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I was just petting Rosie on the head, and I've found a tick. First of all...how can that happen? She gets Frontline every month??? Secondly, how do I get the little bugger off of her? Tweezers?
Rosie has a tick!
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Well, I used tweezers, but Rosie moved her head, so I only got half of the tick. I think I should probably call the vet now to see what to do.
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just my humble opinion - no vet call or visit is needed. go after the rest of the tick with the tweezers and expect it to have a red bump on her head for a while. she'll be fine. 
if you want, you can put neosporin on the site.
if you want, you can put neosporin on the site.
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I did call the vet, just to see what the best removal method would be. The vet tech suggested I put a little rubbing alcohol on it, and grab the rest with tweezers. Rosie doesn't think this is too much fun, so I'm going to wait for my husband to get home from work so he can hold her down while I yank the little sucker out.
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The tick's head is embedded in there pretty good. My husband will be home pretty soon, but I'm not sure if he and I are going to be able to get it out. We may need to take her to the vet tomorrow to let him do it. She's had the lyme vaccine, so I hope that will protect her.
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How did this work out??? had a tick on comets head last night, got all but the head.
been putting the bacitracin (SP?) on it. He also has the lyme vaccine.
did you have to go to the vets? I am stopping by there anyways tonight on the way home to get another dose of heartworm and i guess more advantix since we'll still be hiking. I'm going to ask them what they think, maybe we'll get him in there for thursday if they need too.
In the meantime i'm reading all the threads.
been putting the bacitracin (SP?) on it. He also has the lyme vaccine.
did you have to go to the vets? I am stopping by there anyways tonight on the way home to get another dose of heartworm and i guess more advantix since we'll still be hiking. I'm going to ask them what they think, maybe we'll get him in there for thursday if they need too.
In the meantime i'm reading all the threads.
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I purchased a plastic tick remover from my vets some time ago It is brilliant and gets the ticks right out, heads and all! Best thing is it's really cheap. I have it on hand at all times now... just in case!
Here's a link for it, don't know if you can buy similar in the US/Canada?
http://www.ticktwister.co.uk/
Here's a link for it, don't know if you can buy similar in the US/Canada?
http://www.ticktwister.co.uk/
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18,122 Posts
I'm so used to it now! I just take them off by the head with my thumb and pointer finger and then pop them with my nails. They make a pleasant pop when set on fire too (OFF the dog of course!)
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18,122 Posts
We just bought a tick remover too, it was a few bucks. We can't wait to find a tick so we can see if it works lol
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This sucker was in good, prob engourged to twice his size, could not pull it out. Will talk with the vet tonight.
he also came home from daycare last night and i noticed he couldn't SIT!!! favoring his back leg (not new he sprained his front paw last month). it's better this am, a lil hesitation but he can sit. he's home today, and wifey will be home with him thursday so he doesn't have to go run around at daycare.
so the sore legs and tick combo is freakin us out!
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Thanks Tanyac i saw something like this online last night, will be buying two to keep around the house and truck.
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my vet recommends doing bloodwork even if the dogs have had the lyme vaccination, it's only one of several tick borne diseases.
He says to be extra safe, you should do blood work 3-4 weeks after removing the tick and again 3-4 months later.
He says to be extra safe, you should do blood work 3-4 weeks after removing the tick and again 3-4 months later.
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I would live at the vet if I did bloodwork every time my dogs got a tick! I pick a few off almost every time we go to the park, which is daily. That said, I haven't seen any in several weeks which is awesome. Maybe they sprayed the park!!!
But, Florida ticks for the most part don't carry any disease.
It's one of the VERY VERY FEW good things about having dogs in Florida.
But, Florida ticks for the most part don't carry any disease.
It's one of the VERY VERY FEW good things about having dogs in Florida.
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I went through something similar with Rookie. The worst part of the problem was the hotspot that he ended up with afterward. Rookie had a pretty big bump where the tick was removed and I didn't notice him scratching it until it had turned into a NASTY hot spot. It seemed to take forever to clear up. If it happened again, I would put some anti-itch medication on and throw a lampshade on him at the first sign of irritation.
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If the dog was limping only a couple of days after a tick bite, there's no way it was a TBD infection from that bite. They all take time to transmit and more time to incubate. Now, if you have a tick now, you may have had one before that transmitted the disease that's causing the limp, so it's probably wise to get a SNAP test when you get the tick pulled.
A note on pulling ticks from a reluctant tick expert. Don't pinch them too hard with the tweezers because you can cut through them or rip them as you pull. You also want to get as close to the skin as you possibly can. Pull directly away from the skin, gently and firmly. Never twist or put anything on the tick before you're done pulling it out. Antibacterial ointment can help the site from becoming infected, but it won't do anything about the TBDs, which is the real concern, and you don't want to make the tick slippery.
Never, never, never try to burn the tick, smother it in Vaseline, or try to kill it before you pull it. The more you traumatize a tick, the deeper it will dig and the more likely it is to infect your dog with a TBD. Just grab it and gently pull it out as soon as you see it.
Frequently, when you remove a tick properly, you can still see the spiked part of its mouthparts in the wound. It looks like a tiny black dot. You can't really get those out, and you don't need to. It doesn't mean you've left the head, and it isn't a problem.
If you're not squeamish, you can learn to pull them with your fingers. It enables you to have a little more sensitivity and a lot less likelihood of ripping the tick in half when you pull it.
Always kill the buggers and always wash your hands after you handle a tick.
A note on pulling ticks from a reluctant tick expert. Don't pinch them too hard with the tweezers because you can cut through them or rip them as you pull. You also want to get as close to the skin as you possibly can. Pull directly away from the skin, gently and firmly. Never twist or put anything on the tick before you're done pulling it out. Antibacterial ointment can help the site from becoming infected, but it won't do anything about the TBDs, which is the real concern, and you don't want to make the tick slippery.
Never, never, never try to burn the tick, smother it in Vaseline, or try to kill it before you pull it. The more you traumatize a tick, the deeper it will dig and the more likely it is to infect your dog with a TBD. Just grab it and gently pull it out as soon as you see it.
Frequently, when you remove a tick properly, you can still see the spiked part of its mouthparts in the wound. It looks like a tiny black dot. You can't really get those out, and you don't need to. It doesn't mean you've left the head, and it isn't a problem.
If you're not squeamish, you can learn to pull them with your fingers. It enables you to have a little more sensitivity and a lot less likelihood of ripping the tick in half when you pull it.
Always kill the buggers and always wash your hands after you handle a tick.
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268 Posts
Thanks Tippy.
Wife's coworker said the same thing about the black dot, said it'll eventually come to the top of the skin as the area heals. so that's some comfort.
We'll attribute his hurt hind legs to a rough day at doggie daycare, he is better this am and will be away from there till next tuesday.
last months hurt leg was a legitamite wrist sprain, i may have done that while rough housing with him outside and it flaired up the next day.
Will discuss with the vet on a SNAP test. he goes in for neutering, microchip, tearduct flush and regular 30,000 mile checkup November 25th. Maybe they can add this in at that time as it will be 4 weeks since we found the tick.
Wife's coworker said the same thing about the black dot, said it'll eventually come to the top of the skin as the area heals. so that's some comfort.
We'll attribute his hurt hind legs to a rough day at doggie daycare, he is better this am and will be away from there till next tuesday.
last months hurt leg was a legitamite wrist sprain, i may have done that while rough housing with him outside and it flaired up the next day.
Will discuss with the vet on a SNAP test. he goes in for neutering, microchip, tearduct flush and regular 30,000 mile checkup November 25th. Maybe they can add this in at that time as it will be 4 weeks since we found the tick.
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