How to protect your dog from ticks
These arachnids transmit a number of dangerous diseases. Effective tick protection is therefore extremely important for your dog. Here you can find out what options are available, which natural remedies help against ticks and what else you need to know about the bloodsuckers.
When does tick season start?
Who hasn't experienced this? We enjoy the first warm rays of sunshine outdoors with our four-legged friend, the dog runs through the grass and before you know it, a tick is crawling over its fur or has already attached itself.
The problem is that ticks transmit a variety of dangerous diseases such as TBE, Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and babesiosis. These have a negative impact on the health of our animals and, in the worst case, can be fatal.
Proper tick management is therefore essential during the months when the parasites are active. Unfortunately, the mild winters mean that the arachnids become active earlier and earlier and stay active for longer.
As a guide: as soon as it is 8°C or more for several days in a row, the bloodsuckers crawl out of their hiding places.
Which tick protection is right for my dog?
A first basic distinction is made according to the active ingredients of the preparations. Here a differentiation is made between:
- Natural tick protection and
- chemical tick repellent
They also differ in their form. Here is a brief overview of the most common types:
- Spot-ons: liquid to be applied to the skin in the neck area
- Tick collars: Collars with a repellent effect
- Tablets: To be taken orally
- Sprays: For external use on the animal or for the environment
- Food supplements: For oral intake
- Pendants for collars: Long-term effect through energy field
- Shampoos: For washing
- Oils: For internal and/or external use
- etc.
What is ultimately the right protection against ticks for the dog depends on certain factors, which are discussed in this article.
How do anti-tick products for dogs work?
Whether chemical or natural repellent, the aim is always to keep the tick away from the dog. If a tick has already bitten itself, it will either leave the host or be killed, depending on the active ingredient.
Whether an agent works from the inside out or superficially on the skin depends on the preparation and the form of administration. Tick collars or sprays, for example, mainly have an external effect. Tablets, food supplements or other orally administered preparations work from the inside out. In the case of spot-ons, there are both options, as a distinction is made between systemic and topical preparations.
Systemic spot-ons penetrate the skin and the active ingredients are distributed throughout the body via the bloodstream. With topical preparations, the active ingredient is distributed throughout the body via the skin. In the event of an infestation, the parasites come into contact with the active ingredient and die or leave the host.
IMPORTANT: Do not treat for 24 hours after visiting the dog salon, as the follicles are open after washing.
Chemical tick repellent vs. natural tick repellent
The decision as to whether to use a chemical tick repellent or a natural tick repellent depends on many different factors. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages and it is up to the dog owner to decide to the best of their knowledge and for the benefit of their four-legged friend.
The choice of the right product for the dog depends on various factors. Some of the factors to consider are
- Age
- Weight
- Intolerance to certain active ingredients
- Diseases
- Genetics
Important to know: Not every tick repellent is suitable for every dog. Caution is advised with chemical preparations in particular, as the various chemical agents have one thing in common: they are poisonous. To be more precise, highly effective neurotoxins are used and some dogs do not cope well with these toxins. The side effects are often very unpleasant for dogs and range from nausea and vomiting to seizures.
Particular care must betaken with puppies, small dogs under 2kg and dogs with epilepsy or a (genetic) risk of epilepsy. For some preparations, for example, the package leaflet states that they "should be used with caution in dogs with known epilepsy".
Tip: We recommend for dogs under 2kg Melaflon Spot-On and for puppies the Melaflon Spray.
Natural tick protection without chemicals at PERRO
Chemical-free anti-tick products made from natural ingredients are a gentle alternative to conventional, synthetic products. If you want to rely on the power of nature, PERRO has a large selection of herbal and over-the-counter options. Only products with highly effective tick protection made from natural components make it into our range.
Garlic, black cumin, neem, coconut, eucalyptus and citrus oils containparticularly effective natural anti-repellent active ingredients. Compared to chemical alternatives, natural products have a number of positive aspects:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Herbal remedies are usually very well tolerated and have no side effects. | Natural preparations are usually not effective for as long and need to be replenished more often. |
| They do not pollute the environment. | In some cases there are few or no scientifically based efficacy studies. |
| A natural tick repellent is generally safe to use for young animals. | |
| The body generally reacts less sensitively to herbal substances. |
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ANIBIO Black Cumin Oil Organic- high quality organic oil
- pure vegetable
- high content of essential fatty acids
- internal & external use
- supports parasite defence
- for skin & coat problems
- Contents: 100 ml
Content: 0.1 liter (€149.00* / 1 liter)
€14.90* -
ANIBIO Melaflon Spot-On- herbal vermin protection
- frees quickly and protects reliably
- purely herbal active ingredients
- also suitable for puppies
- for ticks, fleas and co
Content: 0.01 liter (€499.00* / 1 liter)
€4.99* -
ANIBIO Melaflon Spray- gentle parasite protection
- protects reliably
- gentle on the skin
- for acute infestation
- also suitable for puppies and cats
- purely herbal
Content: 0.1 liter (€119.90* / 1 liter)
€11.99* -
ANIBIO Skin and Coat Mineral Spray- soothing mineral spray
- for dogs and cats
- for skin and coat
- soothes itching
- ideal for mite infestation or dandruff
- with aloe vera
- water-based
Content: 0.3 liter (€49.97* / 1 liter)
€14.99*Variants from €9.90* -
ANIBIO Tic Clip- natural alternative
- Pendant against ticks & fleas
- free of insecticides
- suitable for all animal sizes
- waterproof
- effective for up to 2 years
- for dogs & cats
€24.99* -
ANIBIO Tic Spray 150 ml- reliable protection
- against vermin
- odourless
- waterproof
- easy to use
- for dogs & cats
Content: 0.15 liter (€86.60* / 1 liter)
€12.99* -
ANIBIO tic-off- natural all-round protection
- against fleas and ticks
- Food supplement
- Protection from the inside
- simply sprinkle over the food
Content: 0.14 kilogram (€198.57* / 2 kilogram)
€13.90* -
ANIBIO Tick tweezers made of surgical steel- practical tick tweezers
- made of surgical steel
- safe to use
- special shape
- recommended by veterinarians
- easy tick removal
€11.99* -
Available again soon!
