May issue

May issue
May issue

Sunday 24 June 2012

Tick master

My collie, Mia, has just come back from our walk with a tick on her face. It's not unusual for her to pick up ticks and she is regularly Frontlined, but this tick is inbetween her eyes and is very close to her right tear duct. I've tried to get it out with a tick remover hook but as I started to twist it Mia squealed and pulled away so I imagine it's painful. The tick isn't dead but it's not moving too much and hasn't taken in any blood, so I imagine it is on its way to ticky heaven.

What is the best way to get it out? Should I just wait for it die and hopefully fall off? She's incredibly wriggily, understandably, and I don't want to hurt her or stress her out any more, or accidently poke her eye out with the remover. Is there a good way to restrain her without stressing her out so I can try and quickly remove it? At the moment she's just padding around the garden quite happily, it doesn't seem to be irritating her. I don't want to risk Lyme disease but I also don't want to cause Mia any stress.

Thanks for your help!

Rachael Millar, Dogs Today

7 comments:

  1. A vet nurse told me that if you soak a cotton bud in surgical spirit and dab it round the tick area, the tick will soon fall off. Another one is a glob of soap on a cotton wool pad and hold it onto the tick, and when you take the cotton wool pad away the tick will come with it.
    I don't know how you would manage this so near to the eye, but it does work.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Try a pad of witch hazel gently pressed and wiped over the tick, that removes ticks from my horse's face. Or you could try what my friend does - which is tickle it off! He gently strokes it so that it is going around in circles until it falls off. I know it sounds bizarre but I've seen him do it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I wouldn't try pulling it out as she may wiggle and you could end up poking her in the eye.

    Try putting some petroleum jelly on it overnight (be careful not to get it in her eye) and if the tick is still there in the morning call your vet for advice.

    Olwen Turns MAPDT 1093

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi There,

    Whenever I have to get near a delicate area such as this, with Nando (A very bouncy GSD puppy!) I usually sit on a chair, and get the dog into a sit facing the opposite way. I can then restrain them between my legs to keep my hands free.

    Josh

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sounds like a trip to your vets is in order, or at least a phone call. There've been posts going round Facebook lately that say you can use soap, or a heated needle to remove ticks but I wouldn't trust those methods as far as I could throw them, plus they'd be worse that close to Mia's eye than a tick hook.

    ReplyDelete
  6. the comment above re the 'Vaseline' works but so near the eye substitute this for Golden Eye Ointment [available at any pharmacy]. Completely cover tick and then pull off in about 10 minutes. Should come away easily. If ticks are on 'tough' body areas dab some nail varnish remover on them - they certainly withdraw their nasty feet then! Obviously don't use nail varnish remover on ANY delicate areas!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would strongly recommend a trip to your vet. Many practices will have their nurses remove a tick for you free of charge. It many just be a matter of needing a few pairs of hands to gently but firmly restrain her. It is in what sounds like a difficult place but not impossible! As far as tick removers go my personal favourite is the O'tom as I have never had a tick come away leaving mouthparts in while using one. Whatever you do avoid the witch hazel, nail vanish etc in that area as it is too close to her eye! And to be honest nothing but mechanically removing it will work, vaseline etc is an urban myth and you are likely to end up with mouthparts left in causing a nasty reaction and infection.

    ReplyDelete