Our editorial team receives numerous inquiries about a picture that is being shared over and over again on Facebook!
Anke from the mimikama team is a veterinarian and has taken on these requests. This is the status post:
Anke: Yes, something like that can happen!
This happens when the dog steps into a tick nest with its paw and they have enough time to suck in.
The tick nymphs can particularly suck themselves into the soft skin between the pads. After hatching from one of an average of 2,000 eggs (each laid per egg), the tick initially lives in its first instar as a six-legged larva . In this stage, as in any other, it seeks a host that is approximately the size of a rodent. The larva feeds on its host for 4 to 5 days and then falls off.
If you, as a larger mammal, get too close to a tick nest with newly hatched ticks, this massive infestation can occur.
How often does this happen?
In my almost twenty-year career as a veterinarian, I have never encountered such a massive infestation on the paws, but I have also removed a good 100 ticks from a dog after it rolled around in a tick nest.
How do I get rid of the critters?
Actually quite simple: with a lot of patience and manual work. If it becomes too difficult, please always go to the vet and have the ticks removed.
Individual ticks can be removed very easily. Using tweezers, gently grab the tick by the head and pull it straight out.
Please do not twist, because then you will twist the tick's head off.
Commercially available tick tweezers and tick cards are also good for removing the pests. You should always do this because ticks can transmit diseases, but don't panic because most diseases, such as anaplasmosis, are only transmitted about 12 hours after being sucked in.
Please do not use household remedies such as oil or glue, because then the ticks will suffocate and release their stomach contents and saliva into the host's bloodstream and with it all the pathogens that are stored in it.
How can I protect my dog from ticks?
There are tick treatments that are administered either as a collar, as a spot on or as drops.
Please always contact your veterinarian, as the wrong tick treatment you have purchased yourself can do more harm than good.
None of the natural tick remedies or home remedies have yet been able to prove their effectiveness, so I ask you to avoid these remedies, this also applies to garlic: toxic to dogs, coconut oil (you need a lot for it to have an effect), black cumin oil (can be liver toxic), amber collars (are more likely to attract ticks), neem tree extracts (have a very high allergic potential and regularly lead to worse skin eczema, which is then difficult to get under control).
If you don't want to use medical tick remedies, your only option is to search and collect the bugs several times a day.
Otherwise, just don't panic and just go to your trusted vet!
Reference:
author; Anke M., mimikama.org
Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )