Beware the Asian Longhorned Tick: A Tiny Pest with Big Consequences for Your Dog

As pet parents, we're always looking out for our furry family members. But did you know there's a sneaky little hitchhiker out there that could pose serious risks to your dog? Meet the Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis)—a small pest with a big reputation.

What’s the Buzz About This Tick?

The Asian longhorned tick isn’t just any ordinary tick. Originating from East and Central Asia, this tiny invader first showed up in the U.S. in 2017 and has since spread to 16 states in the Southwest and Northeast. And while its size may be small, the potential problems it brings are anything but!

Here’s why this tick should be on your radar:

• Disease Super-Spreader: It can transmit several diseases, including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, theileriosis, rickettsiosis, and even some viruses.

• Heavy Infestations: A single tick might not seem threatening, but these ticks reproduce quickly and can cause severe infestations. In extreme cases, blood loss from so many ticks can even be fatal.

• Furry Sentinels: Dogs are like magnets for ticks, especially since they spend so much time close to the ground. This makes them our first line of defense in identifying and managing this tick.

How to Protect Your Pup

The good news? You can take simple yet effective steps to shield your dog from the dangers of these ticks.

1. Arm Your Dog with Tick Protection

In areas where there is a large tick burden, you may need conventional tick repellents. In my experience I would have you consider Revolution if needed. The simple way is to daily check your dog for ticks. Consider the Tick Spray Recipe at the end of the newsletter.

2. Keep an Eye on Your Dog

Regularly check your dog’s fur, especially after outdoor adventures. Pay special attention to their ears, armpits, and belly—ticks love hiding in warm, protected spots.

3. Remove Ticks Safely

Spotted a tick? Don’t panic! Use fine-point tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin as possible, then gently pull back until it lets go. Dispose of the tick securely and sanitize the area.

4. Know Your Enemy

Think you’ve found an Asian longhorned tick? Seal it in a zip-top bag and take it to your veterinarian for identification. Early identification can make a big difference.

Dr Jones' NEW Turmeric Oil Natural Tick Repellent Spray

One recent study looked at 10 different essential oils, looking at the repellent properties of these oils.

One oil came out way on top: the paper's titled Preventing Tick Attachment to Dogs using Essential Oils

Turmeric root essential oil had the best tick repelling properties at a relatively very low concentration (2%).

3 ingredients

1. Base of the spray is Witch Hazel with aloe. It's a great skin oil and it forms a great base for any type of flee or tick spray. It can decrease inflammation that may be happening from a pest infestation.

2. Liquid coconut oil. Some of the fats within coconut oil such as lauric acid, have demonstrated pest repellent properties, and it also makes a great base binding the turmeric essential oil so they can evenly spread throughout the tick spray.

3. Turmeric essential oil - of all the essential oils studied it came on on top of having the best tick repellent properties.

Recipe

Witch Hazel with Aloe: 100ml (7 tablespoons)

Liquid Coconut oil: 30ml (2 tablespoons)

Turmeric Essential Oil: 2.5ml (50 drops)

This produces a 2% concentration of turmeric essential oil, making it safe for dogs

Shake well each time before spraying.

Use liquid coconut oil, and you still may need to warm this if your house is cold.

Lightly mist your dog/cat, then use a flea comb to spread it through the fur.

Can be applied 2-3 times/week for a dog, but best to only use once a week for cats.