Ticks. Where are they coming from?

[Janine]

My Cocker spaniel does like to bring friends home with him but I really hate ticks. I found two on him this morning. Luckily I come prepared with tick tweezers.

We are staying at the wonderful Doubletrees Farm in Par, Cornwall which has several fields to walk the dog round.

They haven’t had livestock on the farm for many years apparently but still the little blighters appear each time we come here.

Buzz does have a penchant for sticking his nose down rabbit holes so is that the likely source?

 

[carolyn]

They like wooded areas and long grass so if you’re in the countryside that’s where they’ll be. They’re not fussed about domesticated farm animals , any blood will do. It’s peak season now, warm and damp.

 

[Janine]

They must be feeding on something between the occasional dog venturing past

 

[carolyn]

They must be feeding on something between the occasional dog venturing past

They can go months between feeds apparently. I wish I could. Mind you think of all the little field mice that pass by , badgers, foxes etc

 

[Phill D]

It’s most likely the rabbits are a source of continuity for the ticks. Along with other parasites.

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[Manic]

We were in an area of France recently and our dog got 3 ticks one day and 2 the next but we’ve moved to some different areas and had none.

 

[Janine]

We were in an area of France recently and our dog got 3 ticks one day and 2 the next but we’ve moved to some different areas and had none.

They are the first that Buzz has had since we left home a week ago. I remember the same happened here last year but nowhere else in 6 weeks of touring Cornwall Weird!

 

[seesaw]

Up here in the Highlands we are getting a lot of ticks. Our dog is not usually a magnet for them but this year he has had at least or 5 each walk. He is given a Bravecto chew which lasts 12 weeks and kills on bite. Gotta keep checking.

 

[philann]

Deer are the main source of ticks

 

[Ridgeway]

Any livestock, any wildlife or they just lay dormant (they get through winters). It‘s high season now so they are really active and multiplying….

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[Orion]

Deer are the main source of ticks

In a past life I was dealing with wild deer on an almost daily basis. Some of the reds were running alive with them and could be in quite poor condition because of the tick burden.

I never had a problem with locating and removing the little beggars but deer keds are a different kettle of fish! Despite intense showering and washing my hair scrupulously, it wasn’t unknown for one to revive and scuttle down my forehead at the most inopportune moment - usually when out at dinner with friends!

 

[SaandCliffy]

Deer are the main source of ticks

My poor dog got a tick in North London. -pics below.

On a recent visit to Liverpool my dog apparently left some behind and they had babies they liked Daddy he had to fumigated his bedroom.
Only been to the local park -foxes only?
He was ticked & flead the week before and had none on him

 

[Ridgeway]

In a past life I was dealing with wild deer on an almost daily basis. Some of the reds were running alive with them and could be in quite poor condition because of the tick burden.

I never had a problem with locating and removing the little beggars but deer keds are a different kettle of fish! Despite intense showering and washing my hair scrupulously, it wasn’t unknown for one to revive and scuttle down my forehead at the most inopportune moment - usually when out at dinner with friends!

Now that is class

We‘ve become quite familiar with them here as they‘re a daily occurrence for 9 months of the year. Currently we remove +50 a day off the spaniel, has been over a 100 day at times, like you we just got used to it.

 

[Orion]

Now that is class

We‘ve become quite familiar with them here as they‘re a daily occurrence for 9 months of the year. Currently we remove +50 a day off the spaniel, has been over a 100 day at times, like you we just got used to it.

Yeah, the keds are attractive little beggars aren’t they!

View attachment IMG_1301.webp

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Must be lucky with my 2 Jacks as been all over Europe numerous times and they have not had any… 16 years old now and they have had 1 each over that time and they go for walks every day, use to have Deer in the garden of our previous house also…they are treated monthly with Nexguard…

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[pelican]

²

Must be lucky with my 2 Jacks as been all over Europe numerous times and they have not had any… 16 years old now and they have had 1 each over that time and they go for walks every day, use to have Deer in the garden of our previous house also…they are treated monthly with Nexguard…

Hope plenty of posters follow your example and make life more comfortable for their dogs.

