David Lock

Our 6 month old puppy has a warty looking small growth on her flank which I rather suspect is a tick bite. It's hard to tell if the tick or parts of it, are still there and she doesn't seemed bothered by it.

But before I rush off to the vets with cheque book in hand I wondered if any dog owners had experience of this. I have Googled and there is a mass of information about diseases that can occur and pulling ticks out but I couldn't find out, for example, whether ticks are now active in UK especially after the long cold spell? Also what are the true odds of a bite resulting in disease.

And does the tick always stay on skin or do they fall off naturally?

Any practical advice welcome please.

Cheers, David

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RA Dunk

I think from memory if a tick is pulled off by some kind of external force the head remains, could it be the head you feel?

Mouser

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

I got one off the neighbour's alsation by dabbing it, (the tick, not the alsation ) with after shave.

I did it three times in two days, and the second day the tick fell off.

You can also coat them in vaseline and they come off.

adamb87

have removed one from our black lab once by getting hold of it and pulling it out. but not by its body, use its "legs". if you squeeze the body it will inject toxins into the dog iirc.....

scoobeenut

You can buy specialist tools for removing ticks easily without crushing them.

Ant

everything you said to do the video above says not to do

ScoobyWon't

Get the specialist tool. They sell various types on Amazon and probably most pet stores (though I don't think Pets at Home sell them)

Don't try to remove it with tweezers as the head can remain behind, which allows for infection.

A tick will look similar to this:

David Lock

Thanks guys - I'll put the bolt cutters away and try to do it properly.

david

henrysmith

iTrader: (5)

The item you want is called a 'Twissler/Twizzler' - most pet stores/vets do them - they have two sizes each with a 'V' groove in them - slide under the tick around it's legs and then you twist and twist the 'Twizzler' and it 'Corkscrews' the tick out legs and all - works brilliantly. If the legs/head are left in then a lump often forms but is usually harmless - often looks like a lumpy boil. As long as not inflamed/sore/weeping then no worries and just get vet to check next time you are there


The above are the very ones I have used for 15 plus years and probably hundreds of ticks on me hounds!

RobsyUK

iTrader: (2)

When I was a child I remember seeing one of these on a dog and thought it was a mole... Can't remember what happened to the dog... Just be careful as you can get a tick on you! Where ever your walking your dog tuck your trousers in your socks!

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Mate of mine was in Tesco, at the checkout, and felt a real itch on his leg and b@lls.

It was obvious there was something moving, so he rushed home, dropped his trousers and undies and found a tick crawling on his leg.

He said to his son, who was standing watching, "Look at this tick,", to which the kid replies, "Yep, just like the one ATTACHED to your left nut..." and there was

Boro

iTrader: (1)

Best get the right tool for the job, you really don't want to leave anything behind.

Personally, I'd run the dog to the vets, I doubt they'd charge an arm and a leg to remove it there and then. Takes seconds.

Then get the tool for next time.

David Lock

Fair comment about vet although I bet they would suggest blood tests as well?

The Mrs has told me that somewhere (?) we have a tick removal tool which we bought 20 odd years ago when we had a bunch of cats when we lived in RSA which had a lot of ticks about. I'll have a search around.

david

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Ticks will fall off naturally once they've had their feed.

The ones we get are tiny little spider like things (size of a money spider but with much shorter legs) ...then they take a bite and swell up to the size of a pea. If you look carefully at it you'll just about see its legs waving around.

I've just soaked them in flea/tick spray.

When removing you are supposed to twist as you pull, I never bothered as they just drop off after a day or so.

Boro

iTrader: (1)

Don't some ticks carry Lymes Disease?

I'm guessing the sooner it's off, the better.

I wouldn't recommend leaving it on until it feeds for a few days, then falls off god knows where!

RA Dunk

So whats your mate doing showing his son his nuts then?

sprigeteer

iTrader: (9)

The tick removal tool is very cheap, a little plastic thingy from the vets/online (get the two sizes). Our dogs and cats get loads come this time of year from being in long grass. Never had any issues, simply removed them and sent them for a trip down the toilet.

Iain250

iTrader: (1)

we get millions of them uo here in the heather - they will fall of naturally - vinegar or vaseline speeds it up