Top Pet Care Taboos to Avoid This Spring
Today, let's delve into the fascinating world of ticks and learn everything we need to know about them.
What exactly are ticks?
Commonly known as "skinny cattle flies," a term that literally means they can make a cow thin, ticks are part of the Acarina order. They are formidable parasites!
Ticks have four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. All stages except the egg feed on blood, with their prey ranging from humans to cats and dogs.
After a tick engorges itself with blood, it can swell several times or even dozens of times in size, which is truly terrifying! They are a shared menace for both humans and animals, so pet owners must be vigilant!
What dangers do ticks pose to dogs?
Who knows what kind of viruses a tick might be carrying within its body? If a dog is unfortunate enough to be bitten by a tick, it may experience the following issues.
Skin Abscesses
It's crucial not to remove a tick from a dog's body by force, as the tick's mouthparts may be deeply embedded in the skin, leading to severe swelling and infection.
Anemia
When a tick infestation is severe, it can cause a dog (especially puppies) to lose blood and even become anemic.
