Ticks ! (1 Viewer)

[Cobweb]

Hi

This is not funny story but this might happen to any of us in wooded areas
like Bavaria ,Tirol and Austria etc and even Scotland and Yorkshire moors ! Two years ago in Germany my husband asked me to look at a spot on his bum . Out came the magnifying class and we saw to our horror that
there was a tick firmly attached . I then googled it before removing with tweezers and got all of it out . We took a photo of it and disposed of it .
We were in Bavaria at the time and as luck would have it it was a bank holiday !
The next day we went to a pharmacy and explained what had happened and much to our surprise they made an urgent GP appointment within the hour !
My husband was given a vaccination which apparently would reduce the likely
hood of encephalitis and told him to return within a week for another shot of the vaccine and get the results of a bloodtest . The tick was a deer tick which can be a carrier of Lymes disease as well as encephalitis , both very nasty indeed.
All turned out well in the end till we got back to France where much to our horror I had to remove another tiny one from his tummy .This time I did not get all of it out and luckily a kind lady in a nearby Pharmacy in Joinville finished the job.
By this time we hoped that the vaccine was effective and did no more about it and there were no nasty symptoms as a result .

We came to the conclusion that my husband is a tick magnet and now take all possible precautions applying insect repellent and have also invested in some insect repellant clothing as well .

So let us be careful out there !

 

[yodeli]

Well not the right season to have ...good time lying in the grass

But it can happen anywhere indeed. Ticks don't jump but they can crawl and make their way to the target they have spotted!

I'm afraid Joy is going to hate me ... after the snakes and other little poisonous animals here I come with the TICKS

A few years back, one happy morning (well only for a few minutes....) I went to the bathroom wondering why I had such an itchy eye... looked and looked again in the mirror , and nothing special ....
Went on with usual things to do in house , and again too itchy eye for nothing to be in !
Went again in the bathroom and tried to have a better look ...
When..... suddenly I noticed something moving on the edge of my eyelashes .... ahaaaaaa what's that?????

Looked everywhere else,just to find out it was moving along my forehead next to my hair just the same !!!
Straight to hospital as it was really becoming too itchy!
Went to the emergency eye specialist (called Ophtalmologue in French) who asked me to put my head on a special medical tool so that she could have a look with magnifying glasses. I saw her changing face ... and heard a "OMG" never saw that before !
I'm unique I replied , I always knew it ...


Ok Are you ready for the horror bit?











A tick had laid its b****y eggs all around my right eye., and along my forehead:Angry::Angry:!
The doctor had to remove all the little buggers one by one with a special tong!


YUKKKKKoh:oh:I just don't know when and how it happened. I think my dog might have had one and when lying next to me on the sofa the tick must have thought I could be tastier

Anyway ....Sorry Joy .... But you know as the doctor said it never happens ... except on me
I just can't forget it!!!


Happy hols in France

Frankie

 

[DavidG58]

Well thankyou very much Frankie

I had a tick related thread the other day relating to our dog, (Lola) been to vets about a possible infected wound

While there asked him about what the tick did after filling on my dogs blood, he said they would die due to the Frontline or whichever potion we had used

Now I am as worried as I was before I spoke to him, do you treat your dogs?

WE almost certainly must miss some of these ticks on our dog due to very long hair, when they drop off, what happens?

Thousands of baby ticks all over the house??

I am itching all over already

David


edit - I would have liked your post but just couldn't

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[Kool Kroozer]

Sounds like something out of a horror film Glad to hear all parties concerned are doing well now though

 

[yodeli]

Don't worry about liking my post , it's one of my worst adventures and indeed don't really like to remember it!

Anyway, I don't have anymore dog now but I certainly avoid the prairies and woods during spring and beginning of summer .
I used to have my dog (poodle toy) completely "naked" he was bold all summer ! Too many insects and little funny herbs around . Then I also used to oil his ears (had the hairy bit all removed as well!) and paws (between toes) so that ticks can't hold onto

Don't get too worried about the little buggers , once they have the medicine in, that's it they just fall dry . Even if you miss one , you can't have what I had . It really is something very exceptional. the doctor said , even on tramps she never saw that so indeed relax!

