With the hot weather of recent weeks, we have been inundated with ticks in the paddocks. It hardly seems like a day goes by without us extracting a tick from one of our four dogs after they have been out for most of the day. Our border terriers, Basil and Barney, are by far the worst, as they are forever chasing something in the long grass, but I can honestly say I don’t remember there being so many ticks as there are at the moment.

Despite spending a small fortune on monthly tick treatments, the horrible little creatures are still intent on biting. Our dogs are awful at taking any kind of medication orally, so I opt for the ‘spot-on’ treatment, a pipette of liquid applied to the back of the neck every 30 days. Treating for ticks this way means I can be absolutely certain they have been dosed, unlike with tablets, which are often spat out, no matter how well I try to hide them in food or treats.

Ticks are blood-sucking parasites that attach to their hosts, including all animals and humans. The geographical spread and the number of these parasites are increasing, likely due to factors such as a warming climate.

There are more than 20 species of ticks, but the most common is the sheep tick, which is why our dogs are likely suffering, as we have a small flock of sheep on the smallholding. Ticks can transmit several diseases, with Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, the most common. It can cause severe reactions in humans, dogs and horses. Although the number of ticks usually peaks in spring and late summer/autumn, there appears to be a much higher number now in the summer months.

As humans can contract Lyme disease from tick bites, it makes sense to know the symptoms and how best to avoid being bitten, especially when working outside every day, as I do. If Lyme disease goes unnoticed, it can be seriously debilitating. The most common symptom, often noticed earliest, is a rash that looks like a ‘bullseye’. The rash can appear between three and 30 days after an infected tick bites. Not everyone will develop a rash, so other symptoms to watch for include flu-like symptoms. Treatment by a GP is essential if you are feeling unwell and there is a possibility that you have been bitten.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent tick bites is to cover up. Dress protectively, and when walking, stick to designated trails in woodlands or grassy areas rather than venturing into tall grass and leaf litter. Wear long sleeves and trousers tucked into socks, and use repellents such as DEET when necessary. By choosing light-coloured clothing, you will be able to spot dark-coloured ticks and brush them off quickly.

If, like me, you spend a lot of time outdoors, check yourself over before coming indoors, and regularly inspect your dogs for any ticks that may have attached during walks. It is important to remember that, even when treated with a spot-on solution, ticks can still bite your dog. Most treatments do not repel ticks. The tick must bite your dog to absorb the medication, which will then paralyse and kill the parasite. However, this can take hours, and the more ticks there are around, the greater the chance your dog will be bitten.

Ticks can be removed easily and effectively with a tick remover, which can be bought from pet shops and online. The credit card-sized device enables the tick to be removed in its entirety, unlike tweezers, which can often leave the head embedded and lead to infection.

Tick remover

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