Avoiding Ticks On Dogs

Ticks are a small type of parasite that has eight legs and they are often a grey or brown colour. The ticks manage to survive by attaching themselves to the host and sucking blood from the host. The ticks have a vast number of different hosts which include deers, cattle, small rodents, birds, dogs, cats and they have even been known to survive on a human.

A large number of tick bites are harmless and cause nothing apart from slight irritation on the skin that the tick has bitten. A small number of ticks are actually carriers of diseases that are serious and these include lyme disease, and also spotted fever that is known as rocky mountain. The disease that ticks carry can be fatal in both humans and dogs if they are left untreated.

Most tick bites will be from a single tick it is however possible for a dog to get seed ticks. The female tick lays her eggs close to the ground within grasses and shrubs. When the eggs hatch the larvae from the tick are known as seed ticks and these will climb onto the surrounding grass and leaves until a suitable host comes along. The most dangerous ticks are the seed ticks and this is due to the large number of them and because they are so concentrated. On some occasions an infestation of the seed ticks can actually be devastating.

Ticks are not like fleas as they are unable to fly and jump and this means that they have to attach themselves to the host as they brush up against them. The ticks tend to hide within the grasses and shrubs awaiting a small animal passing by. If you take your dog walking in an area that has a lot of grass and shrubs it is very important to regularly check their coat for ticks.