I was just unlucky..... as always! My Karma I guess ... but I do cope with it:Cool:


Have a nice time

Frankie

 

[JJ]

From time to time I like to be reassured that having a dog would be far too much trouble for me...

Kids grow up, buy you drinks and take you to football.


Dogs?

No way...


JJ :Cool:

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[Floydster]

After one of our trips to the New Forest earlier this year we found a tick on Floyd, tried to remove it with tweezers but left a bit in so a trip to the vets was due. They found two more and removed them with a tick remover.
We treat him with Advocate monthly, this doesn't do ticks but does lungworm. Frontline does ticks but not lungworm, as the vet pointed out that lungworm is a killer he suggested Advocate was the way to go with the addition of a tick collar, which is the route we took along with the purchase of a tick twister for removal of any he did pick up.
Apparently the warm wet winter has been perfect conditions for the little buggers so there's plenty about this year.

Jax knows all about them as she had Lymes disease a few years ago from a tick. Not good and not an experience she wants to go through again.
After a walk we give him a good check over just in case he's picked up any hikers on his walk.

 

[chrisinplymouth]

I have a labrador that like all dogs picks up ticks on occasion. Following trying various different methods for removing ticks, some less successful than others, I was given a tip from a military dog handler. Go and get some alcohol wipes from the chemist, when dog (or human) gets tick, cover the head of tick with wipe and massage gently. The tick hates the chemical and withdraws its mouth pieces that normally get left behind when pulling off. The tick will come off with a gentle pull.

If you have not got alcohol wipes most wipes that are chemically impregnated will do......last time I used a wipe from a packet of Lidel windscreen glass cleaners.....(screenies)...worked a treat!

Best wishes

Chris

 

[sedge]

Mike Beaches and other suspects please take note --- but could happen to anyone wearing short shorts or swimmies ..... some years ago I walked across unmown grass, sort of low knee height on part of a campsite that had been left to meadow, to go to the loo. As I sat on the loo, I noticed something high up on my inner thigh ........

When I got beck to the tent I asked Pete if he could see what it was as I couldn't really get near enough in me varifocals to give it a good steady stare.

Got it in one - TG I had tweezers. Also had one on the back of my neck after visiting a national park in Aus; and we hadn't gone 'off path' anywhere. Bare neck but always wearing a fairly wide-brimmed hat, so it must have leapt from a vine or something. That one had burrowed and I kept saying 'What's this spot on the back of my neck? They all said it was just a spot. Odd I thought and washed my hairline more vigorously from then on .... Yup another one. One morning it had evidently come back up to the surface and felt hard when I washed my neck - I said Have I scratched that spot and made it bleed? Nope, dropped off on Pete's hand and he squished it, blood everywhere!

Yukkkkkk.

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[laneside]

For your dog buy a cheap tick removal tool of EBay but if you do not fancy that smother them in Vaseline as it suffocates them or as someone else said best malt whisky

 

[teddybard]

Don't worry

[HI]I was just unlucky..... as always![/HI] [HI]My Karma I guess ... but I do cope with it:Cool:
[/HI]

Have a nice time

Frankie

Good Grief Frankie that & JJ You really are Unlucky

 

[Gizmouk]

We keep a tick removal tool in our first aid kit.
Never use tweezers as there's a fair chance of either leaving part of the tick in the wound, and / or, forcing parts of the ticks' body through it's mouth into the wound. Sorry to be so graphic

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[Mastercamper]

Living here in very rural Northumberland and roaming freely on the farm, our dogs encounter many ticks, both sheep and deer.

We always examine them carefully to find any.

I used to pull them off, but occasionally parts would remain embedded, potentially likely to cause infection.

Tick removal tools and tweezers also can not be relied upon every time.

Last year I came across an almost magical way of removing them, it works every time!

When finding a tick, expose it fully by folding the fur away from it. Then gently, using the tip of your index finger, stroke the little blighter with a circular motion for about 15 to 20 seconds.

