Ticks

Ticks: The definitive guide and how to eliminate them

When the winter stops and the temperatures begin to rise, it is very likely that unwanted animals such as fleas begin to appear in our homes and, even worse, ticks. These bugs can cause us a real headache, since not only do they reproduce in droves, infesting our gardens and rooms, but they can also cause serious illnesses in people and animals through their bite.

However, like all pests, ticks can be eliminated, and this time we have brought you a lot of information that will help you better understand the problem and deal with it in the best possible way.

What are ticks?

These are small animals that are related to spiders, mites and scorpions. They feed on the blood of animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, etc., and even of human blood, and some of them can produce different diseases.

Ticks are found mainly in the gardens and in the hair of pets and field animals, since they have the ideal habitat for these unpleasant intruders to live and proliferate.

It is important to know that not all ticks tend to spread infections, although if one of them is a carrier of any disease, the risk of infection usually increases with the time it lasts embedded in the skin, and may take place at any time while feeding.

Why do ticks appear?

It is quite common for ticks to appear in places where they have pets or in which some type of animal walks, since they depend on their blood to feed themselves.

Although they are found throughout the world, they tend to be more abundant in warm places, and this is due to the fact that the temperatures and climate of the area are much more favorable for the survival of these little bugs.

With the arrival of heat, ticks proliferate and become one of the main causes of diseases in people and animals. During the winter, your metabolism is usually asleep and only activates when temperatures start to rise, so that the spring and summer seasons tend to be the favorite of these unpleasant bugs that cause us so much trouble.

Now, to prevent the arrival of these little monsters to your home, the best thing you can do is to frequently shake your carpets and your furniture, especially if your pet is usually close to them. In addition, it is recommended that you bathe your pet every so often and check its fur to make sure it does not carry unwanted guests.

It is important that you are attentive so that you can detect the presence of ticks and thus attack them before the situation worsens. Anyway, if you and your pet have already become one of their victims, read on and you will find some solutions to solve this annoying affair.

Types or species of ticks

As for the types of ticks, these are divided into 3 subgenres that are:

Soft ticks or Argasidae

They are known as “soft ticks“, since they do not have a scutellum or dorsal armor, unlike the Ixodidae species that does.

Hard ticks or Ixodidae

As we have said before, this species does have a scutellum or dorsal armor, which is why it is called “hard ticks“, and it is usually those that seek humans to feed on their blood.

Nuttalliella mamaqua

This type of tick resembles both hard and soft ticks, which is why it is considered the missing link between both families of bugs.

Ticks bites or stings

In general, the stings or bites of tick manage to pass unnoticed, so that it is a little difficult to know at what moment it has stuck to the host and for how long it has been feeding on it. In any case, a tick bite must be treated as soon as it is known, since there is the possibility of contracting an infection or disease due to these bugs.

As we have said, it is not easy to detect the tick bites, and this is because they do not usually cause pain or discomfort. However, when the tick has fed on our blood, the following symptoms are likely to appear:

Itch.
Irritation.
Stabbing and localized pain.
Protrusion in the area of the bite.
Nausea and vomiting.
Trouble breathing.
Headaches and fever.
Body ache.

Are ticks dangerous?

Regarding whether or not they are dangerous, ticks pose many risks for their small size, which is that they not only pose a threat to our pets, but also can transmit bacteria or viruses through their bite, causing quite delicate diseases in animals and in people. These conditions can range from a simple allergic reaction, to a considerable damage to health, capable of ending the life of the very unfortunate guest.

There have been cases in which the host reacts to the secretion of the anticoagulant that secretes the tick, presenting a kind of paralysis and even losing its vital signs, especially when the bite has taken place in the occipital area and in the animal’s spine . This is called “tick paralysis” and although it is not very common to find it in North America and Europe, the risk is still present.

What ticks are dangerous?

Among the types of ticks, one of the most dangerous and the main carriers of viruses and transmissible bacteria are the hard ticks or Ixodidae that we explained previously. They are able to carry with them the bacteria that cause the infectious disease of Lyme, also called borreliosis, which usually causes neuropathological symptoms and is triggered by the spirochaetae group bacteria.

But this is not all, ticks can also be carriers of early summer meningoencephalitis, a very delicate disease that can inflame the brain and membranes.

In the northern hemisphere it is more common for cases of borreliosis or Lyme disease transmitted by ticks to occur, and it has been determined that coming into direct contact with the shrubs in the gardens can be quite risky to contract borreliosis by the bite of a tick .

