[AuntieDale]

Hi all - any advice is much appreciated. My golden retriever has a tick and this has happened twice before in the past 9 years. I researched, googled, called the vet, talked to friends...and I have MANY different opinions on what to do.

I'd like to know what this forum has to say! In the past, I have put alcohol on the tick, then removed it with pointy tweezers, then brought the remains to the vet to make sure I got it all out... Then I see many places on-line that totally disagree with this process.

Argh!!!

[wishbone]

Don't tried any recommended flea & tick control solutions like from Frontline? They are really good and can even kill those new fleas and ticks that will jump onto you dog. Also the environment should be treated too for fleas and ticks lives in the trees.

[chevy & karen]

Originally Posted by AuntieDale

Hi all - any advice is much appreciated. My golden retriever has a tick and this has happened twice before in the past 9 years. I researched, googled, called the vet, talked to friends...and I have MANY different opinions on what to do.

I'd like to know what this forum has to say! In the past, I have put alcohol on the tick, then removed it with pointy tweezers, then brought the remains to the vet to make sure I got it all out... Then I see many places on-line that totally disagree with this process.

Argh!!!

Hi AuntyDale, did you get it off of him yet?

[CorkyMax]

Will quote from my Home Vet Book: Ticks unattached to the skin are easily removed with a pair of tweezers. Once removed, the tick can be killed by putting it in rubbing alcohol.
A blood tick with its head buried in the skin should not be pulled loose, because the head may detach and remain behind. Before removing the tick, apply nail polish remover, rubbing alcohol or a commercial tick spray (available at pet supply shop or through your veterinarian) directly to the tick with a saturated cotton-tip applicator or a cotton ball. The tick will begin to back out in less than a minute. Then grasp the tick firmly with tweezers and lift it off. Dispose of the tick by putting it in rubbing alcohol to kill it and flushing it down the toilet.
If the head or mouth parts remain embedded in the skin, redness and swelling is likely to occur at the site of the bite. In most cases this reaction clears up in two to three days. However, if it does not do so---or seems to be getting worse---consult your veterinarian.
NOTE: Keep in mind that the blood of ticks can be dangerous to people.
Therefore, do not crush or squeeze a tick with your bare fingers. Before removing the tick, put on disposable rubber or plastic gloves.
Unquote--Of course if you want to get the tick checked out--you could put it in a small bottle or something to take to the vet instead of getting rid of it!

[AuntieDale]

Thanks so much for your replies and for taking the time to type out the info from your Home Vet Book! It says pretty much what I have done in the past, so that's a relief. I'm going walking in an hour with a nice lady who also happens to be a groomer and she recommended the same method and also offered to do it for me!

It just annoys me that there are places on-line which say the exact opposite to this method - they actually say, "do NOT put alcohol on it and do NOT remove it with tweezers". Frustrating!! Anyway, thanks again.

Pour salt onto the tick and it will eventually fall off.

[DoggieVogue]

Anytime I ever had to deal with ticks, I used tweezers. I heated the end of them to pull the tick out easier. Not sure if this is the correct thing to do, but it has never failed me, and I've always gotten the whole thing out.

The way mentioned above is ok, but you run a high risk of things being left behind. Best thing we have found is to put petroleum all over the tick to suffocate it and it will drop off, once dropped off if still alive then you can put alcohol or nail polish remover on it and then flush it down the toilet. You have NO risk of the head/mouth being left behind with this method.

[AuntieDale]

Thanks for all the replies - if I can find the darn tick, I'll try them! The morning after I posted this question, I looked for the tick to show my friend (the groomer, who offered to remove it) and it was gone...

Does this mean it could be in my HOUSE somewhere?? I gave my dog a good brushing & can't find it anywhere...

[Lunareclipse]

I put vasoline on ticks and they fall off, all parts intact.

[chevy & karen]

Originally Posted by AuntieDale

Thanks for all the replies - if I can find the darn tick, I'll try them! The morning after I posted this question, I looked for the tick to show my friend (the groomer, who offered to remove it) and it was gone...

Does this mean it could be in my HOUSE somewhere?? I gave my dog a good brushing & can't find it anywhere...

Did you find him yet AuntiDale? I'm sure he'll or one of his friend's will turn up somewhere... It's getting to be that season now and it seem's every year it get's worse and worse with them...

[AuntieDale]

Nope, no sign of the bugger yet! If I do find it, or if another tick ever appears, I think I might try the vasoline (petroleum jelly) trick - I'm always afraid that I might not get all of it if I use the tweezer technique.