For some unknown reason, the tick will withdraw it`s head and fall off.

I then take great delight in entombing it in sellotape and setting fire to it. the resulting mini explosion is very satisfying to behold.

The important thing is to continue the rotational stroking, without squashing, as you do not want the little sod to regurgitate ingested blood back into the dog/cat etc.

Treating with anti tick vaccine is pretty essential to stop the ticks in their tracks, but just in case you find any, this method will successfully remove any that you may find.

My dogs do not object to this gentle tick removal procedure, and it really works.

 

[WillH]

We get ticks when walking, use a gadget called O'TOM to remove them. Had lots but never had a vaccine for the bite. The gadget cost a couple of quid from the vet. Got them in the van and at home. As we walk on moors a lot we almost expect them, especially on the dog.

Bill

 

[Phill D]

if you really want to scare yourself over Ticks then look up "Tick borne encephalitis" it a problem in parts of Europe particularly Austria where the population get vaccinated against it.

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[catspyjamas]

I too can recommend the O'Tom tick remover :thumb: Saw them using one on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here as well

Jessie had such a tick infestation last summer, that I've bitten the bullet this year and bought a Seresto collar from the vets. Cost £41.78 but it is supposed to be the only effective thing v ticks. When I got home I checked the price online and saw that they were £18.50! Of course you'd have to add on the postage and the cost of getting your vet to write out a prescription.

Will watch Jessie with interest this summer!

 

[dreckly]

ticks

I am at St Goar on the Rhine, yesterday I removed 17 ticks from my dog. Tick removal implement, marvellous bit of kit.

 

[Cobweb]

Wow !

What have I started ! 17 Ticks ! We are heading for the Rhine soon , If dogs get 17 ticks what change do we humans have. As far as I understand It is the deer ticks that can carry the nasty decease so if you get bitten it is important to know what kind of tick it is and how long it has been attached . The sooner it is removed the better . The telltale sign for possible Lymes decease is if the bite begins to look like a bullseye . If that happens see a doctor ASAP .

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[Cobweb]

Tick update!

It has been hot here in Austria and we have spent a lot of time outside .I am a Mosquito magnet and cover myself with either Skin so Soft or if really desperate Deet almost every day before setting off on a cycle trip . Husband says " I don't like all that stuff ...it is all snake oil ! Today sitting in a shade on our grass pitch
He wanted me to look at this funny black dot on his leg ....Here we go again I thought ...and it was a tiny, tiny black tick! Luckily it had not had time to attach itself as yet and to our amazement there was another climbing up his leg !
"Where is that b****y Deet woman ! " he yelled. He is now a born again repellant user since it seems that he has not lost any of his powers as a Tick Magnet.

 

[paul rimmer]

ticks

thanks for this, reminded me about dog, so will check him every day when we are away this weekend. Please note there is a tick alert in scotland just now. Mild winter has meant they are endemic now...

 

[Bulawayo Lass]

When l took over the rescue kennels in Tenerife for the rescue who took them on from the Adeji council they had never been cleaned, dogs were keeps till place full then PTS. On weekends and holidays a bucket of water put in and they ere left along with food.

Only 2 dogs were in thankfully one in couple days before one a pointer been in about 2 weeks, l called him Danny. The small one l got straight into a foster but none available for Danny.

Both where covered in ticks like big bunches of grapes. l will try find a photo not sure if l took any though. l just ripped them off into a tin then squashed them drowned them in tick killer and finally set them on fire,,,ok what can l say l am vindictive

That left the kennels to clean, the floors inches deep in dried hammered in s**t and battalions of ticks in the walls. All bar a couple of kennels were easy ish to clean and Danny came in useful.

