With the arrival of warm weather in Ukraine, the danger of ticks for pets is growing. Eduard Kotlyarov, a veterinarian, told UNN how to protect animals and what to do in case of a tick bite.
Details
The first thing to consider is that ticks are actually a threat to animals not only in the warm season, as everyone thinks in spring, summer and fall, but it is actually a problem all year round. In cities, the temperature is higher than in forests and villages, and there are places where they warm up and they can wake up in winter. They do not live by the calendar, but by the ambient temperature. Therefore, if they are warm somewhere, plus we often have quite high temperatures in winter, they can attack animals in winter as well as in spring. Yes, spring is a more active period of threat to animals
He noted that in order to protect animals from tick bites, it is necessary to carry out regular treatments.
These should be year-round treatments. If we are talking about dogs, then during the period of tick activity, combined treatments will be the best. These can be tablets, drops on the withers, sprays, collars. The best way during the period of tick activity, i.e. in the spring, is to combine: drops and pills, or pills and collars, or sprays and drops. That is, in different combinations. This will be the best. It is very important to take the medication at least as often as indicated in the instructions
According to him, if there is a high risk of infection, for example, constant hiking in the woods, outdoors, then pets can be treated more often, but how often is up to the veterinarian's recommendation.
Usually, the drops are applied at least once every four weeks. Collars should always touch the animal's neck, that is, the skin. They can't just rest on top of the fur. Then they have no effect. Sprays can be washed off, or they are often not applied enough. Therefore, using sprays is not always the best option. This is more of an additional option. Pills are quite effective and the fact that they somehow have a bad effect on the liver is a myth. Therefore, you should not pay attention to this and can safely use them if your veterinarian allows it
The veterinarian also explained what to do in case of a dog or cat bite.
First, you need to understand whether the animal was treated beforehand or not. If the animal has been treated with a tablet, it is normal for ticks to be sucked in, die, dry up and fall off. This is the normal mechanism of the tablet. In any case, the best thing to do is to see a veterinarian who will diagnose the problem if necessary. If you can't go to the vet, you can try to do it yourself. For this purpose, there are special tools that help to pry the tick out. You can also do it with your hands. By gradually rotating it and pulling it up
Also, do not smear the tick with oil, as some people do, because it will not help.
"They actually feed on blood. Their head is completely in the skin, so oil won't save them," the doctor says.
Kotlyarov also explained the danger of tick bites for pets.
Ticks carry a lot of different infections. Most often, it is babesiosis - the most common disease that often leads to almost fatal consequences without treatment. And even sometimes with treatment, it is not always possible to cure the animal. But it depends on the characteristics of the immune system and the specific type of tick. Also, in our latitudes and where it has been warmer lately, borreliosis has begun to occur, which can also be a very dangerous infection that affects many organs and systems and can also be a threat to the life of the animal
He also said that cats can also be victims of tick attacks.
"That's why cats, especially those that go outdoors, should be treated in the same way as dogs. Those that do not go outdoors still have a risk of bringing ticks home on their clothes or shoes, so they need to be treated periodically, but the specific schemes should be advised by a veterinarian," the veterinarian summarized.
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