DTE Answers to Common Questions About Cats and Dogs. Part 013 by Nene Ajayi

 

🔍“Ew, What’s That?!”

Checking Pets for Ticks, Bites, and Stings Without Losing Your Mind (Or Lunch)

It all started one Thursday afternoon when Blaze wouldn't stop scratching his left ear like it was hiding treasure.

 Raya, my Basenji, paced anxiously beside him, barking at the air.

 Stu the cat sat on the windowsill watching them, utterly unbothered, like she knew exactly what was wrong and simply refused to help.

I was elbow-deep in a sink full of fish guts (don’t ask), trying to prep dinner when I noticed a lump the size of a garri grain behind Blaze’s ear.

Cue panic.

Cue gloves.

Cue magnifying glass, flashlight, and a muttered prayer.

My husband was still stuck in traffic. The kids were at Grandma's. It was just me, a suspicious bump, and two dramatic dogs.

“Okay, Blaze,” I said, holding his ear like it was a crime scene. “Let’s see what kind of evil this is.”

I saw…legs.

Tiny, spidery, moving legs.

I screamed.

Blaze yawned.

Raya started barking in Yoruba.

It was a tick. A fat, engorged one. And it had friends.

So How Often Should You Check Your Pets for Parasites, Bites, or Stings?

Short answer: More often than you think.

Especially in tropical climates like ours, ticks, fleas, and biting insects are not seasonal, they’re year-round criminals.

🧠 Did You Know?

⏹️ Ticks are not just gross, they’re dangerous.

⏹️ They carry diseases like babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and even tick fever, which can kill your pet if not caught early.

⏹️ Flea saliva can cause allergic reactions, and insect stings can lead to sudden, severe swelling. Cats (yes, even bossy ones like Stu) can go into shock if stung on the tongue or throat.

📋 What I Now Know Thanks to the Tick Incident

✅ Not all scratching is “just scratching.”

✅ Ticks love warm spots: under ears, armpits, toes, tails.

✅ Some bites swell hours later, so always recheck.

✅ Indoor pets are not exempt. Mosquitoes and fleas ride on us.

✅Prevention is less dramatic than removal.

🔁 What I Now Practice (And You Should Too):

⭐ Weekly Full-Body Inspections – Ears, belly, tail, under collars.

⭐ After-Walk Checks – Especially if we’ve gone near grass or bushy areas.

⭐ Monthly Spot-On Treatments – Vet-approved only.

⭐ Natural Flea Repellents – Lemon sprays and eucalyptus in dog beds.

⭐ Emergency Tick Kit – Gloves, tweezers, antiseptic, flashlight, bravery.

📌 Take This Seriously:

🔹Your pet can’t say “Mummy, there’s a parasite on my bum.”

 🔹They'll just act restless, scratch like dancers, or suddenly swell up.

 🔹If you're not looking, you're missing the signs — until it’s too late.

🛍️ Helpful Links to Save Your Sanity

🛒 Tick Removal Tool for Pets – Life-changing and stomach-safe.

🛒 Natural Flea & Tick Spray – Smells good and works wonders.

🛒 Pet First Aid Kit – Because accidents don’t give notice.

🛒 Vet-Approved Spot-On Treatment – Monthly peace of mind.

🐕 How the Tick Drama Ended

I finally pulled the tick out (with tweezers and Jesus).

 I soaked it in Dettol and cursed its ancestors.

 Then I did a full-body inspection on Blaze, Raya, and — to my horror — found a sting bump on Stu’s tail.

She gave me a dirty look and walked away mid-inspection.

 I bribed her with tuna. It worked.

That night, I sprayed their beds with a DIY eucalyptus-lavender mix, gave Blaze a treat, and promised never to forget tick checks again.

✨ Final Thoughts / Key Takeaway

Your pets may not look like they're carrying parasites… until they’re itching like Nollywood actors in a poison scene.

 Check. Check again. Prevention is love in action — even if it involves tick legs and courage you didn’t know you had.

🔜 Next Blog Topic:

“I Never Thought I’d See a Dog Run From Balloons…" But Mine Do, Especially When They Pop!”

😂 Affiliate Disclosure

“Yes, my mom might earn a few coins from these links. And no, she won’t use it to buy me gourmet tuna. But click anyway. She deserves it for rubbing my tummy.” – Stu the Cat

And just in case you want to follow the series properly, here they are.

Until next time,

Keep those pests outi with anti-tick spray and unconditional love,

 Nene Ajayi ✌️