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by Mark Ranalli

Ticks are bad news from the canine point of view. Not only are they an irritation, but they carry disease and at worst can cause paralysis. While no one wants a dog to suffer from ticks and pet owners are encouraged to take all the precautions they can to prevent them, these parasitic creatures are determined to find a host and may not be deterred by simple precautionary measures. Ticks want a meal, and your dog may just prove to be that temptation to the hungry tick. The process that your dog goes through as a result is irritating and causes discomfort, lasting from several hours to several days.

To help avoid ticks in the first place, try to make sure that areas where the dog plays are sprayed with an environmentally friendly spray made for this purpose. To avoid the attack from brown dog ticks, make sure that the bedding area of the dog is kept clean, since an unclean environment will encourage their activity.

Regular grooming allows a pet owner to get up close and personal to examine areas of the skin that are susceptible to tick attack. These areas will be ones with less hair, since these are easier for the tick to penetrate. Under the armpits, in the area of the ear, around the neck and even on the feet of dogs, ticks will produce a hard area which is fairly easy for the dog owner to detect. If you notice your dog in discomfort and constantly trying to remove something, itch it or lick it, this may be an indication of problems.

There are several methods of removal, though the easiest method and the least distressing for the dog is to a simple dab of alcohol targeted to the area where the tick is nestling. Once the alcohol has been applied with a cotton bud or Q-tip, immediately wash the area with a mild soapy water. This dislodges the tick and ends the problem. However, be aware that if ticks were picked up during walking, perhaps changing the route would be a good idea. Ticks are prevalent in woodland areas and by noting the path you took with your dog, you can also determine the kind of environment that caused the problem in the first place.

Among other methods are using a collar especially made for tick control. These should never be fastened too tightly and you should read the manufacturer's guidelines to be sure that the dog is unable to chew on the collar. These are more preventative than efficient as a treatment, although a collar may be a good idea if your dog has attracted ticks as it will protect him from further attack.

Shampooing may

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