Travel First-Aid Tip for Dogs: Ticks!

Introduction

We are placing a series of travel first aid tips for dogs on our website.  These tips were written for the “Canine Companion – Instructions & First-Aid Tips“ that came with the Emergency First-Aid & Travel Kit for Dogs by Dr. Brooks Bloomfield of The Doctor’s Office for Pets located in Truckee, California, a well-known, highly-respected veterinarian with over 30 years of superbly practicing veterinary medicine on wildlife and domesticated animals.

There are so many times that we as pet owners long to have a great veterinarian’s advice on-hand 24/7 so that we’re not left with so many questions during stressful situations when something has happened to our beloved pup especially when traveling (doesn’t it always happen that these situations arise on weekends, too, when your veterinarian’s office is closed).

This travel first-aid tip deals with:  TICKS!

“Ticks are a common problem and can carry diseases that affect you and your dog.  Careful removal is important!  Wear the included gloves and grasp the tick with the neck of the tweezers just above the points.  Grasp right down where the tick has glued itself to the skin and lift up steadily. 

After removal, the tick should be burned or drowned in alcohol.  Do not crush it as the blood can contain organisms that can infect you.  Clean the site where the tick was attached and apply a small amount of triple antibiotic ointment. 

After the tick is removed, there may be a scab or crust that persists for several days.  If it swells, becomes painful, or persists then see your veterinarian.”

Note:  References to items or supplies noted in the above instructions were made in reference to the supplies that came in the Emergency First-Aid & Travel Kit for Dogs in conjunction with these instructions.

*Tick image courtesy of Rainbow Valley Veterinary Clinic

[pullquote_right]Wishing you and your fur-kids safe and happy travels this summer![/pullquote_right]