It’s the season for ticks! These parasites can be found in long grasses and wooded areas, especially where there is wildlife such as deer and hedgehogs about. The ticks wait for a host to brush past and then latch on to the animal (or person) for a meal. They attach themselves with their mouths and will feed on blood from their host for several days before dropping off.
This tick was removed from a dog’s ear here just this morning and it looks like it has already enjoyed a big feast on its host!
As well as being a nuisance, ticks can carry a range of serious diseases. Prevention is the best protection. If you haven’t already, please take advantage of our free nurse-led parasite clinics so that we can advise you on the best preventative treatment for your pet.
If you do spot a tick on your pet, never just pull it out! The body will come away, but it is likely the tick’s head will remain embedded in the skin which can cause nasty infection.
We recommend using a v-shaped tick hook to removes ticks: you hook the tick remover between the pet’s skin and the tick’s body and gently rotate as though you are unscrewing the tick from your pet. Ask us for a demonstration in practice – and pick up your own tick hook here when you are in!