Works with iOS and Android smartphonesDog owners beware! With this smartphone trick you can find ticks in seconds

The risk of ticks is not just high in summer!

Nowadays, there is no longer an increased risk of ticks only in warmer months, but all year round. The reason: Ticks become active as soon as the temperature is at least five to seven degrees Celsius on several consecutive days. Because of climate change and rising temperatures, even in winter, the spread of ticks is encouraged.

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And also 2026 will be a year full of ticks. The risk of infection is higher than ever. Never before since the reporting requirement began have there been as many cases of meningitis (TBE) as last year. Lyme disease is also becoming increasingly common.

But it's not just us humans who suffer from ticks; the little bloodsuckers also often attack dogs. And they are often difficult to detect in their fur. But there is a smartphone hack that can help.

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For iPhone: Smartphone magnifying glass helps find ticks

Finding ticks with your iOS smartphone is how it works:

• Opens the Magnifying glass app (This is a utility from Apple).

• Tap the filter icon.

• Choose that one Inverted filter. The filter ensures that light and dark colors are swapped, making ticks more visible, as the @coachingfuerhundehalter page on Instagram explains, for example.

• All you have to do is run the camera or magnifying glass over your dog's fur.

Tip: It may be that the filter function cannot yet be found in your controls. In that case, you proceed as follows:

• Click on Settings (gear icon at the bottom right).

• There you can now add various controls to the primary or secondary controls, including the “Filter” function.

• Click on “Done” at the top right and you can continue as described above.

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Android smartphones: Find ticks with the magnifying glass app – this is how it works!

Not only Apple devices have this practical function, you can also search for ticks with Android smartphones, as the Instagram user “landwaertsmitlisa” reveals in a comment on the video:

• First, search for “magnifying glass” on your smartphone.

• Activates the “Magnifying Glass Shortcut” and select where you would like to have it displayed on your smartphone.

• Now press the shortcut.

• In the open magnifying glass you can Filter “Inverted” can be selected using the filter function.

• Now you can move your cell phone camera over your dog's body and locate ticks in seconds.

This practical smartphone hack not only makes life easier for you, but also for your animals. From now on, they no longer have to stand still for so long while their fur is searched. (with dpa)

Source used: dpa, Instagram/coachingfordogowners