It’s that time of year where our focus is directed at parasite prevention for our pets. It can be difficult to know whether to opt for chemical treatments or a more natural alternative, which when used correctly, can be extremely effective and not carry any side effects or toxic load which chemical treatments do. This blog will give information about ticks, what to look out for and how to prevent them naturally with Proflax Keep off Me! powder and tincture.
Let’s talk ticks!
You can recognise a tick by its shiny oval shaped body and short spider-like legs. Generally they are reddish-brown or bluish-grey and quite small - the size of a poppy seed. They bury their mouthparts deep into the skin of both humans and animals to feed and once full, can detach and drop off. After feeding they become larger, being engorged with blood from their host.
Ticks primarily feed on deer and sheep in grassy or wooded areas, and mainly from March through to October. However, with much milder UK weather, ticks can be problematic all year round in some areas. They may also carry bacteria which can be transmitted to your pets, with cases of babesiosis and encephalitis being reported in the UK in 2020.
More commonly, ticks can carry Lyme disease, which is dangerous to both humans and pets. This nasty disease can lead to lameness, swollen lymph nodes, joint swelling, fatigue, loss of appetite and in more severe cases, kidney complications. Symptoms can present themselves weeks or months after being bitten by an infected tick and whilst these types of cases are very rare, it’s important to be vigilant with any changes in your dog after being bitten by a tick.
What to do if your dog gets ticks
It is vital to remove ticks as quickly as possible to prevent infection. The best way to do so is with a tick-removal tool, which are inexpensive and effective little tools. Ticks are difficult to remove without this device, as pulling or squeezing them can leave their mouthparts still attached to your dogs skin and as such, more difficult to remove.
Tips to prevent tick bites on dogs - naturally!
- Check your dog for ticks after walks, especially after being in long grass or wooded areas. Run your hands over their body, focusing on the head/ears and underside including armpits. Feel for small bumps on their skin. Be extra thorough with long-coated breeds.
- Use a chemical-free repellent to deters tick from latching onto your dogs skin. Proflax Keep off Me! Is available as a herbal powder or 100% tincture which can be added to your dogs food, once daily, throughout tick season. The herbal ingredients are absorbed into your dogs system and their aroma is emitted through your dogs skin, repelling ticks - and fleas!
- Feed a fresh, natural diet to keep your dogs gut health in tip-top condition as a healthy digestive and immune system helps to keep parasites at bay.
For more information about Proflax Keep off Me! Tick & flea repellent please visit https://proflax.co.uk/collections/fleas-and-ticks