Lavenders_Blue Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 Is this year a particularly bad year for ticks? I've just spent a week in Wales (sheep country, admittedly) and pulled 3 ticks off the dog - so far Given that I've only found one tick previously in the 3 years I've had Tango, that seems quite a lot! Has the mild winter helped them to thrive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinsk Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 I did hear on some programme, might have been a this morning pet special, that they were predicting this year was going to be bad for ticks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted June 14, 2014 Author Share Posted June 14, 2014 Hmmm, I might have to start keeping up to date with spot on treatment then (Tango, not me). I will admit to generally bring quite lax and only treating as/when necessary, but I really do object to ticks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 I walk the New Forest, often where cattle have been, and it's been particularly bad this year. Don't remember a single tick last year but my cocker has had several this year already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 Think the ticks would agree it's a very good year for them! But indeed bad for us. Never had a tick myself luckily... I loath those creatures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Last year was very bad for ticks around here. We took over 50 off Holly the cocker spaniel at one point! Before that, I think we'd only had the odd one. In this area, the local stream which comes from deer country floods over the local dog walking area, and the vet thought that the ticks had been deposited this way. We solved it by a tick collar, and liberal use of a Tom o' Twister (I now have two, one for the house and one in the car). This year (fingers crossed) we don't have a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted June 16, 2014 Author Share Posted June 16, 2014 50? Oh my! Suddenly 3 ticks doesn't sound bad at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Many were very tiny ones. My lovely daughter in law took 27 from her face alone, where they were around her eyes and nose. The big ones were easy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted June 16, 2014 Author Share Posted June 16, 2014 But the big ones are more revolting - the first one I ever found was like a baked bean! It must have been ready to explode! (Or so it seemed). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 None on mine yet, but they are both up to date on their Advantix and have a little bit of garlic and mint in their food, which is supposed to ward them off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted June 17, 2014 Author Share Posted June 17, 2014 Just found another tick Near Tango's ear. I've removed the beastie (tick twister), but the area around the bite is swollen. Everything else looks okay - I can't see a rash or anything. Is this a likely sign of infection? Should I pop her to the vet tomorrow or just keep an eye on things? She seems absolutely fine in herself other than the swelling, but none of the other bites were surrounded by swelling. ETA - I should have googled first, then posted. Swelling seems to be quite common. I shall just keep a close eye on things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I'd just clean it up with some surgical spirit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted June 17, 2014 Author Share Posted June 17, 2014 Thanks, DM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 No worries, I understand it's something to do with the stuff the tick injects to stop the blood clotting so they can suck it up better... YUCK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted June 17, 2014 Author Share Posted June 17, 2014 What a delightful thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
