They say that dogs are man’s best friend, and there are increasing reasons to believe so. Dogs are not only your greatest company, your comfort, your entertainment, your family and your faithful companion, they also save lives and help disabled people!

These animals serve to help people in many ways. There are police dogs that help control drugs, rescue dogs that manage to save many lives, guide dogs that make life easier for the blind… and many more! All of them manage to do these extraordinary feats thanks to painstaking training and the great skills they possess, which make them incredible animals. Dogs are there for everyone in need, and new ways are found every day in which they can offer their help to people.

Pets and emotional assistance dogs

Dogs are not the only animals that can help people. Monkeys and horses are trained to offer assistance of different kinds to people in need. They have been trained to help people with different disabilities and make life easier for those who cannot fend for themselves. Although there are other animals, the most common animal is the dog, since they are easy to tame, familiar, and very faithful.

There are therapies with assistance dogs that seek to improve the physical, social, emotional or cognitive functioning of people using the bond that is created between the person and the animal. Dogs are living beings that provide people with company, support and peace of mind. Thanks to the help of these animals, people with some type of psychological problem can lead a more comfortable life and reduce their anxiety.

In addition to emotional assistance dogs, which are the ones used in these therapies, there are also emotional support dogs. These provide the owner with very important support for their mental health. They are people who need the constant presence of their dog , so they do not separate from them as much as possible, and they rely on their company. These dogs make it easier for the mood of these people to be calm and prevent them from getting upset.

Emotional Support Animals are expanding in the United States. They are dogs that, due to the dependence that their owners have towards them, allow them to travel in the cabin of airplanes. Thus, people with health or psychological problems will be able to travel with their faithful companion, so that they are calmer and feel more secure.

There is no need for the dog to be trained. It is only necessary that they know how to behave in public, so that they are not annoying or a danger to other people.

Assistance dogs for disabled and children with autism

Assistance dogs, unlike emotional support dogs, are previously trained so that they can help people with disabilities as much as possible. They are trained for 9 months so that they can perfectly help their future owner.

The golden and the labrador retriever are two of the most used dog breeds for this task, since they are characterized by being docile and calm. Once trained, they are able to guide people with visual disabilities, help people with physical disabilities to pick up objects from the ground, open doors, and many other things .

These dogs are currently being used to help in some cases of children with autism , for example. These animals become authentic co-therapists, helping to clearly improve their quality of life, improving communication and the relationship with their parents and calming anxiety levels .

Tick ​​diseases in dogs

Ticks and dogs are not a good combination, although it is common. Dogs love to run through the woods, lift their paw under a tree, or sprint through the meadow. These are exactly the places where ticks live and dogs regularly have a tick bite.

Ticks are present for a large part of the year, as long as it is above 7 degrees. According to the RIVM , most bites occur from March to October, so you can hardly escape them.

In general, a tick bite does not cause much harm, but it is important to remove the tick as soon as possible. In the worst case, the tick transmits a disease to your dog and you want to prevent this. For a tick to transfer a disease to a dog, the bite often needs to be ‘nested’ for about a day, so a check after every walk is sufficient.

The diseases that a tick can transmit to your dog are Lyme and Anaplasma in the Netherlands. Most dogs don’t get that sick from this, but you still want to prevent it. Tick ​​prevention is the best way to prevent your dog from getting sick.

Engorged tick

Ticks are generally not that big, a few millimeters. However, you sometimes see a fairly large animal sitting on your dog, this can also be an engorged tick on your dog. It’s amazing how big some ticks can get.

An engorged tick on your dog sometimes releases itself. It just means that it has been there for a while and there is therefore a greater chance that a disease has been transmitted. Try not to let a tick grow so big, but remove it immediately.

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Tick ​​remove dog

The best thing you can do is check your dog for ticks every day. Here you have to keep your attention, because they are often no bigger than a few millimeters. It is best to do this check after you have returned from your walk through the woods or when your dog has had a great time in tall grass. Some places that you should definitely check for ticks are:

• On the head and neck
• On the legs
• Around the toes
• Round or in the ears
• Under the tail

Fortunately, removing a tick is not that complicated. With a simple drawing pliers you can go a long way. However, it is wise to read the tips below before you get started with the pliers. That way you can be sure that you are doing it right.

