Ticks are visibly similar to tiny spiders (especially the adult ones), can be egg-shaped, and are blood-sucking teeny weeny critters. They can vary in size ranging from about 1mm to 1cm in length, and are commonly spotted in grasslands, woodlands, gardens, and bushland areas.
These parasites will bite and feed on your pet’s blood and nutrition until they have had enough and eventually drop off after a few days. During this time of implantation, it is quite possible for the ticks to give your furball bacterial infections and diseases.
Skin irritation, anemia, blood loss, secondary infections, and a life-threatening medical condition known as tick paralysis are some health risks your munchkin may face in case of a tick attack. Consider being prepared with pet insurance in NZ, so tackling such health emergencies need not be financially burdening.
Contemplate purchasing the best pet insurance so your feline pet’s health is comprehensively covered and you have to bear minimum economic implications during testing times of health. In the meantime, read this article to learn top tips for checking and safely removing ticks latched onto your furball’s body.
#1 Survey your kitty’s body every time it returns indoors after spending a good chunk of time outside. If there are ticks on its body, ensure you remove them within twenty-four to thirty-six hours. However, it is advisable to pull them off sooner than that to hopefully avoid health complications.
#2 Does your feline pet have a long coat or thick fur? If yes, consider using a hair dryer made for pet use on a cool mode so the fur moves and you can quickly identify ticks.
#3 Keep an eye out for abnormal signs. For instance, your furball might scratch or bite specific spots on its body. In a case like this, check the area thoroughly, as a tick might be there in that location.
#4 Hold the tweezers firmly without jerking, twisting, or squeezing, then gently pull the ticks off your pet’s body. Grab the tick’s head which is the part of its body that will be closest to your munchkin’s body, probably burrowed a little way in.
#5 Once you extract the tick, place it on an alcohol-soaked paper towel to kill it instantly.
#6 Consider removing the tick with your fingers if you have no other choice. In a case like this, you should use a tissue/paper towel to guard yourself and disinfect your hands soon after removing them. Avoid contact with tick body fluids like saliva and blood at all times.
#7 Crushing and squeezing the ticks can spill off the infected fluid in their bodies on your pet’s body or transmit them through their mouths into your pet’s body. Avoid doing that in the best interests of your furball’s health and well-being.
#8 Don’t use petroleum jelly, nail paints, hot matches, and other things to suffocate or burn the ticks. These acts can cause the tick to vomit and boost the infection risks.
#9 Consider killing the ticks by rubbing alcohol before disposing of them. Suppose you wash them down the sink or throw them in a trash can; there is always a risk of them crawling out, implanting on your pet, and causing harm again.
You can save a tick and take it to the vet’s office for examination. This can help the animal expert identify the type of tick and confirm whether or not it is carrying a disease. At the same time, consider being prepared with pet insurance in NZ so unplanned vet costs are more manageable. The best pet insurance allows you to provide top-notch medical care without compromising treatment quality, which is why you should contemplate purchasing a policy.
