Ticks on Dogs in Plymouth Meeting, PA: What They Are and How to Prevent Them

If you’re a dog owner in Plymouth Meeting, you’re probably already aware of ticks on dogs. However, if you’ve never had a dog before and you’re preparing for your first one, you might have never encountered a tick before, and you may be a little confused about what they are.

What are Ticks?

Ticks are a small bug that is in the same family as spiders, but are also slightly different. They are parasitic creatures, which means they drink blood from a host body. When they bury up under a host’s skin, they can stay there for many days or even a few weeks before they fall off naturally, which unfortunately means they can spread disease easily.

How to Help Prevent Ticks on Dogs in Plymouth Meeting, PA?

Below, you’ll find out some basic information about how to prevent ticks on your dog. Use this information to protect your dog and keep her safe from the tickborne illnesses she may be susceptible to. If you think your dog may have ticks, it’s important to contact a veterinarian in Plymouth Meeting, PA as soon as possible so your pet can receive proper treatment right away.

6 ways you can help prevent ticks on dogs include:

Check Your Dog Daily

Check your dog every day for signs of ticks. The sooner you remove a tick from your dog, the less likely it will be for the tick to do any damage or spread any disease. If the tick hasn’t begun to bury up under the skin yet, you can remove it with no cause for concern. If it has, be sure to wash the bite carefully with soapy water after removal.

Be cautious when removing ticks. If the mouthparts are left behind in the skin, they can still spread disease.

Clean Your Yard

Ticks are more likely to be present in overgrown lawns or yards with a lot of unkempt brush, leaves, or sticks. By keeping your yard clean, you can create an environment that isn’t very hospitable for ticks and will, therefore, be less likely to house them. This is a win-win, since it also keeps you and your family from potentially picking them up.

You may choose to treat your yard with chemicals, but if so, use caution. Many tick treatment chemicals for the lawn are very harmful to the environment and are dangerous for dogs and cats to be around. If you do this, make sure no pets will have access to the yard for several days.

Use Preventative Medication

Many dogs in Plymouth Meeting respond well to preventative medication for ticks on dogs, although it may not be right choice for every pet. Dogs with underlying health conditions, certain breed genetics, or sensitivities to medication may not need to be put on a preventative for ticks, but all others should be if possible.

Work with your dog’s regular veterinarian to figure out whether or not a tick preventative is right for your pet. Your vet will know your dog’s medical history and will be aware of any concerns that might contribute to this decision one way or the other.

Get Your Dog Vaccinated

There is no vaccination that can prevent ticks from burrowing on your dog, and there are no vaccinations for many tickborne illnesses. There is, however, a vaccination for Lyme disease, which is one of the most serious tickborne illnesses that commonly affects dogs.

Most dogs are good candidates for this vaccination, although some might not be. Speak to your veterinarian in Plymouth Meeting for more information or to ask about whether or not the Lyme disease vaccination may be right for your dog. Your vet will be able to tell you for sure based on your dog’s individual health history.

Wash Bedding and Vacuum Floors

If your dog has been outside a lot or if you’ve just come back home from a hike or some time spent in the outdoors, another way to help prevent ticks on dogs is to wash your pet’s bedding and vacuum the floors. This way, any ticks that might have hitchhiked into the house on clothing or shoes can be taken care of before they find a host.

This is also a good practice to get into when you’re trying to prevent or treat flea infestations. Cleaning the areas where your dog spends most of her time can make a world of difference.

Avoid Hiking in High Tick Population Areas

Even if you love hiking with your dog, it’s best to avoid areas that are known for having a high population of ticks. You can often check ahead of time for information put out by the National Parks Service and other organizations that may alert you to high tick populations on specific trails.

Of course, you may not always be aware of this information, but try to get into the habit of checking for it before you take any hikes with your dog in Plymouth Meeting.

Contact Us About Your Dog’s Ticks in Plymouth Meeting, PA

If you have any further questions or concerns about tick prevention, or if you think your dog has a tickborne disease, speak to your vet. Your veterinarian will be able to check your dog carefully and give you specific information about your individual pet’s needs as well.

For our team at The Village Vets in Plymouth Meeting, nothing is more important to us than your pet’s health and wellbeing. If you want to find out more information about ticks on dogs, or if your dog has ticks and you need help with figuring out how to remove it, call us at (484) 820-1700.