Ticks
Jun 12th 2011, 3:35 pm
#16
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Re: Ticks
Well, When the pups arrived, I picked off what I could see, and then the day after that checked them again.
Only some very sick ones, and no more since.
Do always remember that all the methods of removing ticks, like burning with a cigarette, vaseline, poisons and so on, as well as pulling them by the body should never be used, as all will risk making the tick vomit some blood into the wound which is a very high risk of causing an infection. Pull them off with a hook or loop designed for the purpose, and be careful not to leave the mouthparts in the wound.
If you get bitten, I would suggest applying a hot poultice, as hot as you can bear on the wound for as long as you can. The idea is to heat up the tissues around the wound in the hope of killing bacteria and viruses which can be very heat sensitive.
Only some very sick ones, and no more since.
Do always remember that all the methods of removing ticks, like burning with a cigarette, vaseline, poisons and so on, as well as pulling them by the body should never be used, as all will risk making the tick vomit some blood into the wound which is a very high risk of causing an infection. Pull them off with a hook or loop designed for the purpose, and be careful not to leave the mouthparts in the wound.
If you get bitten, I would suggest applying a hot poultice, as hot as you can bear on the wound for as long as you can. The idea is to heat up the tissues around the wound in the hope of killing bacteria and viruses which can be very heat sensitive.
I thought Frontline didn't provide full protection against ticks? Ours had the collar too after I had a tick. Was stood at the bathroom mirror one morning and looked like a nasty spot on my neck. Putting on my reading glasses I could see it's legs hanging out
You can buy a special tick remover instrument but I can't remember if I bought it in the UK or Spain.
You can buy a special tick remover instrument but I can't remember if I bought it in the UK or Spain.
Jun 12th 2011, 3:45 pm
#17
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Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Ontinyent - Valencia region (campo)
Posts: 5,160
Re: Ticks
We were told that the correct removal method was to use alcohol first, then use tweezers to pull out the tick. Apparently, the alcohol loosens them but you have to make sure that you get all of the tick and don't leave the head buried in!
We've taken many out from our dogs despite them using collars and frontline.
We've taken many out from our dogs despite them using collars and frontline.
Jun 12th 2011, 4:08 pm
#18
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Re: Ticks
No I didn't remove it myself, I screamed and OH got it out. Had it checked out at the Doctors.
Jun 12th 2011, 5:14 pm
#20
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Location: Vejer de la Fra., Cadiz
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Re: Ticks
We were told that the correct removal method was to use alcohol first, then use tweezers to pull out the tick. Apparently, the alcohol loosens them but you have to make sure that you get all of the tick and don't leave the head buried in!
We've taken many out from our dogs despite them using collars and frontline.
We've taken many out from our dogs despite them using collars and frontline.
Jun 12th 2011, 6:14 pm
#22
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Jun 12th 2011, 6:19 pm
#23
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Re: Ticks
Using it afterwards to clean the wound is fine, and very sensible.
Were I bitten, I'd also use a high thermal mass hot poultice as fast as poss, for as long as I could.
Jun 12th 2011, 6:45 pm
#24
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Re: Ticks
On the west coast of Scotland there is the same problem with ticks. My G.P. goes wild if we try to remove them especially if we leave the head in. It can cause big problems as there is still ,a contact directly into your blood stream.
Ok I know it is possible to get Lymes disease but there is a lot of hype and I only know of one person who has been infected with it in about 20 years.
The G.P. advises us to leave them in! and let the nice chappies fall out by themselves. We put perfume onto them and it usually works on humans. The dog would run a mile at the very word knowing that we would extract them, occasionally with a bit of fur.
Pete
Ok I know it is possible to get Lymes disease but there is a lot of hype and I only know of one person who has been infected with it in about 20 years.
The G.P. advises us to leave them in! and let the nice chappies fall out by themselves. We put perfume onto them and it usually works on humans. The dog would run a mile at the very word knowing that we would extract them, occasionally with a bit of fur.
Pete
Jun 12th 2011, 7:07 pm
#25
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Location: Vejer de la Fra., Cadiz
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Re: Ticks
On the west coast of Scotland there is the same problem with ticks. My G.P. goes wild if we try to remove them especially if we leave the head in. It can cause big problems as there is still ,a contact directly into your blood stream.
Ok I know it is possible to get Lymes disease but there is a lot of hype and I only know of one person who has been infected with it in about 20 years.
The G.P. advises us to leave them in! and let the nice chappies fall out by themselves. We put perfume onto them and it usually works on humans. The dog would run a mile at the very word knowing that we would extract them, occasionally with a bit of fur.
Pete
Ok I know it is possible to get Lymes disease but there is a lot of hype and I only know of one person who has been infected with it in about 20 years.
