Ticks Scottish isles.

[Janecambridge]

I have been told that we have to be very alert for ticks in outer hebrides. I see Uist has had a high incidence of Lyme disease. We aim to take precautions with deet spray, long trousers etc. We don’t have a dog.

 

[Podney]

Very wise I’d say. You can’t trust those Scottish ticks . Have you bought some tick extractor tweezers?

 

[bridgedino]

Take the precautions but dont let it spoil the trip, covered legs will keep out a tick, adders and haggis as well

 

[PP Bear]

Just in case.

 

[WillH]

Better than tweezers is an O'Tom tick removal tool.

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[Ridgeway]

Main advice i'd give:

1) avoid walking in the long grass at the side of paths
2) avoid following deer and sheep lanes
3 check yourself over after the walk

The long trousers thing i'm never sure about as if they get onto your clothes it means they'll find their way to you eventually, but on bare legs you have a chance to see them, least you can on my Mancunian milk bottle legs

It's full tick season here and due to the long wet period they are in full bloom with us taking 100 a day off the dog, it will calm down now it's warmed up though.

PS: the disposal method on that pic above is wrong, ideal is to wrap them in tissue and light it so satisfying to hear them go "pop"

 

[Janecambridge]

Just in case.
View attachment 508046

 

[Janecambridge]

Thanks for advice. Will pop in bag and burn, don’t want to waste alcohol!

 

[Ridgeway]

Thanks for advice. Will pop in bag and burn, don’t want to waste alcohol!

"burn the feckers"

i love them really...

 

[Wikky]

Ticks, midges, SNP, and the Wee Crankie, what's not to like.

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[Gellyneck]

It seems nowadays that every informative thread on Scotland has to deteriorate into comments on Scottish politics.

 

[Otter Spotter]

I have been told that we have to be very alert for ticks in outer hebrides. I see Uist has had a high incidence of Lyme disease. We aim to take precautions with deet spray, long trousers etc. We don’t have a dog.

Not sure that Sprays such as Deet work with Tics, keep covered, check your legs and after each walk and get yourself a tic remover
Amazon £3.99

 

[Googlebot]

Just got myself a tick removal card to keep in my wallet from Smidge.

Dog keeps getting them, we have occasionally. No real issue and more than worth the hassle to see the beautiful place.

 

[Garfields]

It seems nowadays that every informative thread on Scotland has to deteriorate into comments on Scottish politics.

Its tradition
Especially with folk from Englandshire

 

[gerry mcg]

Not sure that Sprays such as Deet work with Tics, keep covered, check your legs and after each walk and get yourself a tic remover
Amazon £3.99

these are the best & esiest to use

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[Northern Boy]

Better than tweezers is an O'Tom tick removal tool

And even better is a tick lasso. We have a big tick problem here, especially in the countryside where we live. tried the tweezers, O'Tom but to get the tick out clean, head and all I love the tick lasso. I find myself using it two or three times a week at this time of year, mainly on the cats.

 

[Ridgeway]

And even better is a tick lasso. We have a big tick problem here, especially in the countryside where we live. tried the tweezers, O'Tom but to get the tick out clean, head and all I love the tick lasso. I find myself using it two or three times a week at this time of year, mainly on the cats.


View attachment 508089

Wow that looks great, going to track one down, thanks for the tip

 

[Gellyneck]

Wow that looks great, going to track one down, thanks for the tip

Amazon product ASIN B004WMDZ5E

 

[Northern Boy]

Wow that looks great, going to track one down, thanks for the tip

So pleased you found them, I really struggle to get them here, occasionally I see some in a supermarket but never in the pet shops or vets. We don't get Amazon here either. Whenever I see them I buy a couple although the ones we bought a few years back are still working fine. I think they are genius.

 

[big bertha]

Here's one found inside the ear of daughter's 8 month lab a couple of nights ago. Minnie our border is frontlined but lab hasn't been done yet. We have the tick tool which is easy to use.

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[Podney]

I wonder where the expression “ tick you off” comes from. As in “Don’t walk on grandads flower bed or he‘ll tick you off”.

 

[34127]

Definitely get a proper tick removal tool and don't believe the information you often read on social media about wonderful ways of removing them by dabbing something onto them such as Vaseline or peppermint oil.

 

[Northern Boy]

Definitely get a proper tick removal tool and don't believe the information you often read on social media about wonderful ways of removing them by dabbing something onto them such as Vaseline or peppermint oil.

When I was younger and most of us smoked, using the lit end of a cigarette was good, just get it close enough to kill the tick without burning yourself. However we need to remember that cigarettes are bad for our health

 

[Googlebot]

Cigarettes and Vaseline just make them vomit inside you, higher risk of disease then.

 

[golly]

Minnie our border is frontlined but lab hasn't been done yet.

We use Frontline on Jess, but the tick protection seems only to be effective for about 2 weeks.
As for removal I use either the Tom O tick tool or these forceps similar to ones I used at work.
What I cant understand is that I'v always been told not to twist when removing, yet tht Tom O tick twists them to remove but they do work.

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[Ridgeway]

Yes agree on the Frontline only working about 2wks, now we've been using Frontline Plus on one of our sensitive dogs and that last perhaps 3wks at a push. The bullet proof Cocker gets bravecto and that works for the full 3 months and no issues with swimming.

The tick removal tools are great but in reality you've missed the best chance of removal which is right after a walk. We run a fine toothed comb through ours once they are back, this lunch walk i've just removed over 80 ticks after a 45min walk from the Cocker, took about 10mins to do. Manual removal works well before they latch on as the ticks always gravitate towards the head (thinner skin, lots of blood vessels close to the surface) If you just stand there and watch you'll see the blighters making their way up your pooch....