Spring finally brings us back sunshine and warmth, which makes our pets just as happy as us humans. But unfortunately, ticks also take a liking to the warm weather. But you can take some precautions to protect your dog and cat from the nasty parasites and the diseases they can transmit.

What are Ticks?

They are among the most unpleasant insects our pets and we can deal with. There are over 800 species worldwide, 20 of which can be found in Germany. They like moderate temperatures from 8 degrees and are therefore particularly active in spring and autumn. The most common species in Germany is called wood tick. In addition, one also frequently encounters the alluvial tick and the variegated tick. Ticks sit on grass or grain stalks and wait until they feel the warmth of mammals. They then attach themselves to fur or clothing as their prey animal passes by. First, they then crawl around on their host for a while until they find a suitable spot to bite down and suck blood. Meanwhile, unfortunately, they can transmit some serious diseases, for example, Lyme disease, TBE or babesiosis (canine malaria). The risk of disease is mainly for humans and dogs. Cats do not seem to be so susceptible to it. Vaccination can help against some of these diseases so that infection can be avoided or, if necessary, symptoms can be alleviated. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you on this.

What Helps Against Ticks In Pets?

But there is also the possibility to prevent tick infestation. Here we present the most popular means:

Spot On Preparations

Very widespread and usually also good in effectiveness are spot-on preparations. The agent is dripped by tweezers drop by drop into the neck and if necessary on the tip of the tail, from where it passes into the blood. For ticks, it then smells unpleasant, so that only a few pass over to the dog or cat.

Sprays And Lotions

In pet stores there are many different sprays and lotions that promise a deterrent effect against ticks. However, since the effect here is usually relatively small, we can not generally recommend these.

Anti-Tick Collar

If you are taking your pet on vacation to the south or to Eastern Europe, you should ask your vet about the Scalibor collar, because it also helps against sandflies, which can transmit the disease leishmaniasis.

Chewable Tablets

The newest product on the market are tablets that are ingested by the animal. They do not prevent the tick from biting, but kill the parasite in a short time. Thus, one can remove the dead tick quite quickly. However, these products (Bravector and Simparica) have recently come under criticism, as some animal owners claim to have observed severe side effects in their animals. There has also been talk of deaths, but to our knowledge these have not been officially confirmed. However, there are of course also many voices that have not had any negative experiences with the means.

Amber Collar

An alternative method of tick repellent is the amber collar. As with many homeopathic remedies, no effectiveness is documented here, yet there are many dog owners who swear by it.

Garlic

Garlic is also said to have a deterrent effect on ticks. Simply sprinkling some fresh garlic or dried garlic powder over the pet’s food is said to change the pet’s own odor so that ticks no longer go to the pet. It should be noted here that garlic is not completely clear whether it is toxic to dogs or not. So if you want to try the garlic method, please in very small doses. The veterinarian can advise on this.

Coconut Oil And Black Cumin Oil

These two oils are also said to be effective against ticks. These can also be given through food. Here, too, the effect is controversial. However, no undesirable side effects are known.

Prevention

The safest way of prevention, however, is still to scan the animal for ticks. Ideally, you catch them before they bite and can remove them. Basically, the longer the tick has been attached to the pet, the greater the risk of disease transmission.

Remove Ticks Properly

If you find a firmly bitten tick on your pet, the best way to remove it is by using tick forceps, tweezers or a tick card. Under no circumstances should home remedies such as oil, glue or flour be used. In the worst case, the tick will be stressed and will release even more pathogens. If the tick is in a very sensitive place, such as close to the eye or lip, you can also go to the vet if you do not dare to do it yourself. The same applies if part of the tick gets stuck and the area becomes infected.