Dubai has beautiful deserts, parks and beaches. Many dogs love to explore them. Some cats also go into gardens and onto the sand. But these places are also home to ticks, scorpions and snakes.
Most walks end with no problems. With some simple steps, you can make the risk smaller. And if a problem occurs, fast action helps your pet.
Do you think that a snake bit your pet, or that a scorpion stung it? Keep your pet still and calm. Call us on +971 54 746 6650 and come to the clinic now. From 10pm to 10am, go to the nearest 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital.
Ticks
What ticks are
Ticks are small parasites. They bite the skin and drink blood. A tick can stay on the body for some days. When it is full of blood, it can look like a small grey bean.
Ticks live in grass, sand, bushes and places where other animals go. They also live in kennels and in the bedding of animals. A tick can also come into your home on a pet or on clothes.
Why ticks are dangerous
A tick bite can cause a skin infection. Ticks can also carry diseases that attack the blood. Some of these diseases make a pet very ill. Many ticks on a small pet can also cause a loss of blood.
The European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) is a group of veterinary experts. ESCCAP says that you must remove a tick as soon as possible. Fast removal makes the risk of disease smaller.
How to check your pet for ticks
After each walk in a park, the desert or an area with grass, check your pet. Use your fingers to feel the skin. Look carefully at these places:
- the head, the ears and the inside of the ears
- the neck and under the collar
- between the toes
- under the legs
- around the tail
How to remove a tick
The PDSA gives this method. Use a tick-removal tool. Many pet shops and vets sell them.
- Put on gloves, if you have them.
- Slide the tool under the tick, near the skin.
- Turn the tool slowly in one direction. Do not pull up.
- When the tick comes free, lift the tool away.
- Put the tick in tape or in a closed container. Then put it in the bin.
- Clean the skin with warm, salty water.
- Wash your hands.
Do not squeeze the body of the tick. Do not put oil, alcohol or a flame on the tick.
Call us if:
- you think that part of the tick stays in the skin
- the skin gets red, swollen or hot
- your pet has no energy or does not eat
- your pet has pale gums
- you cannot remove the tick
We can remove the tick for you.
How to prevent ticks
- Use a tick product on your pet all year. There are tablets, spot-on liquids and collars.
- Ask the vet which product is correct for your pet. The correct product depends on the type of animal, the weight and the health of your pet.
- Give the product at the correct time. Write the date in a calendar.
- Wash the bedding of your pet frequently.
Important for cat owners: never use a dog tick or flea product on a cat. Some dog products contain permethrin. Permethrin is very poisonous to cats. It can kill a cat. A cat can also get poisoned when it grooms or sleeps next to a dog with a new treatment. Use only a product for cats, and give the correct dose for the weight. Ask the vet how long to keep your cat away from a treated dog.
Scorpions
Where scorpions live
Scorpions live in the desert, in rocky areas and in gardens. They hide under stones, wood and leaves during the day. They come out at night. Sometimes they come into homes, garages and storage areas.
Most scorpions do not attack. A scorpion stings when something touches it or makes it afraid. Curious dogs and cats like to dig, sniff and play with small moving animals. That is why most stings occur on the paws, the legs or the face.
Signs of a scorpion sting
- sudden pain, and the pet cries or jumps back
- the pet licks, bites or holds up a paw
- swelling at the place of the sting
- limping
- the pet cannot stay still
Some pets get more serious signs. Watch for these signs:
- a large quantity of drool
- fast breathing or difficult breathing
- muscle shaking, or walking that is not steady
- weakness or collapse
- a change in the size of the pupils
What to do after a sting
- Move your pet away from the scorpion. Do not try to catch the scorpion with your hands.
- If you can do it safely, take a photo of the scorpion.
- Keep your pet calm and still. Carry a small pet.
- Put a cool, wet cloth on the place of the sting.
- Call us and come to the clinic.
Do not give your pet medicine for people. Some human pain medicines are poisonous to pets.
How to prevent stings
- Keep your dog on a lead in the desert and in rocky areas.
- Do not let your dog dig under stones or into holes.
- In the desert, use a torch at night.
- Remove piles of wood, stones and rubbish from your garden.
- Shake out shoes, beds and blankets that stay outside.
Snakes
Snakes in the UAE
The UAE has some venomous land snakes, for example some types of viper. They live mostly in the desert, in the mountains and in rocky areas. The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi also records venomous sea snakes in the waters of the Gulf. Sometimes a sea snake comes onto a beach.
Most snakes stay away from people and pets. A snake bites when it feels in danger. A dog that sniffs or chases a snake has a high risk of a bite.
Signs of a snake bite
- sudden pain, and the pet cries
- one or two small holes in the skin, or no visible holes
- swelling that increases quickly, often on the face or a leg
- bleeding from the bite, or bruises
- drool, vomiting or weakness
- difficult breathing
- collapse
A bite can look small at first. But the venom can continue to cause damage in the body. All snake bites are an emergency.
What to do after a snake bite
These steps follow the advice of the PDSA.
- Stay calm. Move your pet away from the snake.
- Do not try to catch or kill the snake. If you can do it safely, take a photo from a distance.
- Keep your pet as still as possible. Carry your pet if you can.
- Remove the collar if the bite is on the head or the neck. Swelling can make the collar too tight.
- Call us and come to the clinic immediately.
Do not cut the bite. Do not try to suck out the venom. Do not put a tight bandage, a tourniquet or ice on the bite.
How to prevent snake bites
- In the desert and in rocky areas, keep your dog on a short lead.
- Stay on clear paths. Do not let your dog go into thick bushes or holes.
- Do not let your dog chase or sniff a snake.
- On the beach, keep your dog away from any snake, alive or dead. A dead snake can still bite with a reflex.
- Tell the beach staff or the municipality if you see a snake.
Prepare before you go to the desert
A trip to the desert needs a plan. Bring:
- a lot of water for you and your dog
- a lead and a harness
- a tick-removal tool
- the phone number of the clinic and of the nearest 24-hour emergency hospital
- a towel or a blanket to carry your dog
In the hot months, the desert is also a heatstroke risk. Read our guides to heatstroke and to safe walk times by month.
We can help
Do you need a tick and flea plan for your pet? Book a consultation or book online. For an emergency in our opening hours, read our urgent care page. We are open every day from 10am to 10pm.
Sources
- PDSA, "How to remove a tick from a dog or cat": pdsa.org.uk
- PDSA, "Ticks on dogs": pdsa.org.uk
- PDSA, "Snake bites in dogs": pdsa.org.uk
- PDSA, "Insect bites and stings in dogs": pdsa.org.uk
- PDSA, "Permethrin toxicity in cats": pdsa.org.uk
- American Kennel Club, "Scorpion stings in dogs": akc.org
- ESCCAP, "Control of Ectoparasites in Dogs and Cats" (Guideline 3): esccap.org
- Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, "Sea Snake": ead.gov.ae
- The National, "Snakes, scorpions and spiders: what to do if you encounter them in the UAE": thenationalnews.com
This article is general information. It is not a diagnosis. For an emergency, call us.
This article is general information. It is not a diagnosis. For an emergency, call us. Call +971 54 746 6650 (Daily 10am–10pm). We are not a 24-hour emergency hospital. From 10pm to 10am, take your pet to the nearest 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital.
Want a vet to check your pet?
Book a visit at Pet Avenue Clinic in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC). Open every day, 10am – 10pm.