I've found the little buggers refuse to let go if you just pull straight up and twisting is more effective. Anticlockwise works best as the tick's head is more likely to come out and not break off. I think that's because they screw themselves in clockwise as they bite.
Sorry to hear about poor dog.
Advantix can be bought from the vet which helps guard against tics as well as fleas.
After reading this thread yesterday, I dreamt I got a very large tick on my arm last night. It brought back memories of when I was surveying grouse in Scotland and actually did get a large sheep tick (Ixodes ricinus) on my neck after camping. I had to have it's head scalpelled out as I must have twisted it the wrong way...not very nice!
oh my, I hope I don't start dreaming about some of the threads I've been reading....
Hope you did'nt read the labour pains threadOriginally Posted by harrymoon
Re: Tic bites
Thanks for sharing that Iain.
Warmest congratulations on the wedding.
Regards,
Max.
I've discovered a few ticks stuck to my legs over the years, but they've been pretty rare (one per year at most) and always tiny (millimetre or less). I've only ever discovered them after a hot bath, and not necessarily soon after having caught them. By the time I find them they must have been well and truly dead (I like my baths HOT). To remove them I scrape a fingernail hard and deep past them to gouge/lever them out (imagine the satisfaction of removing a spot). That method's always worked for me.
I picked up several ticks last year- mostly when running in the south lakes. Don't know whether its true but one of the things I read was that they are increasing in prevalence because the farmers can't use organophosphates to sheep dip any more.
The longer a tick stays in the more risk you have of contracting Lymes disease. Don't smother the tick as it will then regurgitate its stomach contents into you, which as well as been really gross increases your risk of contracting nasties from it.
I purchased a small tick remover from pets are us for a couple of quid and these seems to work equally well on us non canines.
If you do get a tick and remove it keep an eye on the area for a couple of weeks after and if you get the tell tale rash see your GP for appropriate antibiotics.
I see ticks are rearing there heads again
Tick Awareness week
Lymes disease in the peak
can anyone describe what they look like, I read they are no bigger than a pin head...with my hairy legs I'd never see one...can you feel it if you've been bitten?
ps when at Uni a mate who was a very good canoeist fell in the Mersey and got Limes Disease. it was serious, he turned yellow and was on a drip for 3 weeks and in hospital for 6 weeks!!
to make matters worse he'd only been out about a month when a few of us were having a kick around and he dislocated his knee
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