What is this?

Author
Discussion

Stevenj214

Original Poster:

4,941 posts

235 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
Picked from my dog's fur. It looks like a pea with legs...


Monochrome

831 posts

203 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
Thats a tick.

jason s4

16,810 posts

177 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
And you should never just pull them out.

They should be twisted round dnd round so that they let go.

If you just pull, you could leave the "barbs" in the skin, which could lead to infection and kill the host.

Also, you might wanna wash your hands properly and not touch these things.

They can carry horrendous diseases.

Monochrome

831 posts

203 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
Just a parasite that sucks blood. Good job on taking it off, if you don't pull the whole body ^^^ what he said happens.

Working class

8,921 posts

194 months

Monday 6th June 2011
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My mates dog had one of them. Vet said if you just pull them off they leave a bit of themselves under the dogs skin. Might be worth a trip to the vets?

sherman

13,841 posts

222 months

Monday 6th June 2011
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As above its a tick that has drank its fill of blood. Most likely from your dog.

Is your dog scratching alot just now? You should probably get something to kill the rest of the ticks(there will be more). Also I would suggest taking your dog to the local beach/canal/slow river and making sure it gets properly wet to help clear the little blighters.

okgo

39,362 posts

205 months

Monday 6th June 2011
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How can a dog owner not know what a tick is!?

Stevenj214

Original Poster:

4,941 posts

235 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
okgo said:
How can a dog owner not know what a tick is!?
I'd never seen one before.

Thanks for the replies. He hasn't been excessively scratching and seems perfectly healthy. I'll check him for more and keep an eye on him.

SirBlade

544 posts

199 months

Monday 6th June 2011
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Bit thick perhaps smile

soad

33,465 posts

183 months

Monday 6th June 2011
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What a horrid looking bug...brrr, unpleasant to look at.
Get that dog washed and treated if need be.

jason s4

16,810 posts

177 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
All pets that venture outdoors will pick them up quite easily.

There are various treatments you can get to prevent it, but they are not that long lasting.

Just keep a regular check up on them, especially during the summer.

rolex

3,116 posts

265 months

Tuesday 7th June 2011
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Monochrome said:
Thats a tick.
Correct

Jasandjules

70,508 posts

236 months

Tuesday 7th June 2011
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You can get special tick removing tools (which you insert under the tick body and then twist round which causes it to lose it's bite and fall off) - if your pooch is now getting them, it might be wise to invest in one. We remove about 1 tick a week from our dogs (one of the three picks one up whilst we are out in the forest/fields) this way - I can go and look up the gadget we have if you like (packet has two of them one for smaller ticks).

spats

838 posts

162 months

Tuesday 7th June 2011
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thats odd, we were told to use tweezers to remove a tic from a friends cat, pulling slowly and steadily at an angle to make sure the head didnt detatch.

It worked, we then put the tic in a sealed tub with some sort of solution in it to kill it (i think it was alcohol?) and did it all wearing gloves to protect against germs.

The cats now fine and dandy too.

trickywoo

12,335 posts

237 months

Tuesday 7th June 2011
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pugwash4x4

7,558 posts

228 months

Tuesday 7th June 2011
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Unfortunateuly our dog gets 2-3 ticks per week and needs to be checked carefully after every walk.

We have used a nnumber of tick tools, but the best by far are the plastic l-shaped ones that you slid under the tick and then rotate round- never fails to remove all the tick. We then use a dab of antiseptic to clean the wound, and i crush the tick (once removed) in some kitchen roll- a very satisfying experience.

We're lucky that don't get too many tick brone diseases in the UK- the most common being Lymne's disease usually found where deer are.

Jasandjules

70,508 posts

236 months

Tuesday 7th June 2011
quotequote all
spats said:
thats odd, we were told to use tweezers to remove a tic from a friends cat, pulling slowly and steadily at an angle to make sure the head didnt detatch.

It worked, we then put the tic in a sealed tub with some sort of solution in it to kill it (i think it was alcohol?) and did it all wearing gloves to protect against germs.

The cats now fine and dandy too.
Using tweezers sounds like a bad idea just in case you leave the head in, it can get stuck under the skin then I am told. And of course that may lead to infection....

We use these

http://www.fieldandmoor.co.uk/p93/O&%2339;TOM&...

spats

838 posts

162 months

Tuesday 7th June 2011
quotequote all
Jasandjules said:
Using tweezers sounds like a bad idea just in case you leave the head in, it can get stuck under the skin then I am told. And of course that may lead to infection....

We use these

http://www.fieldandmoor.co.uk/p93/O&%2339;TOM&...
I'll have to find the info we found. We did find quite allot of info regarding the removal this way, including serveral videos on pet type sites.

tenex

1,010 posts

175 months

Tuesday 7th June 2011
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I live with ticks,both on the dogs and myself.
I am fully aware of Lyme's etc., you have to be.
As far as I'm concerned, they do not pose a problem with the dogs. They scratch them off, bite them off or rub them off for the most part and I remove the remainder with my fingernails. Sometimes I treat them but that is not also without risk.
I honestly feel that ticks are only at a "nuisance value" level to pets. Considering the concentration of ticks here,I still don't know of anyone who has had a problem with their pet with infections. ( I do know 2 people with Lyme's)
Treating your pet doesn't stop the ticks biting.It only kills the tick after it has had a blood meal.
I must admit they are not the most pleasant of creatures but the risks must be kept in perspective.

Marty63

2,347 posts

181 months

Tuesday 7th June 2011
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When we found ticks on ours dogs we would put a drop of whiskey/vodka on them, this dehydrates the buggery out of them and they die and fall off in days,it gives the little mites a decent send off, it is always best to dispose of extra spirit safely, glug.
drink