray animals.

Scientists have proven the presence of natural insecticides in many plants. It is clear that its dose is very inferior to the amount of chemicals that manufacturers of collars or drops use, but sometimes even such an insignificant amount of pyrethrin is enough to repel the parasite. For this purpose, you can plant Persian, Dalmatian and Caucasian chamomile, some types of pyrethrum (pink, meat-red, ash-leaved), lavender, pink geranium, and marigolds in your dachas.

If you decide to seriously eradicate ticks from your area, then breed insects here that are the natural enemies of these bloodsuckers. In many countries there are real breeding farms for the insect Hunterellus hookeri Howard. These riders are able to lay eggs in the body of the tick, dooming the parasites to death. The larvae quickly eat their entrails, ridding the area of ​​the dangerous creature. Inhabitants of anthills and ground beetles are also capable of significantly reducing the mite population.

Making folk remedies against ticks in dogs:

1. Now pharmacies are full of essential oils that can repel these insects. Take a few drops of lavender oil in your palms and rub your pet's coat against the grain. You can mix 10 drops of tea tree oil with 50 grams of water and treat the animal. In the case of how to protect a dog from ticks using simple folk remedies, some use pennyroyal, but it is better not to test it on

   
   pregnant bitches and small puppies.

2. Use tar soap to bathe your pet, and at the end, spray the animal with a composition obtained from a decoction of wormwood. This product does not smell very pleasant, but according to reviews it has a good effect against bloodsuckers.
3. You can fill a hand spray bottle with a pretty good complex medicine, which can serve as a good folk remedy for ticks for dogs. Mix a glass of distilled water with a third of a teaspoon of tar soap. Then add 2 drops each of tea and rose tree oil, juniper, grapefruit, myrrh and thyme. Thoroughly spray your pet with the resulting solution.

Basic care after removing ticks from dogs

If you see ticks on your dog's body, remember that you can also try to remove them yourself using special tweezers that you can get from your veterinarian. To remove ticks from a dog , it is recommended to use gloves to prevent them from sticking to your skin, as it can also bite you and cause a number of diseases such as turalemia.

When we manage to remove the tick, whether we did it with tweezers or previous home remedies, we must disinfect the area with iodine to heal any wound that this insect may have caused to the dog.

Home Remedies to Prevent Ticks in Dogs

To keep your dog protected from ticks , it is recommended to buy a good collar that is repellent for this type of parasite, as well as use an anti-parasitic dropper, which your regular veterinarian will tell you to do.

However, if you are unable to use veterinary anti-parasitic medications for any reason, here are some home remedies to avoid ticks in dogs. Of course, keep in mind that if you tend to walk your dog in areas with a lot of ticks, this may not be enough and you should move on to veterinary products.

Apple cider vinegar bath

Just as apple cider vinegar is a product that allows us to remove ticks from dogs, it also acts as a preventative and therefore prevents him from becoming infected with these parasites. To use this home remedy as a preventative, you must mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar with the shampoo you use to wash your dog. Then we continue to bathe the dog as usual, dry it and clean it.

In addition to being a powerful natural repellent and effective preventative, apple cider vinegar will help you prevent your dog from smelling bad. Also, don't worry about the intense aroma of apple cider vinegar; after bathing your dog, you will notice that there is no trace of it.

Eucalyptus leaves

Just as eucalyptus infusion is an excellent natural remedy for eliminating ticks in dogs, the leaves can also help us prevent these parasites. How? It's very simple by placing them in different places in our home, especially in the room where our furry companion relaxes and sleeps. Of course, you should make sure that your dog does not eat eucalyptus leaves, as he may not digest them properly and this will cause vomiting or diarrhea. And if your dog is one of those who can't stop himself from ingesting the plant, try placing the leaves under his bed and see if they go unnoticed by him.

Brewer's yeast

Yes, just like brewer's yeast has many good properties for humans, it is also very beneficial for dogs. One of the main components of this product is vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, a molecule that helps repel ticks and fleas due to the odor it generates in the dog's blood, which is very unpleasant for these parasites. In addition, not only can it prevent these irritating hosts, but it also helps maintain the animal's coat thanks to the high amount of biotin that provides extra shine and softness.

To use this home remedy to avoid ticks in dogs, you should simply mix a teaspoon of brewer's yeast with your regular dog food. If your furry companion is large or giant, use 3/4 tablespoon.

You can administer the indicated doses of brewer's yeast once a day, no more. If you want to change the amount, we recommend checking with your regular veterinarian first.

Flea and tick remedies for dogs