Although the disease is very dangerous and you have not been found a vaccine that can prevent it, borreliosis can be treated with antibiotics if you are diagnosed early. On the other hand, there is a vaccine against meningoencephalitis due to a tick bite, so at least we have that advantage.

What other diseases do ticks transmit?

In addition to these infections, these small bugs hide many other diseases that occur as fevers and hemorrhages, such as Boutonneuse fever, Omsk haemorrhagic fever, Crimean and Congo fever and Kyasanur Jungle Disease. And if that were not enough, ticks can also be carriers of other protozoan parasites known as babesiae.

Well, if you have not been clear, ticks can be quite dangerous if they come to bite, so you have to keep an eye on them and eliminate them before they can attack us and damage our health and that of our pets. For this, we have brought you here some tips so you know how to end them once and for all.

How to eliminate ticks?

There is a large number of products on the market that can be used to kill ticks, and they can come with basic principles such as Chlorinated Organs, Phosphorous Organs and Pyrethrins. This last compound is perhaps the best that can be used because it is not as toxic as the rest, but it is quite effective to kill ticks and even other unwanted animals such as fleas, cockroaches and ants. The products with this basic principle are very convenient because they do not stain the floors, the carpets or the place where they are sprayed, and they do not damage the plants.

To fumigate with this compound, you should calculate a ratio of 1 cubic centimeter per liter of water. To make it easier, we recommend that you pour 5 cubic centimeters of the product in a bucket with approximately 10 liters of water. You must form a whitish mixture and with it you will clean all the space where these little bugs are usually, at least 2 times a week and for 2 months in a row, in this way you will make sure that all your garden and your rooms are completely free of these terrible parasites.

Something very important is that you should not have your pet on the site when you are spraying the product, and you should not leave your plate for food and water on the ground while you smoke. The best thing you can do is to protect your pet in an isolated part of the house, for about 4 hours until the ground has dried. Once you remove it from the place where you had it before, you must also fumigate there, in case one of these little animals has sneaked into that part of the house.

Prevention against ticks

In addition to fumigation, it is important that you invest some money and time in keeping your pet protected, so you should bathe every so often with a good lotion against ticks and put a flea collar based on Pyrethrins.

Anyway, if you have not convinced the idea of killing these bugs with a fumigation of this type, then we recommend some home remedies that can help you solve this asuntillo of ticks.

Home remedies to eradicate ticks

If you prefer to kill these animals naturally, we recommend that you try these simple but effective remedies to kill ticks.

Rosemary and cinnamon

The mixture of rosemary and cinnamon works as a natural repellent against these unpleasant bugs, and they are also ingredients that you can easily find. Just mix 10 drops of rosemary essential oil, 7 drops of cinnamon essential oil, 3 drops of cedar essential oil and 2 tablespoons of sweet almond oil. Pour all the ingredients in a container with lid, shake well and then you can apply it in the area that requires it.

Garlic

This is another simple ingredient that you can get out of your own kitchen and that goes very well to eliminate ticks. Now, while garlic works as a repellent when administered to pets orally, dogs can not be given raw garlic because it can be harmful to them. Therefore, we recommend you get some garlic powder and mix 1/8 teaspoon with one kilo of your pet’s common food.

Sodium bicarbonate

This is a natural remedy against ticks quite effective and that you can apply on the hair of your pet. You just have to mix ½ teaspoon of baking soda, ½ teaspoon of salt, 4 ounces of apple cider vinegar and 4 ounces of warm water. Grab a bottle with spray and spray the mixture through your pet’s hair, preventing it from falling on your eyes.

Other tricks to kill ticks

If the home remedies that we have given you and the option of fumigation are not enough, we recommend applying these tricks to put an end to the problem of ticks.

With vinegar

If these bichillos have attacked your pet and you want to get rid of them, take ½ glass of apple cider vinegar and dip a cotton ball in the liquid. Place the wet cotton on the skin of your pet, right where the tick is, the acetic acid that has the vinegar will be responsible for driving it away and then you can pick it up and incinerate it.

With citrus

You can prepare a homemade and natural repellent with whatever citrus you have at home, it can be with an orange or a lemon, for example. What you have to do is boil ½ liter of water and pour the sliced citrus fruits. Once it reaches a boil, lower the heat to the minimum and leave it like that for an hour, taking care not to evaporate all the liquid. When it cools, take a sprayer, pour the mixture into it and then apply it to your pet’s hair, taking care that it does not fall on your eyes. This same mixture will also serve to disinfect your garden and your rooms if you spray the floor and the corners with it.

Now that you know everything about ticks, you just have to put our recommendations into practice so you can prevent their appearance or deal with them if they have already invaded you.