The veterinarian warned about the second wave of tick activity

In the second half of autumn, many dog owners stop worrying about ticks, but these parasites can remain active until late autumn, so you should not stop treating your pet just because of the change of season. Anton Tikhonenkov, a veterinarian and expert at Valta Pet Products, told Izvestia about this on October 18.

"Ticks don't die immediately after the first cold snap. When the temperature decreases, they become less active, and when unfavorable conditions occur, they hide in the forest floor, soil and other shelters. On relatively warm days, the parasites can go out again in search of a host," he explained.

A common misconception is that ticks are considered exclusively spring and summer parasites. In fact, many ixodid mite species have two periods of increased activity: spring and early summer, as well as late summer and autumn. The dates depend on the region and the weather. If autumn is warm, the risk of encountering parasites persists even when the leaves have fallen and the temperature approaches zero at night.

Dog owners who walk in parks, squares, forest belts and in areas with tall grass should be especially attentive. Ticks are waiting for animals on vegetation and cling to the fur upon contact, so it is not necessary for the dog to go into the forest — it is enough to walk along an overgrown path or through a shrub.

In autumn, owners examine their pets less often, although the tick can go unnoticed for a long time, especially in dogs with thick or long hair. Most often, parasites are found in the head, neck, ears, armpits, base of the tail, groin and between the fingers.

Catching a tick: every third arthropod in Russian forests may be contagious

In some regions of the country, about 40% of ticks are carriers of borreliosis.

The main danger is not in the bite itself, but in the infections that the ticks carry. One of the most serious diseases for dogs is babesiosis, or pyroplasmosis. Symptoms include lethargy, refusal to eat, fever, darkening of urine and pallor or jaundice of mucous membranes. If such signs appear, you should contact a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Tikhonenkov noted that infection usually occurs 36-48 hours after an ixodid tick bite. The absence of visible changes immediately after a walk does not guarantee that there was no infection: symptoms may appear after a few days, and the owner may no longer find the tick. Therefore, it is important to monitor the dog's behavior, activity and appetite, especially after walking in dangerous places.

Tablets, drops, and collars are used to protect against ticks. Some drugs kill parasites after attachment, while others also scare them away. The drug is selected according to the age, weight, health and conditions of the dog, taking into account the recommendations of the veterinarian. If the validity period ends in the fall, re-processing is not postponed until spring.

Even when processed after a walk, the dog is examined, paying attention to the head, ears, paws, armpits, stomach, groin and the base of the tail. Long-haired dogs have their fur combed and their bedding checked, while watching the pet on the following days.

The stuck tick is removed as soon as possible with gloves with a special tool, gripping it closer to the skin. It should not be oiled, cauterized or crushed, and contact with the contents should be avoided: some infections are dangerous to humans. After removal, the bite site is examined and the dog is monitored, and if it cannot be removed, they contact the veterinary clinic.

The protection season is completed according to the weather and the recommendations of the veterinarian, and not according to the calendar: in some regions, ticks are active until October, in others — until November and later.

Natalia Kolomiets, a doctor at the DNCOM laboratory, a general practitioner, and a pediatrician, spoke on July 10 about common mistakes after a tick bite. According to the expert, after a bite, many people focus on their well-being and do nothing if there is no fever, weakness or characteristic redness around the area of contact with the insect. The doctor warned that in the early stages, some diseases that these bloodsuckers carry may occur without pronounced symptoms, and called this approach wrong.