The routine was thus
1) Have buckets of tick cleaner and water, brushes scrapers on standby
2) Put Danny in
3) Battalions of ticks would stream out like waterfalls from inside the breeze block
4) Me hurtle in throw Danny out and start scrubbing and scrapping
5) Ticks hurtle back into walls
6) Kill as many ticks as l could
7) Retire for about 2 hrs then repeat

This routine took about 2 weeks before l was able to win, Danny had it down to a fine art l didn't need to tell him when to scoot ...formidable team we made :Cool:
l have never seen the like before or since it was unreal like horror scenes in a movie. The ticks would come straight out for his body heat movement but not mine. The kennels were finally cleaned, de-parasite'd and open for business :thumb:

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[Reallyretired]

Meg has Advocate monthly and Advantix monthly but two weeks later if that makes sense. Between the two they cover most things and it only takes a minute to do. Pricey stuff though and cannot be bought over the counter. Frontline can be bought over the counter but is not a lot cheaper as a result.

 

[Wildbill]

The most important thing is not to try and remove a tick with tweezers or try do dig them out.
Use alcohol cotton ball or bit of toilet role aftershave perfume or surgical spirits rubbing alcohol will do the job.
Soke cotton ball in the alcohol place over the tick and in abut two or three min the tick will be that pised it cant hold on any more and will drop off. Leving nothing to cause infection this works for both pets and humans
surgical wipes do the Same job.
bill

 

[Sandancers]

The most important thing is not to try and remove a tick with tweezers or try do dig them out.
Use alcohol cotton ball or bit of toilet role aftershave perfume or surgical spirits rubbing alcohol will do the job.
Soke cotton ball in the alcohol place over the tick and in abut two or three min the tick will be that pised it cant hold on any more and will drop off. Leving nothing to cause infection this works for both pets and humans
surgical wipes do the Same job.
bill

Would whiskey or vodka do the same job do you think ? May not have surgical spirits handy, but essential supplies are usually with us. Mind, we would not want to waste too much on the little buggers.

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[DuxDeluxe]

As above really. Alcohol does the trick. Frontline or similar applied directly to the tick also works well, when you are treating the animals. Our dogs and cats get the regular treatment to stop fleas as well.

Dawn is a vet nurse and doesn't use a tick remover as it doesn't always work, even in skilled hands

 

[callumwa]

I must have had a sheltered life, never seen a tick so Googled and found this.....

Now I'm itching all over.........

 

[Hollyberry]

Rose Geranium oil deters ticks.
Not Rose oil, not Geranium. Has to Rose Geranium oil. ( available by mail order--see Ebay)

Dilute 5 to 10 drops to 10 Mls of water or base oil ( Sunflower or Almond oil) high risk area = stronger solution but do not put neat on skin. Avoid eye area.'

Rub into dogs coat.

Add a few neat drops to fabric collar to increase the effect.

Tick fever can kill a dog, it's worth checking them over daily.

And Frankie, yuk! Saw worms in eyes in Africa but ticks...... You were very unlucky-- no damage done I hope.

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[Ridgeway]

That last picture is something we can see here in Winter when a deer has been over run by Tics and is usually sick, it becomes a downward cycle that ends up with the deer dying and sometimes we come across these.

The proliferation of Tics is caused by the Winter conditions with milder weather helping them as well as cold but snow covered (insulated) ground. The best for reducing numbers is cold dry (snow free) winters and as last Winter was extremely mild then expect to see a few more of the black crawling spidery things:Sad:

Touch wood we've been fine so far and I've dug many out of our lot. One challenge on us vs dogs is that we tend to spot ours early and the tic hasn't fed, it's still at spider shape and as such they are harder to remove. On dogs and cats we tend to see them only when they are ready to drop off and are full (grape like) and as such the removal tools can be good with some practice.

The 5yr olds school trip this week is off into the forest and the clothing request is always long trousers/tights, good advice really and think I'll get some tights to go with my wellies

 

[Wildbill]

Would whiskey or vodka do the same job do you think ? May not have surgical spirits handy, but essential supplies are usually with us. Mind, we would not want to waste too much on the little buggers.

yes I have used my finest malt at times

 

[Bulawayo Lass]

Yup photo like the 2 dogs l posted on only they were spread into bunches as opposed in one area. Little dog wasn't as bad but Danny was :Sad:

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