Help Fido Enjoy a Tick-free Summer - By: Lee Anne Emig

Pets tend to spend more of their time outdoors in the warmer summer months. In case of dogs, it is essential to be cautious about parasites, bugs and micro organisms that can harm them while they are enjoying the fresh air. Precautions are necessary to keep such dangers away. One of the major pests that can cause a lot of damage is ticks since they can carry contagious diseases. Avoiding ticks initially is more preferable than trying to treat them at a later stage.

Ticks tend to stick to warmer temperatures, CO2 and movement. Ticks do not transmit through the air; their motion is limited to crawling. They transmit themselves by climbing up taller structures or plants and drop onto any living human or animal. The danger of diseases or kinds of diseases transmitted by ticks depends upon the country and culture, therefore, the cure of after effects from ticks and ticks themselves vary from country to country. The danger of having ticks on your dog\'s body begins once the tick bites. The bite itself is painless and unfeeling but the area of the bite may become infected. Consulting a veterinarian is advisable for treatment which normally involves a course of oral antibiotics. If your dog becomes ill due to a tick bite, there is a risk of spreading the infection through your pet\'s saliva. The most popular disease transmitted by a tick bite is Lyme disease.

The best way to avoid ticks is to avoid walking your dog in the midst of vegetation during tick season. Always keep the vegetation around your home trimmed. Certain preventive medication products are also available. Talk to your veterinarian about the suitability of these alternatives for your dog in respect to age and area. Do not use tick preventative medications without a veterinarian recommendation and be sure to follow proper dosage instructions. Please remember that these medications are suited for a single class of pets only, meaning that tick prevention medication for dogs is for dogs only and should not be used on cats or any other pets.

When your dog comes back from the outdoors, make sure to check him carefully for ticks. Ticks are normally found in warm areas, under the arms, in the ears, between the toes and in the folds of the skin. If you find any, remove them safely. Do not touch the tick; use an alcohol swab, then pull it out slowly with tweezers. Make sure not to leave any parts of the tick sticking to your dog. If you are unsuccessful contact your vet for assistance.

About the Author

Lee Anne Emig is the founder of The Pet Sitting Institute. She owned a successful pet sitting business and is the author of several pet care articles. The Pet Sitting Institute offers complete systems, products and tools to help people start the pet sitting business of their dreams and succeed in the industry. Visit http://www.PetSittingInstitute.com for more information.

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