PetWise Market Blog

It’s definitely tick season. In early spring, we spotted an engorged tick in our home, fidgeting around on the carpet. We can only assume it came from our dog Zoie, after it fed on her… If you haven’t done so already, now is the perfect time to protect you and your pets from ticks and the many diseases they can carry. Lyme Disease is the most common tick disease to spread among pets. Although many dogs exhibit no outward evidence of Lyme Disease infection, there is some visible signs, such as arthritis and lameness, often accompanied by loss of appetite and depression. Dog owners should be aware of these additional signs: reluctance to move; a stiff, painful gait; joints that are swollen and warm to the touch; pain in the legs or throughout the body; fever; fatigue; and swollen lymph nodes. Lyme disease signs may come and go, vary in intensity from mild to severe, and mimic numerous other conditions. The best way to stop ticks is through prevention and control. Just this year I started using Frontline Plus for my dog Zoie. I was hesitant to use it because she had a bad reaction to a medicated shampoo in the past. But I tried it out and she doesn?t even know it?s there. She can still go to the groomers and the play in the dog park pond and I don?t have to worry about it washing off. The only tick I?ve found was on me after a trip through the woods. So Checkout Frontline Plus for Dogs and Frontline Plus for Cats.

Despite what you’ve heard, NEVER use a hot match or petroleum jelly to kill and remove ticks. This makes the tick want to spit up its inside juices into you or your pet. This will increase the chance for tick-borne disease. Instead use plastic gloves and tweezers to pull the tick out. Pull the surrounding hairs away from the tick’s body. Take the tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the buried head as you can possibly get.Do not squeeze, but pull gently up and away from the dog, slowly to be sure not to break off the head of the tick. Wash your hands and your dog’s skin with anti-bacterial soap. If you suspect you may have left a piece of tick still embedded under your pet’s skin, please seek veterinary care immediately. The resulting infections could be horrible, and ticks carry a plethora of nasty diseases. Watch your pet closely for any of the symptoms listed above.