The RSPCA has shared an important health warning for pet owners about the risks posed by ticks. The animal welfare charity posted the advice on Facebook, urging owners to become 'tick-savvy' and familiarise themselves with guidance on the RSPCA website.
What Are Ticks and Why Are They Dangerous?
The RSPCA explained: "Ticks are small parasites that suck blood from other animals. As they can carry diseases, it's important to know how to spot them and remove them safely." Ticks can look like a reddish-brown, grey or black bump on the skin, with their size depending on how full of blood they are. Owners may also notice redness or swelling around the area, and sometimes the tick's legs sticking out.
Unlike fleas, ticks do not fly or jump. Instead, they climb or drop onto a pet's coat when the animal brushes past whatever they are sitting on. Ticks are common in woodland and grassland and are most active between spring and autumn, though they can be present throughout the year. Cats are less likely to get ticks than dogs, but it can still happen.
How to Check and Remove Ticks Safely
The charity advises owners to check their pets for ticks in common sites such as inside their ears, between their toes, under their front legs, beneath their collar, and around their groin. The RSPCA says: "Tick bites can carry diseases, so it's important to remove them straight away."
When removing a tick, owners must not squeeze the tick's body or leave the head in, as this can push blood back into the pet and increase the chance of disease. The RSPCA says people need to twist the tick to avoid leaving the head behind, using a tick removal tool. Anyone unsure how to do this should speak to their vet first. Other methods, such as using lotion or burning ticks off, should not be attempted as they do not prevent disease.
Warning Signs and Prevention
Warning signs of a tick on a cat or dog include a small, raised bump on the skin that looks like a wart or a dark bean, redness or swelling at the bite site, and sudden low energy, fever, or limping if a tick-borne illness develops. Physical signs include a small new lump or dark speck that feels firm, an engorged grey-brown sac as the tick feeds, visible tiny legs near the skin surface, and red or swollen skin around the attachment point. Behavioural changes may include low energy or unusual tiredness, eating less food, limping or shifting leg pain, swollen joints, enlarged lymph nodes, or fever.
While tick season runs from March to October, ticks can infect animals at any time of the year. Vets can advise owners on tick treatment to help prevent bites. The RSPCA points out that owners should not mix medicine between dogs and cats, as some dog treatments are toxic to cats.
