How to Check For & Remove Ticks from Dogs & Cats

HOW TO• CHECK FOR AND REMOVE TICKS FROM YOUR PETS: A POCKET GUIDE Does your pet spend time outside? Then you should probably spend some time checking them for ticks. Dogs especially are susceptible to tick bites and serious tick-borne diseases. Luckily, you can use this handy pocket guide to arm yourself with the right knowledge! LET'S START WITH THE FACTS • > Ticks have 8 legs and can be: > Black > 24 - 48 hours: Time it can take for an attached tick to > Brown transmit a disease Tan > 7- 21+ days: Time it can take before signs of a tick-borne disease appear > Some species are tiny – we're talking head-of-a-pin tiny > Even a killing frost isn't always > Vaccines are NOT available for all tick-borne canine diseases enough to get rid of them If the weather turns warm > Ticks can move from animals again, they could come back to other animals – and to people, too HOW TO PERFORM A THOROUGH CHECK If possible, check your canine (and feline!) friends every time they come in from the outdoors >Between toes > Under armpits > Inside ears > Around the face and chin Start by running your fingers over your pet's entire body, including: If you feel a bump, inspect the area to see if a tick has hitched a ride there YOU FOUND A TICK - WHAT N OW? DON'T FREAK OUT! Gloves O Tweezers Antiseptic Isopropyl alcohol Instead, gather everything you'll need: JANUARY 11 Now for the most important part Next, drop the tick in a small container Finally, clean the tick-bitten area with filled with the isopropyl alcohol (and date it!) antiseptic and disinfect the tweezers While wearing gloves, use the tweezers to grab the tick as close to your pet's skin as you can get This will allow your vet to test the tick should your pooch or kitty show signs of a tick-borne disease down the line Pull outward, keeping straight and steady Make sure not to leave any part of the tick behind – that could lead to an infection KEEP AN EYE ON LOOK OUT FOR THE FOLLOWING WARNING SIGNS SYMPTOMS, AS WELL: > Arthritis or lameness lasting In the coming days, check back on several days the site of the tick bite – if it looks > Reluctance to move infected, get your pet straight to > Swollen joints the vet > Fever > Fatigue ► Swollen lymph nodes > Loss of appetite > Neurological problems > Anemia > Breathing difficulties These could be signs of a serious a tick-borne disease THANK YOU! Catching tick bites early is key to keeping your pets healthy. Perform thorough checks regularly – Fido and Whiskers will thank you! SOURCES http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/prevlon_pets.html http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips./getting ticks_off_dog.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/ http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/Ticks.cfm CARRINGTON COLLEGE ©2016 Carrington College. All rights reserved.