The G.P. advises us to leave them in! and let the nice chappies fall out by themselves. We put perfume onto them and it usually works on humans. The dog would run a mile at the very word knowing that we would extract them, occasionally with a bit of fur.
Pete
Interestingly, if you are in a lyme disease area, watch out if there are a lot of acorns on the trees. It usually means that there will more lyme cases the following year, and they will be more widespread.
Jun 12th 2011, 9:03 pm
#26
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Joined: May 2011
Location: 30 mins inland in the eastern Costa del Sol
Posts: 173
Re: Ticks
Be aware that it is illegal to let your dogs roam in the campo. If they kill any of your neighbours chickens or bite anyone they will probably be shot or you will get denounced. 
If you can't afford to fence off all of your land, could you not fence off a bit
round your house?
If you can't afford to fence off all of your land, could you not fence off a bit
round your house?
[QUOTE=adra04778;9427786]Can anyone tell me where one can buy the tick remover please[/QUOTE
We got ours from here - http://www.otom.com/how-to-remove-a-tick
Believe it or - an hour or so ago I discovered a tick on my back
First time this has ever happened! I pulled it off before I realised what it was and got OH to have a look and put some antiseptic on (see my earlier post about OH almost dying!) Do I need to see a doctor???????
Jun 12th 2011, 10:41 pm
#27
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Re: Ticks
Believe it or - an hour or so ago I discovered a tick on my back
First time this has ever happened! I pulled it off before I realised what it was and got OH to have a look and put some antiseptic on (see my earlier post about OH almost dying!) Do I need to see a doctor???????
Tick borne illnesses depend on what the tick has been feeding off before. Lyme is only one of many but you will soon know (usually within 24 hrs) if you have an infection.
Hope you will be clear and well, chances are you will be.
Jun 13th 2011, 6:56 am
#28
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Joined: May 2011
Location: 30 mins inland in the eastern Costa del Sol
Posts: 173
Re: Ticks
Unless you start to feel ill there is not much the Dr can do. They could put you on anti biotics as a precaution.
Tick borne illnesses depend on what the tick has been feeding off before. Lyme is only one of many but you will soon know (usually within 24 hrs) if you have an infection.
Hope you will be clear and well, chances are you will be.
Tick borne illnesses depend on what the tick has been feeding off before. Lyme is only one of many but you will soon know (usually within 24 hrs) if you have an infection.
Hope you will be clear and well, chances are you will be.
First time I've been bitten - to my knowledge - but after what happened to OH I'm a little paranoid
Jun 13th 2011, 7:35 am
#29
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Granada Costa
Posts: 10,901
Re: Ticks
The classic symptom of Lyme disease is a red rash in the form of a ring round the bite site appearing a few days later.
If you go to the doctor they will arrange a blood test to check it out. If confirmed a course of antibiotics will sort it out.
If left it goes away but the consequences later can be very serious.
We get ticks on our cats at this time of the year. One simple method of removing them is a dab of Frontline direct on the tick. Personally I use a pair of tweezers and an eyeglass to see exactly what I am doing - if you get them early they are very small.
If you buy a pair of ordinary tweezers they need to be modified by bending the tips inwards at about 45 degrees - that enables them to get right under the tick at its head. Ordinary tweezers will just squash it which injects its stomach contents into the animal! Not nice.
If you go to the doctor they will arrange a blood test to check it out. If confirmed a course of antibiotics will sort it out.
If left it goes away but the consequences later can be very serious.
We get ticks on our cats at this time of the year. One simple method of removing them is a dab of Frontline direct on the tick. Personally I use a pair of tweezers and an eyeglass to see exactly what I am doing - if you get them early they are very small.
If you buy a pair of ordinary tweezers they need to be modified by bending the tips inwards at about 45 degrees - that enables them to get right under the tick at its head. Ordinary tweezers will just squash it which injects its stomach contents into the animal! Not nice.
Jun 13th 2011, 8:20 am
#30
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Posts: 17,507
Re: Ticks
I must have pulled hundreds out over the years when living in Sweden where the tick problem was much worse than in Spain or the UK.
I only ever used a set of tweezers, but as Fred mentions they do need to be the right shape to avoid either squashing them or nipping them off at the head.
I've never seen a specialized tool for the purpose, so would be curious to know what it is like and is it of metal construction ?
I watched a Spanish vet removing ticks on one occasion and she appeared to me to be using normal tweezers or something very similar.
I only ever used a set of tweezers, but as Fred mentions they do need to be the right shape to avoid either squashing them or nipping them off at the head.
I've never seen a specialized tool for the purpose, so would be curious to know what it is like and is it of metal construction ?
I watched a Spanish vet removing ticks on one occasion and she appeared to me to be using normal tweezers or something very similar.