Ticks

[Skye94]

When is tick season!? I would just like to know so i can look out for the little swines... any good tips on healing the little bites?
ta x

[maryb]

I think the worst time is May through August - but we now get them all year round. When I was a lass you didn't really see them in winter, now we do, although not as many as in summer.

Sorry no helpful hints on healing the bites - but do take care when removing them - I use a little hook called an O'Tom to remove them from animals and humans. Our local vet sells them. (their web-site is http://www.otom.com/homepage.htm)

mary

[Skye94]

im terrible for takin ticks out, i just use my nails :eek: i no i no its horrible but it works. and because i have long nails i can get all them out.. :D

[laz]

There out now :eek:

[Greentchr]

Our ticks will be out any day now. I am keeping our horses off the sagebrush areas until June to avoid the worst of them...

I leave the bites alone for the most part. Those that get crusty, I clean off and put a little wound-salve on. One of the horses seems to get allergic reactions to the bites, so I just make sure I check her everyday during the worst part of the season (normally a 2-3 week period when they are first coming out of hibernation) and put a dab of salve on them as soon as I take the tick out.

I remove them with fingers, and chop 'em in half with scissors or crush 'em with a couple of rocks (think fiendish grin here). They are little survivors, so I make sure those ticks are very dead.

I also use spot-on tick repellent during the first few weeks. The repellant comes in a tube and is put along the back, down each leg and along the mane. It is a bit greasy for the few weeks, but it does an excellent job of keeping the nasties from latching on and causing welts.

I hate ticks...

[Teehee]

We usually put a dab of diesel on them...

[Jessey]

Check your horses daily at least if not twice daily for ticks, they carry so many nasties but getting rid of them quickly can save lots of problems, make sure you get them all out and then a dab of something like a mild disinfectant or teatree oil on the wound.
A friend of mine lost her horse last year to Limes disease caught from a tick, she was very ill and it got very complicated and they lost her, she was only young - its just not worth the risk :(

[Denbenj]

erghh I hate ticks... I'm afraid Its a thing I cant deal with I have to ask for backup help on finding one!

My dog had one on his lip poor boy! I got a neighbour to remove it for me.. he screamed like a child!! :eek: poor iccle benji

[puzzles]

you should never pull ticks out - that leaves the head still inside the horse!
apparently you have to wait until they drop off; ask your vet.

[Greentchr]

you should never pull ticks out - that leaves the head still inside the horse!
apparently you have to wait until they drop off; ask your vet.

:eek: EEEEK!!! Not a good idea at all!!:eek: :eek:

The longer a tick is in the body, the more saliva- and potential infectious diseases- are transmitted to the horse/dog/human. Ticks should be removed immediatly! Definitely talk to your vet if you do not know how to deal with ticks, but do your research NOW, before you get a tick on you or your animal!

To avoid the leftover-tick-head, grasp the tick as close to the mouthparts as possible. Pull the tick out with a slight twisting movement. The ticks rotate as they dig in. Pulling them gently and with even pressure allows them to back out as you pull. Normally if you get the tick on the first day, they are just barely under the skin and are easy to remove. Often when you pull them out you will pull a bit of flesh with it- this is a GOOD thing; it shows that you got the whole tick.

[puzzles]

hmm, i was contradicting myself there - it's tricky to accurately pull the whole tick out, yet they can't stay there.
dilemma!