What Are Ticks?

Ticks are common parasites, which can be most often found in woods, bog land and grassland. They are spider like with 8 legs but with a large egg like body. Ticks climb on to your pet’s body and attach themselves to their skin. The tick’s body becomes swollen and darker as they suck blood.

Removal

It is important to remove ticks sooner rather than later. They need to be removed in such a way so that blood is not expelled back into your pet and that the biting head parts are not left in your pet’s skin. To do this we advise twisting the tick off and you can get a handy device for easy tick removal. If you are unsure contact Emma, our nurse, who would be happy to remove the tick for you.

Why Are Ticks Important?

Other than nasty blood sucking creepy crawlies, ticks are also a concern as they can carry diseases which can be harmful to your pet. By feasting on your dog’s blood they can transfer diseases into your dog’s blood stream.

Lyme disease, which is a bacterial infection, is the most recognised tick borne disease in dogs in the UK. Unfortunately, widespread testing of animals in our area of Fermanagh has not taken place therefore we just don’t know how common it is here. Animals can become ill, lethargic, off food, they can have high temperatures, swollen joints, swollen lymph nodes or any vague
variation of these symptoms.

If your pet regularly walks in wood, bog or grasslands then you should be providing them with treatments to prevent tick infestations. Please contact us on (028) 66 347 613 to find out which tick product would suit you best.