ANIBIO Wormmaline- Dog & Cat
- natural herbal mixture
- for intestinal care
- for & after worm infestation
- with thyme & camomile
Content: 0.05 liter (€338.00* / 1 liter)
€16.90* -
bogaclean flea comb- Flea and dust comb
- for parasite infestation control
- removes even flea droppings
- ergonomic plastic handle
- for grooming dogs and cats
€6.99*
Anti tick spot on for dogs
Spot-ons are one of the most popular tick repellents. Both over-the-counter and prescription products are available. The spot-on is dripped into the dog's neck or between the shoulder blades. It is important to ensure that the dog itself or another animal cannot lick the liquid. Caution is also advised with children. Water rats should avoid bathing and splashing around for a few days. Important: heavy rain can also weaken the effect of the spot-on.
Tip: for white dogs, apply the spot-on directly to the skin and do not rub it in, otherwise there is a risk of hair discolouration.
Tick collars for dogs
Tick collars are also often the method of choice in the fight against ticks. With tick collars, the active ingredient is continuously released into the coat and the oily film of the skin over a certain period of time and thus spreads over the entire dog.
Depending on the active ingredients, the protection provided by such anti-tick collars lasts for a few weeks or even several months. However, it is important that the dog always wears it. Caution in water: the collar may need to be removed before water activities.
Repellent sprays
There are 2 variants of sprays: Coat sprays for direct application to the dog and environmental sprays.
Coatsprays are applied directly to the dog's coat and act on the animal's fur and skin.
Environmentalsprays keep parasites away from the dog's favourite places - such as the dog basket. Sprays usually need to be applied several times a week to be effective.
Tip: Sprays on a natural basis are ideal as a supplement to other measures.
Nutritional supplements against ticks
Dogs can also be supported and strengthened against parasite infestation from the inside. A strong immune system is a basic requirement for good defences. Preparations with garlic, black cumin oil or herbal bitter substances have been proven to provide relief.
Garlic: The alliin in garlic changes the dog's body odour and thus repels ticks. Important: Please always use products labelled for dogs and follow the instructions for administration. This is because garlic in excessive doses is toxic to dogs and can cause anaemia.
Black cumin oil: This can be used both internally and externally. Ticks and other parasites are deterred by the odour and the essential oils. For external use , simply apply a few drops to the back of the neck and massage in. As with many natural repellents, there is no long-term effect, so the application must be repeated regularly. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for oral administration.
How to prevent tick bites
Full body check
Check the coat for the crawling arachnids after every walk, especially during the peak tick season, and remove the tick(s) if necessary. Tip: They particularly like to be found on the head, legs and neck and anywhere where there is less hair.
Avoid tall grass and undergrowth
Ticks lurk in tall grass and bushes because, contrary to popular belief, they do not jump from trees, but are brushed off. Most ticks stay at a height of between 10 and 50 cm above the ground.
Making the tick harmless
The tick still crawling on the dog could just be removed before the bite - what now? Proven methods to render them harmless are 40% alcohol, disinfectant or burning, e.g. with a lighter.
How to remove ticks correctly
If the tick has already bitten, it is important to remove it correctly and completely. Here are a few tips:
- Usetick tweezers or tick hooks so that the tick can be grasped securely without squeezing it. Removing it with your fingers harbours the risk of squeezing the tick and forcing pathogens into the bite site.
- Grasp the tick close to the skin and pull it out slowly and evenly. Do not make any jerking or twisting movements, as there is a risk that parts of the tick will get stuck in the animal.
- Be patient: It may take a few seconds to pull the tick out, as the bloodsuckers adhere to the skin with a kind of adhesive layer. Once this layer is destroyed, the tick can be easily removed.
- Important: Remove the tick with as little stress as possible, as ticks secrete body secretions that can transmit pathogens. It is therefore not advisable to use methods involving oil, alcohol, glue, etc., as these trigger a fear of death in the parasite.
PERRO relies on the power of nature against ticks
In the PERRO online shop you will find an extensive range of natural preparations to repel ticks. The health of our four-legged friends is important to us, which is why we take the issue of tick protection very seriously. The good thing is that nature offers us a unique potpourri of highly effective ingredients against the annoying bloodsuckers. That is why we have decided to rely on natural tick repellents. The benefits of natural tick repellents for the health and well-being of our dogs are manifold. Above all, undesirable side effects are very low with natural active ingredients, which is why such products are the products of choice for us. We have therefore focussed on providing our customers with a well-assorted selection of natural and highly effective repellents.
