Source: to_crunch, reddit
When you first get your new dog, every little thing that happens to them can scare the shit out of you.
Seriously, everything.
Anything from your dog having different coloured poop to them merely scratching behind their ear can trigger alarms in your head. When the alarms trigger, you enter “protective mother” mode. In protective mother mode, suddenly, your new dog might be infected with Lyme disease, has fleas or an ear infection, or is being eaten alive by tapeworms (which isn’t what actually happens by the way).
What I’ve learned from a recent tick exposure experience is to AVOID PANICKING.
Stop thinking about the worst possible outcome
That’s what I did today. It did nothing but cause stress.
After Coconut’s fun-filled day of making dog friends at our local park, we returned to my house only to discover a HUGE BLACK TICK on the middle of Coconut’s forehead. I still don’t know where it came from because I didn’t see it on his body while walking home.
The little demon came out of no where.
Luckily, my friends Meredith and Kyle were over. So, while Meredith and I were frantically screaming after having spotted the tick, Kyle jumped in to remove it. We secured the live tick in an empty water bottle and went on to inspect the rest of Coconut.
Now, during that 10 second horrifying spectacle, I’ll admit: as a first time dog owner, I wasn’t prepared. I didn’t know what to do.
I thought my dog was going to die.
After the tick was removed, I started saying prayers in my head thinking Coconut wouldn’t make it to his next birthday. I paced back and forth in the hallway despite Kyle and Meredith trying to calm me down.
Now looking back on the experience, Coconut was probably thinking:
WHAT IS WRONG WITH MASTER?
Source: PinIt Gallery
as I proceeded to freak the hell out.
What are Ticks?
Ticks are a parasitic arthropod that can carry diseases that are fatal to both animals and humans. The common diseases transmitted by ticks are Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. They thrive in heavily forested areas with dense shrubbery.
To those who are still curious but are also BRAVE AS HELL, pop open a tab and make a Google Image search. Be wary. They’re straight up gross.
What to do when you spot a tick on your pooch
- Inspect your dog.
- Seek help from your veterinarian for an examination ESPECIALLY if the tick latched onto your dog’s skin. Until you become familiarized with handling ticks, you may want to have your dog checked by a vet just to be safe.
- Wash your clothes and make sure that you too are tick-free.
Remember to keep your dogs and pets away from heavily forested areas during spring, summer, and early autumn!
Source: Maymo
Update on coconut
Thankfully, the tick wasn’t latched onto Coconut. But to be safe, we contacted our local veterinary and booked an examination appointment. Unfortunately, we have to wait until Wednesday morning to see a doctor. But in the meantime, he’s doing alright. He isn’t scratching excessively. No rashes formed on his skin.
PHEW.
Of course, if I had known these things before hand, I’d have been able to handle the situation on my own. Regardless, for whatever situation you encounter during your first few weeks with your new dog, remember not to worry. Don’t be a:
Source: Gallery Hip
Most of the time, your dog will be able to fight off minor problems. Don’t waste your time and money visiting your vet once a week just because your dog puked a little on the carpet. Or because their poop was green this morning instead of brown (upset stomachs happen, folks). These things are normal and to be expected. As time goes on, you’ll be able to tell if there is a serious problem.
Don't panic. Everything will be alright.
I hope these tips help you should you encounter a tick problem on your dog. But remember, you and your dog will be okay.
Best of luck to you other rookies out there.
–Dominique.
Have you ever been in a situation where you overreacted to something that happened to your dog? If so, share your story in the comment section below!
(wagging) tales from a rookie 