01/05/2021
On teak protection.
Nature is waking up and I would please ask the dog owners to be a bit more careful during these warm months as your usual safe park might be a hidden lounge zone for teaks that sit there and wait for a doggo to pass by and cling to its warm skin. Some areas are more dangerous than the other. Until last year we had never experienced a problem in the parks in and around Amsterdam and yet I timely spotted one ugly blood sucker on my vizsla Etna.
I would advise to always check your dogs after a walk, especially if you had an escape to an unknown area. Teaks love the warmest parts around a dog’s hips and ears. Should you spot a teak, remove it carefully with the tweezers (don’t buy any plastic teak-removers, just get a solid metal eyebrow pincet that would do the job). You always remove a teak by unscrewing it counter-clock wise(!). Make sure you have it fully removed leaving no parts of a teak under the skin. Burn or destroy it afterwards. Disinfect the wounded dog’s skin. The skin could look slightly red and even a bit swallen. Have an eye on this spot, consult your vet in case of doubts.
It’s also a good idea to use preventive products. We have had a positive experience with Seresto halsband. This is a rubber collar that you adjust on your dog’s neck and let him/her always run with it. You don’t take it off. It comes in two sizes, 8kg for the rest, including a vizsla. There are also many anti-teak liquid drops and they could serve as a complimentary prevention beside this collar in case you plan to visit a high-risk teak zone.
Stay healthy and enjoy the runs!
Cheers!