Introduction

In recent years, ticks have become a huge nuisance. Taking your dog to the woods is wonderful, but afterwards, you have a big job on your hands to remove all the ticks. Ticks are not only bothersome and cause skin irritations, but they can also transmit diseases such as Lyme disease.

What are ticks?

Ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of animals and humans. They belong to the class Arachnida and resemble them somewhat. The habitat of the tick is found throughout the Netherlands. They can even be present in the backyard of an urban neighborhood. Here, they live high in the grass or among the leaves. It is a myth that ticks drop from high trees onto animals. In the Netherlands, the sheep tick (Ixodes ricinus) is the most common. In recent years, there have also been several reports of the giant tick (Hyalomma tick) in the Netherlands. This giant tick is significantly larger and is known to run after its victim. Ticks go through different stages: egg, larva, nymph, and then the adult tick. From the larval stage onward, the tick needs blood to survive. The primary hosts for ticks are rodents and birds. If these hosts are infected with the Lyme bacteria, they transmit this bacteria to the tick. When the tick visits a new host, it will transfer the Lyme bacteria to the next one. After each 'meal,' the tick hides among the grasses and leaves, where it transitions to the next life stage. Only after a few months does the tick search for its next blood meal. An adult female tick lays eggs only after a blood meal in the adult stage, after which she dies. An adult male does not suck blood. Ticks prefer a moist environment, which is why they like to stay in grass and among leaves. During prolonged dry spells, ticks die due to dehydration. Ticks are also inactive at temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius. Therefore, most tick bites are reported during the period from March to October.

Ticks in Dogs

Dogs love to roam through the grass and are less likely to stay neatly on the (paved) paths. As a result, dogs are very susceptible to getting tick bites. Due to their fur, ticks can also be difficult to spot, especially in dogs with dark skin/fur. Ticks prefer to settle in the warmer, more humid areas of a dog's body, such as the groin, between the toes, and in the armpits. However, ticks can be found all over the body, sometimes even in the gums. Therefore, check your dog for ticks daily!

How to Prevent Ticks on Dogs

Unfortunately, there is no miracle solution that prevents ticks from crawling onto dogs. With almost all (chemical) products, the tick must first bite down before it is poisoned and dies or releases its grip. There are drops, injections, and collars that can be used for this purpose. There are also natural remedies. These are based on the idea that ticks do not want to feed on the dog because the blood has become unattractive due to the supplement. These supplements are made from herbs and essential oils. They need to be added to the dog's food daily and are based on ingredients such as fenugreek, brewer's yeast, sepiolite, thyme, echinacea, turmeric, astragalus, citronellol, and citronellal. The advantage of an internal supplement is that dogs can swim without losing its effectiveness. It is also safe for children since no 'poison' is used. Due to regulations, we cannot specify which product this refers to. For any questions, please feel free to contact us.