According to a nationwide representative Forsa survey on behalf of Uelzen Insurance Around every third dog owner in Germany has the impression that their dog was bitten by ticks more often in 2020 than in previous years. Nine percent of them even say that their dog was affected by tick bites much more often.
The fact is: ticks are on the rise. In Germany, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) is recording more and more risk areas in which ticks are infected with various pathogens such as TBE or Borrelia – which leads to diseases that are equally dangerous for humans and dogs.
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But dogs in particular are not safe from other pathogens: There are diseases such as babesiosis (dog malaria) or anaplasmosis (tick fever), which can lead to initially unclear symptoms in four-legged friends.
These types of ticks are particularly nasty
Three types of ticks make life difficult for dogs and owners in Germany from March until the mild winter: the common wood tick, the colored tick (also alluvial forest tick) and the brown dog tick. However, there are several things you can do to keep your dog safe from tick-borne diseases.
After every walk you should check the dog for ticks. “Preferred areas on the body are the vascular and thin-skinned areas on the head, neck, shoulders and armpits. A quick removal of the tick and the use of preparations that kill parasites reduce the risk of the disease ”, says Susanne Werner, veterinarian of the Uelzen Insurance.
Veterinarian: Never kill ticks with oil
The transmission times vary depending on the type of tick and pathogen. Borrelia are transmitted about six to 72 hours after the tick bite, the anaplasmosis pathogen within about 24 hours, that of TBE after just a few minutes and Babesia after about 48 hours. Male spotted ticks that already existed once
It is therefore more often recommended as a source of iron or sodium for barfing (raw feeding of meat, bones and vegetables).-” aria-describedby=”tt”>Blut sucked, babesiosis pathogens can transmit immediately after the puncture.
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The ticks can be grasped with special tick tongs, tweezers or a tick hook and gently pulled out of the skin. Veterinarian Werner: “However, you shouldn’t try to kill them with oil or other liquids beforehand, because especially in agony, ticks increasingly excrete saliva.”
This is how you recognize symptoms of illness
If your dog suddenly has a high fever, loss of appetite, or bloody urine, you should take him to a veterinarian as soon as possible. It could be babesiosis, which is transmitted by the spotted tick and, if left untreated, can be fatal for the animals.
According to the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, this type of tick spreads in Germany mainly in Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate, and it is also more common in the greater Munich area and around Leipzig. The colored tick has also been discovered in Berlin-Brandenburg and in some areas in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Effectively preventing tick bites: Here’s how
“To effectively prevent tick bites, simply searching the animal is not enough, because many ticks are only found days after the bite – when they are already
It is therefore more often recommended as a source of iron or sodium for barfing (raw feeding of meat, bones and vegetables).-” aria-describedby=”tt”>Blut sucked and thus got bigger ”, says Uelzen veterinarian Susanne Werner. To protect dogs from tick bites, so-called spot-on preparations, sprays or anti-parasitic collars are available from the vet.
Such preparations act like an invisible protective shield – through odors that are repellent for ticks as well as through their killing effect. The active ingredient contained in the collars is released continuously. Occasional swimming or a walk in the rain does not reduce the effect. Which means is most suitable must be decided on a case-by-case basis. If you are unsure, it is best to contact your vet.
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