How To Remove Ticks From A Labrador Retriever
It is certain that you will have to know how to remove ticks from a labrador retriever if you own one. Any dog that spends much time outdoors is certain to get some in its lifetime and you cannot keep a big dog like a lab indoors all summer. You can get tick prevention products including sprays and these can help, but most dogs will still pick up the occasional tick.
Ticks are less common than fleas and less irritating for owners but they can be more dangerous. In some countries they can carry disease including Lyme's disease which can be very serious in both animals and humans. There are many species of tick and these vary in different parts of the world.
Ticks are not stupid - they spend the summer hanging out in all the places that dogs love to go! They cannot jump or fly but they will crawl up trees and bushes and drop on the dog as he investigates around the trunk. You are most likely to find them in places where there are a lot of animals, for example in areas grazed by deer, cattle or sheep, or where many other dogs are walked. They are not so likely to frequent your backyard, although it is possible.
You can check for ticks when you bring your dog home, since they will often walk around on the dog for a while before picking their target spot. They like warm areas where the skin is thinner, for example the groin and around the ears, but they may bite anywhere. They are black and very small until they bite, so it can be hard to see them on the dark coats of most labrador retrievers.
A tick will gnaw its way into the dog's skin to suck blood. Since the head is always buried in the skin, it is important to remove the tick carefully so that the head does not break off and remain there to cause a possible infection or abcess. Take tweezers and grasp it as close to the dog's skin as you can. Then gently pull upward. Do not twist the tick as that is more likely to tear its body. You can use tick dip or alcohol to disable it first if you like, but that should not be necessary.
Never try to burn the tick with a match, cigarette lighter etc. This will not help you to remove it and you may cause burns to the dog's skin.
It is normal for a thick red mark to remain on the dog's skin for several days after removal but if the area becomes infected or if your dog seems at all sick, consult your veterinarian for antibiotics or other treatment. You can also consult your veterinarian if you need more help with how to remove ticks from a labrador retriever.
Ticks are less common than fleas and less irritating for owners but they can be more dangerous. In some countries they can carry disease including Lyme's disease which can be very serious in both animals and humans. There are many species of tick and these vary in different parts of the world.
Ticks are not stupid - they spend the summer hanging out in all the places that dogs love to go! They cannot jump or fly but they will crawl up trees and bushes and drop on the dog as he investigates around the trunk. You are most likely to find them in places where there are a lot of animals, for example in areas grazed by deer, cattle or sheep, or where many other dogs are walked. They are not so likely to frequent your backyard, although it is possible.
You can check for ticks when you bring your dog home, since they will often walk around on the dog for a while before picking their target spot. They like warm areas where the skin is thinner, for example the groin and around the ears, but they may bite anywhere. They are black and very small until they bite, so it can be hard to see them on the dark coats of most labrador retrievers.
A tick will gnaw its way into the dog's skin to suck blood. Since the head is always buried in the skin, it is important to remove the tick carefully so that the head does not break off and remain there to cause a possible infection or abcess. Take tweezers and grasp it as close to the dog's skin as you can. Then gently pull upward. Do not twist the tick as that is more likely to tear its body. You can use tick dip or alcohol to disable it first if you like, but that should not be necessary.
Never try to burn the tick with a match, cigarette lighter etc. This will not help you to remove it and you may cause burns to the dog's skin.
It is normal for a thick red mark to remain on the dog's skin for several days after removal but if the area becomes infected or if your dog seems at all sick, consult your veterinarian for antibiotics or other treatment. You can also consult your veterinarian if you need more help with how to remove ticks from a labrador retriever.
Labels: Labrador retrievers
posted by Margaret at 9:55 AM
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