🐶 My Dog, the Flea Problem, and What I Learned About Tick-Borne Diseases

I have a long-haired dog that I’ve been raising since he was a puppy. Because I often have to go to work and don’t spend much time at home, I can’t always take care of him properly. As a result, he sometimes gets ticks and fleas. Every weekend, whenever I have a day off, I try to groom and remove the ticks myself. But no matter how many times I clean him, those tiny creatures keep coming back again and again.

I once bought anti-tick injections and special treatments after hearing other pet owners recommend them. They seemed to work for a month or two, but then the problem would return. Eventually, I got tired and stopped using them altogether.

Now, my dog is already five years old. Recently, when my older sister came to visit our parents, she saw the dog scratching and immediately told my parents to sell him. Her reasoning was: “If one of those ticks bites someone and kills them, what will you do?”

At first, I thought that was ridiculous. I told her, “Come on, these dog ticks are so small — how could they possibly kill someone?” But she insisted, saying that it really could happen. I was frustrated and didn’t believe her.

Later, my mom searched online and showed me a bunch of news reports about people actually dying from tick bites. When I read them, I was completely shocked. I could hardly believe what I was seeing. In particular, there was a report from China about a recent outbreak of a deadly tick-borne disease that had caused several deaths. Until then, I had never thought a tick bite could be fatal — but apparently, it can be.

According to the reports, a family in China had three people bitten by ticks; two of them died, and one survived after intensive care. The survivor, an elderly woman, said her son-in-law had a high fever, started coughing blood, and was in critical condition before passing away. He had been healthy and strong before that. The woman’s own mother also developed similar symptoms — fever and bleeding — and sadly, she didn’t survive either.

It reminded me of another well-known case — that of Canadian rock singer Avril Lavigne, who was diagnosed with Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick in 2014. She later revealed that she was bedridden for five months and at one point thought she might die. “I felt like I couldn’t breathe, talk, or move. I thought I was dying,” she said in an interview. Avril added that living in Toronto made her realize how important it is to protect not only against mosquitoes and stray animals but also against ticks.

Ticks are considered the second most dangerous disease-carrying insects after mosquitoes. They don’t just feed on blood; during that process, they can transmit serious infections to humans. Tick bites can spread diseases such as meningitis, hemorrhagic fever, thrombocytopenia syndrome, and Lyme disease — a bacterial infection reported in over 70 countries worldwide.

Ticks often live in grass, bushes, animal burrows, and especially in areas where pets like dogs and cats rest. That means your own home and garden can easily become breeding grounds if you have pets.

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🧠 How to Prevent Tick Bites

1. Wear light-colored clothing when walking through grassy or wooded areas — this makes ticks easier to spot.

2. Avoid sitting directly on grass or leaves, and stay on clear paths whenever possible.

3. Tuck your pants into your socks to prevent ticks from crawling up your legs.

4. Use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or permethrin on clothes and exposed skin.

5. Shower within two hours after outdoor activities to wash off any ticks before they attach.

6. Check your entire body, especially armpits, groin, scalp, and behind the knees after coming indoors.

7. Inspect pets daily, especially around the ears, neck, and tail area, since ticks prefer warm, hidden spots.

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🩺 What to Do If a Tick Bites You

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward steadily without twisting.

2. Clean the area with rubbing alcohol, iodine solution, or soap and water.

3. Dispose of the tick safely — place it in a sealed plastic bag or submerge it in alcohol to kill it.

4. Do not crush the tick with your fingers, as this can release infectious fluids.

5. If you develop fever, rash, or flu-like symptoms, visit a hospital immediately and inform the doctor about the bite. Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent serious complications.

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🌿 A Final Thought

After learning all this, I realized that my sister’s concern wasn’t unreasonable at all. What seemed like a small issue — a few fleas or ticks — can actually pose serious health risks not only to pets but also to people. From now on, I make sure to regularly bathe my dog, use anti-tick products, and clean his bedding weekly.

Ticks may be tiny, but their danger is real. Protecting your pets and your family from them isn’t just about hygiene — it’s about health and safety.