Our four-legged friends are always getting into places they don’t belong – wooded areas, puddles, the trash. No matter where they get into, our main priority is always keeping them safe.
“We have so many clients that treat their pets like kids, us included,” says Kurt Upham, President of ohDEER. “We want to keep our pets safe the way we keep our kids safe.”
This is why we created T.I.C.K9 (Take Initiative Check K9s). Just like our T.I.C.K. (Take Initiative Check Kids©) Program, we believe it’s just as important to check our K9s, cats and other animals for ticks. Your pets can’t check themselves!
Why It’s Important to Check Your Pets
Just like us, dogs can get tick-borne diseases like Lyme and Babesiosis which can cause symptoms like fever, chills, aches, pains and rashes. These symptoms can get severe if they’re not treated quickly, and sometimes require a trip to the vet.
And ticks won’t stop at your dog. Ticks can use your pet as a vehicle to get into your home and onto you and your family. They’re commonly found on bed sheets and other fabrics they can latch onto around your house. Stopping it at the source can prevent ticks from getting into your home and onto any member of your family.
If You Suspect Your Dog has a Tick
If you suspect that your dog has been around ticks, you should thoroughly check them in common spots ticks like to hide. These spots include: around the eyes, under ears, in their gums (especially dogs who like to run with their mouth open), under their collar, around their legs, around their tail, and in between their toes.
We recommend that you complete a quick tick check every time your dog goes outside. Complete a more thorough check if they’ve been near tall grass, knee-high brush or wooded areas. Even if there are no ticks, your dog will love to get a rub down.
How to Remove a Tick From Your Dog
Here are our tips for removing a tick:
- Do not apply alcohol or dish-washing liquid to kill the tick.
- Protect your bare hands with a tissue or gloves to avoid contact with the tick’s body fluids.
- Using fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick close to the skin.
- Do not twist or jerk the tick.
- Gently pull the tick straight up until all parts of it have been removed.
- After removing the tick, wash your hands with soap and water or a water-less, alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Clean the tick bite with an antiseptic such as iodine scrub, rubbing alcohol, or soap and water.
How to Prevent Ticks From Getting Onto Your Dog
You can always talk to your veterinarian about tick treatments for your pet, but if you’re looking for an all-natural solution a great start is with our all-natural tick & mosquito control program. We soak the perimeter of your yard with our all-natural solution to ensure that any ticks (or mosquitos) can’t make it to you or your pet.
Preventing ticks on your pets is crucial to their safety and comfort. T.I.C.K9 is our way of making sure pet-owners are actively taking initiative to keep ticks away from their dogs, cats and other furry friends. Next time you go for a walk, be sure to check your pet using the steps above. Call us to learn more about T.I.C.K9 and how we can work with your local vet or doggy day care.
