Life Cycle of the Flea
Where They Come From
The life cycle of the tick happens in four stages: egg, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph, and adult. In each stage, the tick feeds, drops of the host, molts into the next stage, and then searches for the next appropriate host.
Ticks can not jump or fly, they are also not found in trees. The tick finds its host by waiting at the tops of tall grass, shrubs, or weeds. When the host happens by, the tick drops off intending to land on the host’s body. It then crawls around on the host until it finds an appropriate feeding area with good blood supply. In dogs, ticks tend to attach around the face and to the ears.
Controlling occasional ticks in dogs is made easy today with liquid tick control treatments that are applied to the dog’s back between his shoulders and on his back near the tail. These treatments combine with the oils in the dog’s skin and spread all around the dog’s body, and doesn’t was off. These treatments last for a month. It also works quickly, removing all ticks within 48 hours.
This type of treatment is sold under the name Frontline® and K9 Advantix®. Both products protect the dog from ticks and fleas. K9 Advantix® controls mosquitoes as well! Before starting a tick control program, your Doberman should be examined by the veterinarian.
Tick prevention should also include preventing them at their source, mainly over grown weeds and vermin. Areas where the dog goes should have weeds removed, grass mowed, and plans pruned. Areas close by should also be well maintained. If maintenance is difficult or impossible in these areas, or if a tick infestation is discovered, pesticides may be in order.
Vermin such as rodents and other wild or stay animals easily spread ticks. Measures should be taken to keep these animals away from the dog and his areas outside. Vermin should be controlled in a manner safe to the dog. A great reduction of vermin can be achieved without the use of poisons or traps by eliminating or properly storing food items and vermin hiding places.
If a tick is found on a person or dog, it should be removed soon to reduce the likelihood of infection. In doing so, care must be taken not to spread any disease that might be in the tick and to remove all of the tick, including the specialized mouthpiece imbedded in the skin.
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