Removing tick from dog - no tool!

littlesnuggy

Thanks for all the advice, i'm just about to order a proper tool! We've got a metal flea comb, didn't think about using that but might've worked. I couldn't bear the thought of it being on him all night and I'd have had to wrestle him single-handedly during the day tomorrow. His dog sitter called as she'd just found a tick on her dog and was telling us to check ours, so I was glad that she hadn't seen it and ignored it (and that it hadn't been there all weekend).

Mr Tick is definitely long dead - i left him on the fork in a tub full of boiling water for 30 mins before pouring out the water. I'll put some Savlon on his head before bed, he definitely can't lick it.

trolleyrun

spacey2012 wrote: »

A blob of vasline makes them get their head out as they breath through their backsides.
Just smudge the little blighter and in ten minutes it will be swimming in the Vaseline.

Actually, Vaseline or similar would make the tick regurgitate saliva and poison/infection back into the dog so this is not a good option.

GoldenShadow

spacey2012 wrote: »

A blob of vasline makes them get their head out as they breath through their backsides.
Just smudge the little blighter and in ten minutes it will be swimming in the Vaseline.

Not true. This makes the tick regurgitate saliva I'm afraid and this is how dogs can get lyme disease.

http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/about-ticks/tick-removal/

DO NOT try to burn the tick off, apply petroleum jelly, nail polish or any other chemical. Any of these methods can cause discomfort to the tick, resulting in regurgitation, or saliva release.

That's a good link for anyone in need of advice

zaksmum

The only safe way to remove the tick is to use the tick tool or an adequate alternative.

jterry9992

My boyfriends german shepherd gets ticks all the time, he uses an empty bic pen and a length of fishing wire to get the ticks out, if you're not sure i wouldn't attempt it. Storm had 3 of them last weekend and had to get an injection from the vets after he had removed them. It was £68 - ouch!

GoldenShadow

I must be so lucky, neither of mine have had one to my knowledge..! One did get a grass seed in his ear which ruptured his ear drum last week though :eek:

zaksmum

Ticks are such horrible things.

I got one latched on to me once after my dog snuggled up to me after a walk and by the time I noticed, it was well embedded.

Managed to get it out then went to the drop in centre to be checked over. All seemed ok, but they did emphasise that any disease/infection could lie dormant for years.

Something to look forward to, then...!!!

hmc

My collie regularly gets tics
I'm guilty of using cookin oil and tweezers lol didn't even know there was a tool! I just cover hole with wound powder