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Learn more about dog ticks – what can you do to control this parasite.Dog ticks are a common problem for all animals especially your dog as they are often out and about. Ticks life cycle Ticks have four stages of life: egg, larva, nymph and adult. After the egg hatches the larva feeds on any suitable host, then develops into the larger nymph which also feeds on the host and finally develops into the adult, the female will often lay eggs after feeding, some ticks can lay up to 10,000 eggs at one time. Habits of a tick Dog ticks are one of the most efficient carriers of disease, as they attach firmly when sucking blood. They feed slowly and may feed for several days if not removed.As the tick feeds on the blood it gets bigger and may look like a mole,it can get as big as a pea. Ticks can only crawl they cannot run, fly or jump, ticks will wait on the tips of grass, weeds or small shrubs when a suitable host brushes against the plant they let go and climb on to the animal or person. Prevention and Control Keep your property tidy, lawns cut short, weeds cut out, shrubs trimmed, ticks stay low to the ground so they do not usually get up in to trees, areas adjacent to your property that have ticks apply a suitable insecticide to vegetation. If you have a problem with tick infestation in the home or on the property you may need to call a professional pest control company. Treat you dog and all other animals with a tick control product regularly. Prevent Tick Bites
Use a fine point tweezers. Grasp the dog tick just behind the point of attachment and pull out slow and steady. You want to get the tick out whole, often the mouthpart breaks off and is left behind, this can lead to infection so if this happens you need to try to remove the head otherwise a trip to the vet may be required. If your dog does get a tick bit and you are concerned put the tick in a Ziploc bag with damp cotton wool or paper towel , in case you need it identified, your local health department will assist with identification. Types of Ticks In the United States there is about 200 different tick species some can transmit diseases when they bite. Two of the larger and more common ticks in USA are the Brown Dog Tick, American Dog Tick, there favourite host is the domestic dog. Rocky Mountain Wood Tick as the name suggests is common in the Rocky Mountain area. Groundhog Tick is found mainly in the New England states. A very small tick called (deer tick) is known to carry Lyme disease which can be very serious if not treated promptly. It depends on the area you live in as to the dog ticks present inquire from your vet, you need to be aware of any particular danger. For further information about ticks check out
pest products.
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