Ticks on dogs are something almost all dog owners encounter, especially in the months when we are most active outdoors. It doesn't have to be dangerous, but it requires you to know what to look for and what to do when you find one. Here is a practical guide to handling ticks so you and your dog can enjoy the forest without unnecessary worries.
When and Where is Your Dog Most Exposed to Ticks in Denmark?
Ticks are active almost all year round in Denmark, but the risk peaks from March to November. They thrive best in humid and mild weather, and you typically find them in tall grass, thickets, forest floors, and along paths with dense vegetation.
Your dog is particularly exposed:
- In forest areas with dense undergrowth and leaf litter on the ground
- In heath areas and along field edges
- In parks with tall vegetation
- In the morning and evening, when dew keeps the vegetation moist
Ticks do not climb down from trees, as many believe. They sit in the vegetation at a height of 20-80 cm and wait to make contact with an animal or person passing by. Your dog, running with its nose down and pushing through bushes, is an obvious target.
The areas with the most ticks in Denmark are typically the forests of Jutland, the forest belts of Zealand, and the islands, but ticks occur everywhere. If you plan a trip to the dog parks in a new region, you can check out dog parks in Central Jutland or dog parks in Zealand and choose routes with open areas that give your dog space to run without pushing through the densest thickets.
How to Prevent Ticks on Dogs – The Best Products and Methods
Prevention is much easier than treatment. Fortunately, there are good options.
Tick Treatments for Dogs
Your vet can recommend a suitable product for your specific dog. The most common forms are:
- Pipettes (spot-on): Applied to the neck and provide protection for 4-8 weeks depending on the product
- Tick collars: Provide continuous protection over a longer period, often 4-8 months
- Tick tablets: Given orally and work quickly, typically for 1-3 months
No method is 100 percent effective, but they significantly reduce the risk and kill ticks that attach before they can transmit diseases.
Good Habits During the Trip
- Keep your dog on the path if you are in an area with very tall vegetation
- Check your dog along the way, not just afterwards
- Always carry a tick tweezer or tick hook in your bag
- Check yourself thoroughly, as ticks often jump onto the dog owner's legs and ankles
Step-by-Step: How to Correctly Remove a Tick from Your Dog
You find a tick. Stay calm. Here is the procedure:
- Get a tick tweezer or tick hook. Avoid using your fingers to pull.
- Grab the tick as close to the dog's skin as possible.
- Pull slowly and steadily upwards. Do not twist or jerk.
- Check that no mouthparts are left in the skin. If they are, leave them and observe, the body will expel them naturally.
- Disinfect the area with chlorhexidine or similar.
- Mark the tick or pour a little alcohol on it, and place it in a small container for a few days if you wish to show it to the vet.
- Note the date of the find, so you have a reference point if symptoms appear.
Avoid home remedies like petroleum, heat, or suffocating the tick. It stresses the tick and increases the risk of it injecting contents into the wound.
Symptoms to Watch for After a Tick Bite on a Dog – and When to See the Vet
Ticks can transmit diseases, especially borreliosis (Lyme disease), which is the most common tick-borne disease in dogs in Denmark. Symptoms do not always appear immediately and can occur weeks or months after the bite.
Watch for:
- Stiffness or stiffness in one or more joints
- Loss of appetite or general lethargy
- Fever, which you can feel by touching your dog's ears or belly
- Swelling in a joint
- Changed gait or reluctance to move
The characteristic red ring rash, known from humans with borreliosis, is rarely seen in dogs. You should read the behaviour, not just the skin.
Contact the vet if your dog:
- Shows one or more of the above signs within 1-3 months after a forest adventure
- Has been bitten by many ticks
- Is a puppy, elderly, or has a weakened immune system
The vet can test for borreliosis with a simple blood test and treat with antibiotics if the test is positive.
Get Out with Your Dog, Even When Tick Season is On
Ticks on dogs are truly one of those things that dog owners learn to handle rather than be stopped by. With the right preventive product, a tick tweezer in your pocket, and a quick check routine after the trip, the risk is low, and the reward of getting out is great.
Want to find a new forest for your next trip? The Hundeskoven app shows you dog parks nearby with information about facilities, parking, and whether the forest is fenced or not. This way, you can plan a trip that suits both your dog and your mood, and enjoy nature with peace of mind.