 

[Littlewheels]

I read last week that one Tick an produce 2000 eggs at a time so no wonder they are spreading, l don’t recall them being such a problem not so many years ago.

 

[Widge]

We were in an area of France recently and our dog got 3 ticks one day and 2 the next but we’ve moved to some different areas and had none.

We are in Herault and it can be a bit of a problem especially this time of year, the cats come in with them, but we do have sheep in the fields next to us.

One key thing is to know how to remove them properly, we use the tic removers like a little bent fork. We gave been warned that lymes disease is prevelent here, removing them incorrectly like heat or vaseline can make them panic, and to try and get away they will disgourge themselves of any fluid they have collected, this is a common way of people catching lymes disease.

 

[Manic]

We are in Herault and it can be a bit of a problem especially this time of year, the cats come in with them, but we do have sheep in the fields next to us.

One key thing is to know how to remove them properly, we use the tic removers like a little bent fork. We gave been warned that lymes disease is prevelent here, removing them incorrectly like heat or vaseline can make them panic, and to try and get away they will disgourge themselves of any fluid they have collected, this is a common way of people catching lymes disease.

Yes we have the proper tool.

 

[Widge]

Yes we have the proper tool.

Sorry I wasn't suggesting you didn't, I thought it was generaly worth mentioning about the tool and the problems of lymes disease and thought your post was a good one to tag it onto.

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[Janine]

I have some of these. I find them easier to use single-handedly on a wriggly dog especially if the tick is on his face or ear.

Trixie Tick Tweezers | Low Prices at bitiba.co.uk %

The Trixie Tick Tweezers are durable plastic tick tweezers for dogs and cats. Simply removes any ticks without crushing. Available in various colours.

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[Littlewheels]

You can also remove them quite safely without a tool, put your finger on its back and gently move your finger in a circular motion to the right after about five turns do it to the left and keep repeating this motion, it upsets the Ticks equilibrium and it actually gets dizzy and drops off.

 

[L' Hobo]

Deer are the main source of ticks

and there has been a population explosion of Deer over the past few years and IMO they should be tested for Bovine TB along with the Badger but so far, apparently, have not!

 

[Pausim]

They must be feeding on something between the occasional dog venturing past

Some varieties only feed once at each developmental phase and can go a year between feeds.

 

[L' Hobo]

I no longer have dogs but am still curious about how one best disposed of them after you have extracted them?
We know you shouldn't leave any part of them in one's body because, after a number of days while nothing appears to be wrong, suddenly one has problems?

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[Miggs]

Clocks!

 

[denisejoe]

Unfed larvae are able to survive for up to 540 days, while unfed nymphs have been recorded to survive for up to 584 days! Even more impressive, unfed adult American dog ticks can go 2-3 years (up to 1,053 days)without food

 

[TDub49]

Complex little b*ggers. Generally live quite a hit and miss life as they take up to three years to make it from egg to egg-laying adult, in many cases swapping host species on the way. Bravecto or similar for the dog and if you must go bare legged in tick country (which is pretty well anywhere there are plants they can climb on whilst waiting for lift) try peppermint oil or similar - anything that disguises your scent. As previously stated, no glowing fag ends, petroleum jelly or tick twiddling, just use tweezers, tick removal tools or good old fingernails to whip the tick off - with a twist if you can manage to do it. Anything that gives the tick time to regurgitate its dinner back into your sisyst a big risk. Lots of info here: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/about/tick-lifecycles.html

 

[Janine]

I no longer have dogs but am still curious about how one best disposed of them after you have extracted them?
We know you shouldn't leave any part of them in one's body because, after a number of days while nothing appears to be wrong, suddenly one has problems?

I wrap them in a piece of kitchen towel and ‘pop’ them between my thumb nails. Very satisfying.

 

[Pausim]

They are just lying in wait for the tourists to return each year.

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