You stroke your fluffy darling and suddenly feel this bump: a tick has bitten itself. This is how you get rid of the pest.
When dogs or cats are out and about, they sometimes bring unwanted guests into the house. Ideally, they are clearly visible, such as branches or dead mice. But every now and then you don't notice the souvenirs until you pet your pet: ticks. You should remove these parasites quickly. We have summarized how to remove ticks from your darling step by step and what you need for this.
A tick should be removed as soon as possible. (Symbolic image) © agefotostock/Imago
In which places do ticks lurk?
Ticks can be found in Germany wherever it is green: in parks, gardens, forests and also in tall grass. So your dog or cat doesn't have to travel a long distance to pick up a tick.
What do ticks look like? How to recognize ticks on your pet
Ticks are very small. As it evolves from larva to so-called adult, the hosts also grow larger. Cats and dogs are usually part of the mite's diet from the nymph stage.
Of course, there are differences between tick species, but the sizes are approximately comparable. In length, ticks reach a size of about one to 14 millimeters. Fully soaked females can swell to twice their length.
The colour spectrum ranges from black to grey to brown – depending on the type and gender. Usually you recognize the tick when stroking your pet. A little bump that wasn't there before? You'd better investigate this more closely.
What are the dangers of ticks for dogs and cats?
Ticks transmit diseases – regardless of whether they bite humans, dogs or cats. Yes, you read that right: according to the RKI, the "tick bite" is more of a bite. Most often, ticks transmit so-called TBE viruses and Borrelia.
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The latter are bacteria and cause Lyme disease. The bacterial disease is recognizable by the so-called migratory redness, which is difficult to see in pets such as dogs and cats because the fur is simply in the way. After infection, the animal is knocked off, feverish and does not eat. Later, inflammation and worse health consequences can be added. If you want to protect your four-legged friend, have him vaccinated! You do not have this option with TBE. The viral disease is characterized by flu-like symptoms.
Therefore, regularly check your pets for ticks to prevent transmission of diseases!
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Step-by-step: How to remove ticks
If you have found one or even more bloodsuckers, you should of course also remove them. Below you will find a detailed instruction, according to which you can get rid of the annoying ticks:
Fix tick tweezers/tick sling as close to the skin as possible.
Pull slowly – do not turn so as not to tear off the head.
Do not pull jerkily: Wait a few seconds before increasing the pull – the tick will eventually detach.
Tick does not come off: now you can turn slightly.
Head torn off: Remove the bitten tick with tweezers.
If you can't remove the torn-off head from your pet, watch the spot. If there are signs of inflammation, be sure to go to the vet!