Dog and cat ticks – A Comprehensive Guide
Ticks are present throughout the national territory (see maps) but with regional variations. Some ticks are more frequently found in the woods, others in the tall grasses of the prairies, or even in the Mediterranean maquis... As the different embedded fully ticks on dogs do not transmit the same diseases, the territorial distribution of ticks has an impact on the risks to pets. The risks vary depending on where you live and whether or not you have access to tick-friendly areas
The lifestyle of ticks
Ticks feed exclusively on the blood of the animals to which they attach themselves and will only eat three meals in their lifetime!
· Adult females lay eggs on the ground. Their eggs hatch, releasing larvae resembling miniature ticks.
· The larvae climb to the top of the plants and wait for the passage of a host on which they will cling. The larvae attach themselves to the skin and take a single blood meal, then unhooking, fall back to the ground where they pupate.
· The nymphs in turn climb on plants to parasitize a new host. Once gorged with blood, they fall to the ground and become adults.
· Finally, the adults (males and females) reproduce the same pattern: ambush at the top of a stem, single blood meal on a new host, and return to the ground. Then, it is that the females, nourished by the males, lay their eggs.
To complete their life cycle, ticks need moderate humidity and warmth. They can wait for favorable climatic conditions for several months, even several years. Consequently, tick infestations are seasonal, especially in northern Europe where the risk is greatest in spring and autumn. In the south, the seasonality of infestations is less marked.
There may be ticks in the houses!
A tick, whose scientific name is Rhipicephalus sanguineus and which is sometimes improperly called "domestic tick", is frequently encountered in the southeast of France (it is possible to bring it back from vacation...). This tick can complete its entire development cycle indoors. It can settle in kennels or houses, and thus be a permanent source of contamination.
The risks that ticks pose to dogs and cats
Since ticks feed on the blood of their host, they can, in the event of a massive infestation, be the cause of anemia. More commonly, a small abscess may form at the bite site if the bite becomes infected, or if the front part (usually called the "head") of the tick has been left in the skin trying to remove it with the help of tick remover for cats. Even if they are distasteful to the animal, these little lesions vanish in many cases in a few days. The application of a sanitizer morning and evening is usually necessary.
The real threat of ticks is in a lot of illnesses they may spread to animals. In this area, and the same goes for humans, there is still a lot of research to be done. Likely, the list of microbes that can be transmitted to different animals during tick bites will grow in the years to come.
The main diseases transmitted by ticks to dogs
· Piroplasmosis, also called babesiosis, is caused by a blood parasite.
· Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmoses are bacterial diseases.
· Borreliosis is known in human medicine as Lyme disease.
· Hepatosomatic, a rare parasitic disease in France, contracted by ingesting a tick.
· Some toxin-secreting ticks can cause transient paralysis in dogs.
The main diseases transmitted by ticks to cats
Ticks can also transmit piroplasmosis to cats, as well as ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis, but it is exceptional for these infectious agents to cause actual disease, except immunosuppression.
How do protect dogs and cats against ticks?
Prevent a dog or cat from catching ticks
There are several ways to protect a dog or cat against ticks:
· Limit dog access to natural areas that may serve as a refuge for ticks. It's quite complicated, even in town, because some public gardens can harbor ticks. You can ask your veterinarian; he knows the corners to avoid. It is in any case advisable to examine the animal when returning from a walk: if ticks are found, they must be removed manually (link to remove ticks) and treat the animal with a product against ticks.
· The most practical method is to treat your dog or cat preventively with a product against ticks. There are various presentations with various modes and rhythms of administration. Ask your veterinarian to prescribe the best product for you. Do not forget that treatment against ticks must be regularly renewed and that protection rarely reaches 100%. If you live in a high-risk area, it is best to continue checking animals for ticks when returning from a walk or after a day of hunting.
· Be careful, never use an anti-tick product intended for dogs on a cat without the advice of your veterinarian. Some of these products are lethal to cats.
Remove ticks from an animal
What you should not do:
· Shoot the tick: there is every chance of leaving a piece of the parasite in place.
· Pressing on the tick with your fingers or with pliers: pressing on the parasite's abdomen causes regurgitation, but it is during regurgitation that disease transmission occurs!
· Pouring a product on the tick (ether, alcohol, disinfectant, etc.) or burning it with a cigarette also produces reflex regurgitation, and therefore an increased risk of disease transmission.
· What to do:
· Remove the tick with a special hook: this very simple method allows you to remove the tick without any risk.
· In the absence of a hook, you can simply apply an anti-tick product to your animal and wait for the ticks to die. Regardless of the product used, several hours are required. Sometimes, too, ticks die but do not fall off right away, which is not serious, the main thing being that they can no longer transmit diseases.
Traveling with your dog and cat
If you wish to travel with your animal, it is important to find out about the known health risks in the region or country visited. If you are going to an area where tick-borne illnesses are common, treat your pet before you leave. For good effectiveness, sprays and spot-on must be applied at least 2 days (and necklaces 2 weeks) before departure. If necessary, remember to renew the treatment during your stay.
Prevent contamination of a kennel or dwelling
In the event of contamination of buildings by the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineous, it is necessary to treat both the animals and the environment. There are products intended for the elimination of ticks in kennels or homes. Ask your veterinarian.