Tips for removing ticks from your dog

• Use a tick remover to remove ticks, preferably not your hands because diseases can also be transmitted in this way
• Grab the tick as close to the head as possible and do not press on the body
• Gently pull the tick straight out of your dog’s body
• Disinfect the wound only afterremoving the tick and not while the tick is still there. This allows the tick to infect your dog
• Don’t forget to wash your hands and the tick removerafter removing the tick from your dog. You never know what might have stuck to your hands or the pliers
• Note the date you removed ticks. If your dog still gets sick, you can help the vet with as much information as possible about the infection

Dog tick removal failed

Sometimes it happens that removing a tick from your dog fails. For example, does the head of the tick stay in your dog? Then you run the risk of infection. This is not a certainty, the tick may already be dead, but in this case it is better to be on the safe side and call the vet.

A tick often empties its contents into the host when it dies or is pulled incorrectly.

Symptoms of a tick bite

It sometimes happens that you overlook a tick, they are very small. As a result, your dog may start to get a little sick. Do you notice one or more of the points below? Then it is possible that your dog has a tick somewhere and has become ill. Consult your vet immediately:

• Your dog loses his energy, is lazy and does not want to move anymore
• Appetite disappears (completely)
• Your dog has a fever
• Your dog is in pain, this can be expressed by scratching a lot or wanting to lick the place where the tick has been
• For example, was the tick in the paw? Then it can become stiff and cause a strange walk

Preventing tick bites in dogs

The best thing you can do is prevent your dog from getting a tick. Going through the hair with a comb every day is already a very good way to do this, at least check the places indicated earlier in this article. In addition, there are more good measures that you can take preventively to prevent ticks in your dog.

Serato dog

The Sereto tick and flea collar is a hugely popular preventive collar against ticks. One of the reasons why the tire is so popular is because of its long service life, namely a whole season (about 8 months). The belt has a repellent effect on fleas and ticks and is also odorless in contrast to other (smelly) belts.

Pets are addictive. Whether it concerns children, adults, or the elderly: once you start with pets, you often don’t want to be without them. Logical, because pets have many positive effects on people. Fortunately, suitable animal housemates can be found for every stage of life!

Babies are surrounded by animals from birth; plush or in picture books, for example. A pet then seems like a logical next step. Growing up with a pet has many benefits, both for young children and adolescents: research shows that pets provide social support, help the child feel safe, and are good for self-confidence. Children themselves call the animal their best friend from whom they receive unconditional love and whom they can always trust.

Choose smart

For this, the child must receive good guidance and a good example from his parents. And of course, the animal must fit well with the child and the situation, because a pet that is disappointing becomes a source of frustration rather than joy. So that choice is important. Rabbits and guinea pigs don’t want to sit on your lap and hamsters, especially Syrian ones, often sleep when the children are awake. Rats, on the other hand, can be tamed well, are often active during the day, and are easy to handle by children who are not too young. Budgerigars or cockatiels are nice companions for older children. Keep in mind that they are not stuffed animals and that they can live for more than fifteen years; what happens to the birds when the children go to their rooms?

To come home

Those who are busy with a first job and their own household after school often have little time for pets. Yet, if chosen well, a pet can be a resting point in such a period, providing structure or companionship for those who live alone. An aquarium takes relatively little time and continues to run even if its owner is late at home, but it can still offer a lot of fun and relaxation. Reptiles or nocturnal and twilight animals, such as the Syrian hamster, often combine well with a work rhythm in which people are away from home a lot during the day.

Take care together

If you have children, you may also want to get a pet for the kids. Parents must also like such a pet themselves because they are ultimately responsible. When the children are older and can participate in the care, animals that require more time and attention, such as a dog, cat, or rabbits, but also parrots or other birds, can also be excellent options.

Time for company

For the elderly, pets can help to stay active longer and maintain social contact. In addition, pets are something to take care of, they provide structure in the day and help against loneliness. Retired people often have more time to spend on their pets, which in turn makes other animal species eligible. A smaller dog or cat, for example, preferably adult because these animals can get quite old. But maybe this is the moment when people finally have the time to set up a beautiful terrarium or expand a birding hobby.

Never too old

Even in a nursing home, animals can be valuable, keeping people more alert and providing companionship. Questions such as: which species are allowed, how old can the animal become, how intensive is the care and who will take over the care of the animal if it is no longer possible? Canaries or other small birds may be suitable and care is not complicated, but bear in mind they can live well over ten years. Fish require little care, but help with cleaning can be nice.

Advice

With some puzzle work, it is often possible to find an animal species that fits the picture. Do you want to know which factors play a role and which animal species can be suitable?  under ‘Living with animals’ you will find various articles about the role of pets in different phases of life, with points of attention for the purchase. The pet specialist is also happy to help you find the ideal pet for you.