As I have learned over the years anytime you take your dog hiking there is a risk for fleas and ticks. This is especially true in Texas! Winter has gotten her fair share of them and they are not fun to get or easy to get rid of. Unfortunately, they are something I have to deal with when I take her hiking or camping. I did a little research to get the facts and have included some tips and tricks that I use to combat these pesky insects. *As always, consult with your vet for what will work best for you and your dog.*
Fleas and Ticks
Ticks
In Texas, we are fairly lucky in that the incidence of diseases transmitted from tick bites, like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease, is low compared to other parts of the U.S. That being said, ticks still exist here and are definitely not the best thing for you, or your dog. They are one of the easiest things to pick up when you are hiking with your pup, and really hard to find!
For prevention, I use a lavender oil and water based spray on Winter and myself before any outdoor activity. Lavender oil is a natural bug repellent that is safe to use with your pups. I get mine from Natures Repel and use it religiously for Winter. They are a San Antonio based company I found at a farmers market. The product I use for Winter is pictured on the left.
The best thing you can do post hike, and probably the most difficult, is find the tick before it actually bites you or your dog. This means sitting down after a hike and thoroughly searching for any ticks before they have the chance to attach themselves. From first hand experience with both short and long hair breeds, THIS SUCKS, but you have got to do it. I found 6 ticks on Winter after a short 2 hour hike (pre-lavender oil)!
I always follow this up with a bath. Your dog is probably super dirty after hiking. Second, the bath will also catch some of the ticks you might have missed. Trust me, you missed some ticks.
Removing Ticks from your Dog
I always check Winter again a day or two after hiking. This is the easiest way to find any ticks that did manage to bypass all the prevention. They will be bigger and more noticeable at this point. After that short 2 hour hike I mentioned above, I still managed to find a tick that had bitten Winter.
To remove the tick, I used a pair of tweezers and pinched as close to the attachment site on her skin as possible. Then, pulling with a constant, medium pressure, the tick eventually detached itself. You really want to get the head and body of the tick together, but if for some reason the head remains under your dogs skin, don’t go digging for it. Just let your dogs natural processes work and break down the ticks head itself. Monitor the area and if it begins to look infected, always go to the vet!
I always put ticks I find in a baggy and then throw them in the garbage.
Fleas
Fleas are extremely common in Texas, and all of the southeastern United States. Unfortunately for me, I had to deal with a little flea infestation first hand. The good news is you can get rid of them, the bad news, it takes some time! Flea bombs and the bomb, and I got mine from amazon! I opted for the natural ones, which meant they were a little less toxic but needed a few more treatments.
As for Winter, I do not actually think she brought the fleas in because she takes a monthly heartworm, flea, and tick preventative. She did get a flea bath! After a month all the pesky insects were gone!
The Take Home
Always consult your vet about your dogs flea and tick medication. I use natural bug repellents, like lavender oil, that are safe for dogs and for you in addition to a prescribed flea and tick preventative for Winter. Plus, who doesn’t want their four legged fur monster to smell really great!
Check out some of my favorite places to take Winter hiking here!
[…] I always do a nightly tick check for Winter! There are more details on this in my blog Ticks and Fleas, and How to Prevent. […]