Your best bet is to purchase a "Tick Twister." It's a simple tool, and inexpensive. We sell them at the clinic where I work. Simply slip the end of the tool between the tick and the dog's body, and gently twist. The tick comes right out, head and all.

The problem with using things like petroleum jelly, alcohol, nail polish or flea & tick sprays is that they cause the tick to regurgitate before it releases. If the tick is carrying any of the tick bourn illnesses like Lyme's Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, or Erhlichia, you just injected a huge load of the disease causing organisms into your pet.

Your other option is to purchase a Preventic collar. If you don't like the idea of putting the collar on the dog, you can snip a small piece from the end, pick it up with tweezers, and touch it to the tick. The tick will drop right off, and die. Keep the rest of the collar sealed in a plastic bag for future use.

[chevy & karen]

Originally Posted by vetgroomer

Your best bet is to purchase a "Tick Twister." I have never heard of this but just looked it up and yes it look's pretty inexpensiveIt's a simple tool, and inexpensive. We sell them at the clinic where I work. Simply slip the end of the tool between the tick and the dog's body, and gently twist. The tick comes right out, head and all.

The problem with using things like petroleum jelly, alcohol, nail polish or flea & tick sprays is that they cause the tick to regurgitate before it releases. If the tick is carrying any of the tick bourn illnesses like Lyme's Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, or Erhlichia, you just injected a huge load of the disease causing organisms into your pet.
I read this in an email once and did'nt know if it were true or not. I alway's used the NP remover and tweezer's but my pup has Lyme disease now and did'nt want to suggest it.
Your other option is to purchase a Preventic collar. If you don't like the idea of putting the collar on the dog, you can snip a small piece from the end, pick it up with tweezers, and touch it to the tick. The tick will drop right off, and die. Keep the rest of the collar sealed in a plastic bag for future use.

Thank you for all the information, I'm going to get one of these tick twister's. Here is a link for it for the other's to see. Remove Ticks Easily with Tick Twister®

[AuntieDale]

Originally Posted by chevy & karen

Thank you for all the information, I'm going to get one of these tick twister's. Here is a link for it for the other's to see. Remove Ticks Easily with Tick Twister®

Thanks both of you - in future I'll try either the tick twister or the Preventic... I'm assuming the tick won't regurgitate before releasing with the Preventic...

Still no sign of the tick, and I gave him an amazing massage this morning - Kramer is 10 years old today! Thanks again to Vetgroomer & all the replies.

[DoggieVogue]

Originally Posted by vetgroomer

If you don't like the idea of putting the collar on the dog, you can snip a small piece from the end, pick it up with tweezers, and touch it to the tick. The tick will drop right off, and die. Keep the rest of the collar sealed in a plastic bag for future use.

That's interesting! I've never heard that before.

[AuntieDale]

Originally Posted by vetgroomer

Your other option is to purchase a Preventic collar. If you don't like the idea of putting the collar on the dog, you can snip a small piece from the end, pick it up with tweezers, and touch it to the tick. The tick will drop right off, and die. Keep the rest of the collar sealed in a plastic bag for future use.

Off to buy a Preventic collar now - the tick is back, or I just couldn't find it before...and believe me, I really looked! I'm curious to see if the bugger will just drop right off and die...I'll let you know!

[AuntieDale]

Ok, now I just feel stupid...turns out, it's not even a tick. At least that's what the owner of the pet store told me, and he's been pretty knowledgeable in the past. I took a picture - it's not a very clear shot, but it sure doesn't look like ticks I've seen before...

Another kind of bug? A growth of some kind?

[DoggieVogue]

Originally Posted by AuntieDale

Ok, now I just feel stupid...turns out, it's not even a tick. At least that's what the owner of the pet store told me, and he's been pretty knowledgeable in the past. I took a picture - it's not a very clear shot, but it sure doesn't look like ticks I've seen before...

Another kind of bug? A growth of some kind?

Hmm. Not sure. The pic is pretty blurry so I can't really tell what it is.

[chevy & karen]

Originally Posted by AuntieDale

Ok, now I just feel stupid...turns out, it's not even a tick. At least that's what the owner of the pet store told me, and he's been pretty knowledgeable in the past. I took a picture - it's not a very clear shot, but it sure doesn't look like ticks I've seen before...

Another kind of bug? A growth of some kind?

Please don't ever feel stupid for caring so much about your pup AuntiDale. I think we all learned alot from your post..

I can't tell from the picture what it is but if it is'nt a tick and it's not bothering your pup I would just keep an eye on it.