Ticks in cats and dogs - how to check your pet and remove ticks

As the weather warms up, people and pets alike are drawn out from their homes and into their gardens and parks to enjoto their gardens and parks to enjoy the sunshine. But we are not the only ones being enticed out by the warm weather. In the undergrowth something else is stirring, and it’s far from pleasant.

Meet the Tick. The unwelcome and dangerous parasite which are active in warm, humid conditions, making them particularly troublesome in spring and autumn. Unlike other parasites, ticks do not need a host in order to survive, they only climb on and attach to feed. It is estimated that every day in the UK, 1.2 million dogs have ticks*, so it is essential that pet-owners know how to check their pets for ticks, and how to remove them if needed.

Although the two traditional periods of tick activity are spring and autumn, with the ever-changing British weather ie spring and autumn, with the ever-changing British weather it is a good idea to check your pet for ticks on a daily basis so that they can be removed quickly and safely.

Before feeding, ticks are just large enough to be visible, often looking like a small freckle when they first attach to your pet, so they can be hard to spot. As a tick feeds it swells up to around 10mm, and looks like a smooth, grey nodule or wart.

Checking your pet is simple, all you do is run your hands along your pet’s fur, applying enough pressure to feel any small bumps. Pay particular attention between their toes, behind their ears, on their face and under their armpits. If you feel a raised bump, carefully part the fur to see if it is a tick.

Discovering a tick is never nice for a pet-owner. While you will want to get rid of it immediately, there some key things to remember before you act.

Never try to pull a tick off without a suitable tick removal tool – incorrect removal of a tick can cause the mouth parts to break away and remain in your pet, which can result an infection or an abscess.

A non-toxic, insecticide-free product, such as Beaphar Tick Spray, will freeze the tick on contact, stunning them to let go of their host. This means that you can simply remove and dispose of the parasite. It’s small and pocket sized too, which means that you can use it on the go. Suitable for cats, dogs and humans.

Make sure that you use Beaphar Tick Away in a well-ventilated area. Simply and easy to use, your dog or cat won’t realise that they have been treated.

1. Part the fur to expose the attached tick.
2. From approximately 5cm away, spray Beaphar Tick Away directly onto the tick for approximately 3 seconds. In most cases the tick will fall off automatically.
3. The wound made by the tick bite must be thoroughly disinfected. If there are any concerns over infection, it is important to contact your vet.

Ticks can cause a great deal of harm to your pet, and indeed to people too. During the feeding process, any viruses or bacteria being carried by the tick can be transferred to your pet. It is estimated that around 15% of ticks carry Lyme disease*, which can cause lifelong problems for both pets and people.

The chance of infection and bacteria being passed to your pet increases the longer the tick is attached to your pet, which is why it is essential to check your pet for ticks regularly.

After removing the tick, the wound must be thoroughly disinfected. If you have recently removed a tick from your cat or dog, and are worried about their health, make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. Equally, if you have removed a tick, but think the mouthparts may have remained in your pet, seek veterinary advice immediately.

We can’t always prevent ticks from attaching to our pets, but by treating them regularly with a veterinary medicine authorised to kill ticks, we can reduce the chance of disease transmission by killing the tick quickly.

Prevention is always better than a cure. It is imperative to treat all pets for ticks, especially if you are in an area prone to ticks. And there is one for ever pet and lifestyle:

Beaphar Canishield® is a deltamethrin collar that provides long-lasting, triple protection for dogs. Effective against ticks for 6 months, fleas for 16 weeks and sandflies for 5.5 months, Beaphar Canishield® is suitable for dogs from 7 weeks of age.

Beaphar FIPROtec® Spot-On is a vet strength medicine that is effective against ticks for up to four weeks. It is suitable for cats over 5 weeks of age and dogs over 8 weeks of age.

Also available is Beaphar FIPROtec® COMBO, which kills adult fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae and ticks. It is effective against ticks for up to four weeks, and is suitable for cats and dogs over 8 weeks of age. 

*ESCCAP