How to judge if a dog has been bitten by a tick

Usually, dogs do not show any abnormal reactions after being bitten by ticks. If your dog has gone to areas such as bushes during the hot climate season, it is recommended to carefully inspect the dog's skin surface, especially in the deep hair areas. After a tick feeds on blood, it will become the size of a soybean. Once you find a tick, it is advised to seek medical attention promptly and not to remove it directly.

Ticks are small-sized, multi-legged insects that often appear in bushes, grasses, and other areas, especially during hot seasons. Since the pain sensation of a tick bite is weak, dogs generally do not show abnormal reactions, making it difficult to judge whether a dog has been bitten by a tick. However, if your dog has been to areas where ticks reside, it is recommended to thoroughly inspect the dog's skin surface and even wet the hair to check more easily.

Before feeding on blood, ticks will deeply insert their mouthparts into the dog's skin. Therefore, it is not advisable to remove ticks directly, as this can easily cause the tick's mouthparts to break off in the dog's skin, leading to severe skin infections and endangering the dog's health. It is suggested to use medical alcohol to numb the tick and then remove it with tools such as tweezers. Due to the operation's difficulty, pet owners unfamiliar with this process are advised to take their dogs to a pet hospital for treatment. After removing the tick, the wound should be thoroughly disinfected to minimize the risk of infection. Moreover, ticks can also transmit parasites such as Babesia, a parasite that lives in dog blood, causing symptoms such as fatigue, anemia, and even death.

Main preventive measures against ticks include two points: first, avoid going to bushes and grassy areas during hot climates; choose clean and spacious park roads for walking your dog. Second, maintain regular external parasite prevention. It is recommended to use topical drops containing ingredients such as selenium sulfide.