Have you found a tick on your dog?

We’ve recently entered Tick season – so there are some things that dog guardians should be aware of, to reduce the risk of both you and your dogs suffering from tick bites!

When?
Ticks are most prevalent from early spring to late summer depending on the species.

Where?
Mostly green areas with lots of foliage and long, high grass- namely farmland and woods! Ticks aren’t just a problem in the UK, so if you plan on traveling abroad with your pup- make sure you do you research beforehand, and pick up some tick repellant for both you and your pup!

Why prevent it?

Ticks can carry and spread diseases to both humans and other animals through biting. You may have heard of conditions such as Lyme’s disease, Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis (which are all thankfully treatable!)

Please note: Not all tick bites will result in illness, so please don’t panic!

However, we always recommend taking precautions to reduce the risk to your pets where possible.

What options do I have?

Tick prevention comes in many different forms- so pick what’s easiest for you and your dog.

Tick Collars such as Seresto Collars, that can be used for 8 months at a time and kept on 24-7.
Tablets taken every 1-3 months, such as Nexgard/Nexgard spectra, Bravecto.
Monthly Spot ons that are applied to the back of their necks, such as Advantix or Frontline.

Remember- not all parasite treatments include tick prevention, so read the label carefully. Often, these products are stronger, with some of them being available under veterinary prescription only.

No product will completely prevent ticks biting, it will just reduce to prevalence of bites or kill them once they do. We recommend avoiding woodlands and long grass where possible, and checking your dogs over thoroughly during your walks.

What happens if they get bitten?

Simply remove them, ideally using a tick remover. It may be a little bit uncomfortable for your dog, but removing the ticks is straightforward and you’ll get the hang of it easily. Tick removers are cheap and easy to use, so keep one on you on your walks for both you and your dog. You can follow the guidelines on the product, search online for step by step videos, or call into your local veterinary clinic where the nurses can show you have to safely remove ticks. Try and make sure you remove the head that is buried in the skin, not just the bum sticking out!

We hope you’re all out there enjoying the sunshine, and remember, if you have any questions or concerns and you’re an Omni subscriber – why not book in for a friendly online consultation with one of our vets.

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FAQs

But aren’t dog’s carnivores?

Dogs are in fact nutritional omnivores as demonstrated by a robust scientific study published in the reputable journal Nature (1,2) in which it was shown that they have 30 copies of the AMY2B gene responsible for digesting plant-based foods.

They have also evolved relatively long intestines (21) (almost as long as humans) and relatively flat surfaces on their molars (31, 22) which they use for digesting and chewing a whole range of foods.

The common misconception that dogs are carnivores probably arises from the fact that they are classified in the order Carnivora but so are plenty of other species like bears, skunks, racoons who are omnivores and even the giant panda who thrives on a plant-based diet (20).

Is plant protein digestible to dogs?

Absolutely yes, studies which have looked at how much protein dogs can absorb from plant-based and fungi-based foods like soya and yeast demonstrated over 75% digestibility which is on par with meat-based foods (23, 24, 34, 35 & 25).

Both these protein sources also contain all 10 essential amino acids (36, 37) that dogs need to thrive.

Isn't there too much fibre in plant-based food?

The average amount of fibre in a commercial dog food diet is between 2-4%. omni’s plant-powered recipe has a fibre content of 3% which is on par with meat- based diets.

In our survey with over 200 dog owners, 100% reported that their dog’s stool consistency was either ‘normal’ or ‘perfect’ and there were no reports of any digestive upsets (data on file).

Can I mix omni with other meat-based diets?

We are proud that our recipes are nutritionally complete and so include everything your dog needs to thrive. This means omni can be fed as a sole ration. We also fully support a 'flexitarian approach' like meat free lunches or using omni as a mixer.

Every little helps to bring some of the health and environmental benefits of plant-power to meal times. Mixing omni with meat/fish will help to add variety into your dog’s diet whilst adding in healthy ingredients with a relatively low carbon footprint.

Can plant-based food provide the essential fatty acids dogs need?

All the essential fats and oils that dogs need, including omegas 3 and 6 are found in a variety of both meat and plant-based foods (31, 28).

omni’s recipe is rich in plant-based sources of these nutrients so your dog will get all the essentials they need.

I hear a lot about feeding raw meat, isn’t that better?

Feeding raw meat to dogs has become a very popular trend in recent years, but most vets will warn against this practise. This is because the cooking process is vital to help kill off dangerous bacteria like E coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter (9) that have necessitated several food recalls from the market and caused serious illness and even death in both dogs and their owners (40, 41, & 42).

There are also several worms and parasites that are only killed off when raw meat is cooked. Dogs are dogs, not wolves and thanks to their domestication over thousands of years, thankfully don’t need to hunt to get their grub nor do they need to eat raw meat, it's just not worth the risk.

References

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