The tick is a parasite that feeds on the blood of its host.
Garrapata is a term that derives from caparra . Both concepts are used to refer to a mite : an arthropod that is part of the group of arachnids.
The body of ticks, oval in appearance, has an extension of around five millimeters. Their legs, which end in nails, allow them to cling to dogs and other animals from which they suck the blood to feed.
Tick feeding
Ticks are parasites since they subsist at the expense of other organisms. As they live on the surface of the species they parasitize, they are classified as ectoparasites .
What ticks do, as we already indicated, is adhere to the body of horses, cows, cats, dogs and other animals . Once they attach to the host, they pierce the skin and begin sucking blood. That is why they are blood-sucking parasites.
A tick can spend several months searching for a host . On the other hand, once attached, it sucks blood until it is satisfied in a process that can last many days.
It is important to mention that ticks are transmitters of various diseases . This is because while they eat, they can introduce pathogens into the host through their droppings, regurgitation, or even saliva.
Dogs are often affected by tick bites.
How to protect pets
Pets such as dogs and cats are frequent victims of ticks. Due to the microorganisms they carry, these parasites can put the life of the host and even humans at risk.
Grassy areas and wooded areas are places where ticks usually live. When taking a dog for a walk in a park , for example, it may end up being bitten by a tick.
In the first instance, ticks cause irritation and inflammation in the affected area. However, an allergic reaction or a bacterial infection can cause a lot of pain for your pet. On the other hand, if many ticks are feeding, the host may suffer from anemia . Additionally, as we already mentioned, ticks can transmit serious diseases such as babesiosis or Lyme disease .
As a preventive measure, specialists recommend administering antiparasitic products with a certain frequency. These drugs kill the tick and act as a repellent . In any case, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian so that this professional can indicate how to act in each case.
Removing ticks
It is common that, when detecting a tick on a pet's body, people want to remove them quickly. This well-intentioned action is not indicated, since it can promote an infection if the parasite regurgitates or its body breaks.
There are special tweezers that allow ticks to be removed safely and at low risk. These instruments are useful for holding the tick by its mouthparts and removing it without leaving remains on the pet.
Disease transmission
Ticks are vectors of numerous diseases that can affect humans. One of them is Lyme disease , generated by bacteria of the genus Borrelia , which causes an efflorescence (skin lesion), headache, joint pain and fever. Without treatment, this disorder leads to the development of neurological and skeletal conditions.
Babesiosis , caused by protists of the genus Babesia , resembles malaria. In a severe case it can cause headaches , vomiting and breathing difficulties.
Another disease transmitted by ticks is typhus , characterized by skin rash, headache, cough and high fever. Bacteria of the Rickettsia genus are responsible for this disease.