Dog infested with ticks: how to treat it? - briefly
Extract all ticks with fine‑pointed tweezers, grasping near the skin and pulling upward steadily, then disinfect the sites and administer a veterinarian‑approved topical or oral acaricide to prevent reinfestation. Monitor the dog for redness, fever, or lethargy and consult a veterinarian if any symptoms appear.
Dog infested with ticks: how to treat it? - in detail
A canine with a heavy tick load requires immediate removal, cleaning, and preventive measures to avoid disease transmission and re‑infestation.
First, isolate the animal to prevent ticks from spreading to other pets or humans. Examine the entire coat, paying special attention to areas where ticks commonly attach: ears, neck, armpits, groin, and tail base. Use fine‑point tweezers or a dedicated tick removal tool. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, pull upward with steady pressure, and avoid squeezing the body. Discard the parasite in a sealed container; do not crush it.
After extraction, cleanse each bite site with a mild antiseptic solution (e.g., chlorhexidine or povidone‑iodine). Allow the skin to air‑dry, then apply a topical antimicrobial ointment if irritation is evident.
Systemic treatment options include:
- Oral acaricides (e.g., afoxolaner, fluralaner, sarolaner) administered according to the product label; these provide rapid kill of existing ticks and protect for weeks to months.
- Injectable formulations (e.g., ivermectin‑based products) for dogs with contraindications to oral medication; follow veterinary dosage guidelines.
- Spot‑on treatments (e.g., selamectin, imidacloprid + pyriproxyfen) applied along the dorsal midline; repeat at recommended intervals.
Concurrent preventive strategies:
- Maintain a regular grooming schedule; inspect the coat after walks in wooded or grassy areas.
- Use a monthly flea‑and‑tick collar containing permethrin or flumethrin for added protection.
- Keep the yard trimmed, remove leaf litter, and treat landscaping with an EPA‑approved acaricide if tick pressure is high.
- Vaccinate against tick‑borne diseases where available (e.g., Lyme disease vaccine for dogs in endemic regions).
Monitor the dog for signs of tick‑borne illness: fever, lethargy, joint swelling, loss of appetite, or neurological symptoms. If any of these appear, collect a blood sample for laboratory testing and begin appropriate antimicrobial therapy as directed by a veterinarian.
Finally, schedule a follow‑up examination within 7–10 days to confirm complete removal of ticks and assess the effectiveness of the chosen preventive regimen. Regular veterinary check‑ups, combined with diligent environmental control, minimize future infestations and protect the animal’s health.