Sprays and dips are still among the safest ways to remove troublesome ticks

This valley is a delightful place to live for anyone who enjoys the outdoors.  Since we are immediately surrounded by wooded mountains, we are never far from brush and undercover.  

This type of environment is the natural habitat of ticks.  Many people look forward to a walk with their favorite dog, but find that by the following day, the dog has a number of uninvited “guests” burrowing into his skin.  

At the very least, a tick bite on a dog causes a raised, oozing bump that forms a scab and loses its hair coat. Ticks may also carry diseases that can be difficult to diagnose and treat.  

At least once or twice yearly, someone’s dog will become paralyzed from the effect of multiple tick bites over the body. This tick paralysis is only one of the disease conditions that these tiny parasites may cause.

 If we try to remove a tick by pulling it out, the tick’s mouthparts are often left in the dog’s skin. This causes a heightened reaction and sometimes a local infection. Old tricks such as applying a hot needle to the back end of the tick often serve only to make removal more difficult.

 One of the safest means of removing ticks from a dog is by the use of quality sprays or dips. Sprays may be applied directly from the container or may be dabbed on with a cotton swab near sensitive areas.

 Good tick sprays and dips not only kill ticks on the dog, but will usually keep ticks from going near the dog for a number of days.  

Any product used for this purpose must be used with caution. Sometimes, a product will be associated with more unwanted side effects than usual. It is always good to get professional advice on a preventative program.

(Dr. Fred Conkel is the veterinarian at Westgate Clinic.)