If you find a tick on your pet, don’t panic! Ticks are very common especially during the warmer seasons here in the Hudson Valley- and if your dog spends a lot of time outside, you should regularly check your pet even if you’re using a preventative.
To check for ticks, start by slowly running your fingers over your dog’s entire body. Don’t limit your search to your dog’s torso. Make sure to check between their toes, their legs, on the insides of their ears and all around their face, chin and neck. If you feel a bump or swollen area, check to see if a tick has burrowed there. Ticks can be black, brown or tan and they have eight legs. They can also be tiny; some species are only as large as the head of a pin.
Ticks can be gently removed at home, or you can bring your pet into our office and we can safely remove it. If removing a tick at home, always wear gloves and avoid contact with your skin. Use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to your dog’s skin as possible (without pinching your pet) and pull it out slowly in a straight, steady motion. Don’t jerk; anything left behind could lead to an infection. Once removed, you can preserve the tick in some isopropyl alcohol and note the date you found it. That way if your pet begins displaying symptoms of a tick-borne illness, your veterinarian can identify or test it. Some symptoms include arthritis or lameness that lasts for three to four days, reluctance to move, swollen joints, fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, loss of appetite and neurological problems. Keep an eye on the area where the tick was to see if an infection surfaces. If the skin remains irritated or infected, make an appointment with your veterinarian.
For a fee, Tickreport will identify and test ticks for diseases. We can then treat your pet for these diseases if indicated.
