How to disinfect a tick bite on a cat? If you are asking yourself this question, it is because you are going to remove a tick from your cat's skin and you want to know how to prevent the small wound from becoming infected.
However, to be sure that the tick bite does not cause an infection on your cat's skin, there are a few things to know that we will develop below:
- How to properly remove the tick from your cat?
- What if the tick is not completely removed?
- What to do after removing the tick from your cat
- How to disinfect the tick bite on your cat's skin?
And, even if this is the first time that you are confronted with this little problem, do not panic: We will give you all the advice you need to prevent this parasite from transmitting infections or diseases to you or your cat. diseases that could be serious (Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis or Hemobartonellosis) ...
Knowing how to remove a tick from a cat to avoid infection
When a cat catches a tick, it will settle on its skin between its hairs and will feed on its blood. After a few days, if the tick is not removed, it will lay eggs ...
La tick bite can cause skin problems and even very serious diseases:
- Lyme disease,
- Piroplasmosis,
- Ehrlichiosis,
- Hemobartonellosis,
- Local inflammatory reaction,
- Abscess,
- Transmission of bacteria, viruses, parasites and multiple infections.
This is why it is essential to remove the tick from your cat as soon as possible and by proceeding in the right way so that the wound does not become infected in the days that follow ...
How to remove a tick from a cat correctly?
First of all, you will need to organize yourself hold your cat without risking getting scratched. The best will be to get help so that your cat is well maintained and that you can remove the tick in good conditions.
If you struggle too much to maintain your cat, rather than risk removing the tick improperly, it will be better to take your cat to a veterinarian so that he takes care of removing the tick and that he administers the care himself. .
Removing a tick from a cat - The right gestures
The most important thing to avoid infection is to remove the entire tick at once: Body, head and rostrum (the oral apparatus).
However, if you simply pull on the body of the tick, you may be removing the body of the tick but its head or rostrum remains embedded in your cat's skin. And, unfortunately, this is where there will be a risk of infection.
Remove a tick from a cat with a tick remover
To be sure to remove all of the parasite, it is best to use a tick remover. This is a tool specially designed to remove ticks from cats.
You just have to hang the tick with this instrument by positioning it as close as possible to the skin and when the tick is stuck in the tick puller, you have to turn it several times and then pull it firmly.
This way, the tick gets completely off your cat's skin.
Remove a tick from a cat with tweezers
You can also use tweezers that you have previously disinfected with alcohol. You will catch the tick with the forceps close to your cat's skin. Then you will pull the tick, taking care not to press on the parasite's abdomen and thus risk spreading bacteria ...
Remove ticks from cats with tick repellent
Finally, the 3th solution to effectively remove a tick from your cat's skin will be to use a special "tick repellant". This is a spray that you will pass on the infected area and normally, a few minutes later, the tick comes off and falls off on its own.
Be careful not to use other "tips from the Net" such as oil, ether, alcohol, etc. to remove the tick: See how to remove a tick from a cat?
What if the tick is not properly removed?
If the head of the tick or the rostrum remains encrusted under the skin of your cat, it is not recommended to try to remove it yourself because the risk would be to push it in even more ... It is better to wait 1 or 2 days for see if it doesn't fall on its own, if not, take your cat to a vet.
What to do after removing the tick from your cat
Once removed or fallen, remember to kill the tick and get rid of it.
And before releasing your cat, you must disinfect the tick bite.
How to disinfect the tick bite on your cat?
To start with, you need to clean the area where the tick was on your cat's skin. You can use soap and hot water. So you can then disinfect the area bitten by the tick by brushing it with an antiseptic (Dermidine antiseptic spray for cats) Of betadine ormodified alcohol.
Monitor the wound for several days
Then, you must monitor the evolution of your cat's wound every day to check that there is no infection but also to check its general condition.
If you notice in your cat in the days following the tick's removal:
- Significant and abnormal fatigue;
- Decreased appetite;
- Darker urine;
- Swelling of the wound;
- Turnkey fever symptoms...
So, don't hesitate to show it to your vet.
Tick prevention for cats
To avoid all of these inconveniences and risks to your health and that of your cat, again, I would say " Prevention is better than cure »!!!
To prevent your cat from catching ticks, I advise especially in spring and summer, to put on your cat a simple anti-parasite collar or to administer an anti-tick repellant on the skin. Here is one of the most effective products:
SERESTO is a safe bet if you are looking for a collar that will repel ticks and fleas from your cat's coat:
For those who are really afraid of Lyme disease, know that you can have your cat vaccinated against this disease.
And for those looking for natural pest control treatments, check out my article: How to get rid of cat fleas naturally?
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