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Cocker Specific Discussion => Health => Topic started by: Joules on May 07, 2009, 07:15:34 PM

Title: How to remove a tick
Post by: Joules on May 07, 2009, 07:15:34 PM
As this is a question that comes up very frequently, here is a link to the O'Tom website which tells you more than you ever wanted to know about ticks and how to get rid of them.  >:(

http://www.otom.com/otom-tick-twister-instructions

http://www.otom.com/how-to-remove-a-tick
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Michele on May 07, 2009, 07:23:52 PM
Mods, since we are now in tick season perhaps it might be worth having this as a sticky??

Great idea and thanks for that Julie, I removed two from two different dogs today.  >:(
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Lilly's Mum on May 07, 2009, 07:28:04 PM
That is totally gross, but having never come accross these disgusting critters before, I made myself watch the whole video (through my fingers)

I do now feel that I could if I needed to remove one. However, I have just warned both doglets that it'll be more than their lifes worth to bring one into the house!!! >:( (bet Lilly does it just anyhoo  ::) )
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Joules on May 07, 2009, 07:32:07 PM
Yes, it is gross  :o  Best to be prepared though and so many people still think you should kill the tick while it is attached which can have nasty results.  I have removed several from my animals in the last couple of weeks and my sister inadvertantly removed one from herself and has since had suspected Lymes disease which is very unpleasant  >:(  However, once you get over the yuk factor, removing one of the little blighters can be very satisfying  ph34r
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Beth on May 07, 2009, 07:52:15 PM
I'm amazed that so many dog owners have never had to deal with them :huh: in the summer i remove probably one a day on average, some walks Jarvis ends up with loads. >:( Even Lucy who doesn't go anywhere gets a few every year. ::)
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Jeanette on May 07, 2009, 07:56:59 PM
I'm amazed that so many dog owners have never had to deal with them :huh: in the summer i remove probably one a day on average, some walks Jarvis ends up with loads. >:( Even Lucy who doesn't go anywhere gets a few every year. ::)

Never seen one yet Beth but have a remover just incase for OH to use. I'm too squeamish  ::)
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Helen on May 07, 2009, 08:47:04 PM
I'm amazed that so many dog owners have never had to deal with them :huh: in the summer i remove probably one a day on average, some walks Jarvis ends up with loads. >:( Even Lucy who doesn't go anywhere gets a few every year. ::)

Never seen one yet Beth but have a remover just incase for OH to use. I'm too squeamish  ::)

I'm adept - 2 or 3 a day off Jarv at the moment - just give me a yell and I will squeeze into a leotard and fly up armed with an O-Tom...just call me the T(ick)erminator  ph34r :lol2:
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Jeanette on May 07, 2009, 08:48:51 PM
I'm amazed that so many dog owners have never had to deal with them :huh: in the summer i remove probably one a day on average, some walks Jarvis ends up with loads. >:( Even Lucy who doesn't go anywhere gets a few every year. ::)

Never seen one yet Beth but have a remover just incase for OH to use. I'm too squeamish  ::)

I'm adept - 2 or 3 a day off Jarv at the moment - just give me a yell and I will squeeze into a leotard and fly up armed with an O-Tom...just call me the T(ick)erminator  ph34r :lol2:


 :rofl1: :rofl1: :rofl1:   What an image you've created in my head
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Sarah.H on May 07, 2009, 08:48:59 PM
I even get them before they have attached  :P
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Helen on May 07, 2009, 08:52:02 PM
I'm amazed that so many dog owners have never had to deal with them :huh: in the summer i remove probably one a day on average, some walks Jarvis ends up with loads. >:( Even Lucy who doesn't go anywhere gets a few every year. ::)

Never seen one yet Beth but have a remover just incase for OH to use. I'm too squeamish  ::)

I'm adept - 2 or 3 a day off Jarv at the moment - just give me a yell and I will squeeze into a leotard and fly up armed with an O-Tom...just call me the T(ick)erminator  ph34r :lol2:


 :rofl1: :rofl1: :rofl1:   What an image you've created in my head

I know - hope you've had your dinner :020:  :shades:

Sarah so do I - my OH is incredulous that I can see little brown ticks on a little brown dog before they attach  ::)
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Beth on May 07, 2009, 08:53:35 PM
I'm amazed that so many dog owners have never had to deal with them :huh: in the summer i remove probably one a day on average, some walks Jarvis ends up with loads. >:( Even Lucy who doesn't go anywhere gets a few every year. ::)

Never seen one yet Beth but have a remover just incase for OH to use. I'm too squeamish  ::)

I'm adept - 2 or 3 a day off Jarv at the moment - just give me a yell and I will squeeze into a leotard and fly up armed with an O-Tom...just call me the T(ick)erminator  ph34r :lol2:


 :rofl1: :rofl1: :rofl1:   What an image you've created in my head

I know - hope you've had your dinner :020:  :shades:

Sarah so do I - my OH is incredulous that I can see little brown ticks on a little brown dog before they attach  ::)

I find those ones on Jarvis too, tis usually the teeny baby ones. >:D
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Joules on May 07, 2009, 09:09:23 PM
I'm amazed that so many dog owners have never had to deal with them :huh: in the summer i remove probably one a day on average, some walks Jarvis ends up with loads. >:( Even Lucy who doesn't go anywhere gets a few every year. ::)
I think it is worse down your way Beth.  Coco had her first (and only so far) tick a few weeks ago  >:(  My cat Tigger had a couple last week which I discovered when he snuggled up to me in bed in the middle of the night  ::) >:(
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: bibathediva on May 07, 2009, 09:32:06 PM

Only ever had 2 on Lola (it would be her ::) ) one fell off before i had time to do it and she had one on her eyebrow....it still grosses me out to remove them  ph34r they are just minging  ph34r
Never had one on Biba...she must have bad blood  :005:
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Maria n Dennis on May 07, 2009, 10:26:27 PM
I have never seen one , how will i know if i come accross one  ph34r . Im off to buy an o-tom now just incase !!
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Maria n Dennis on May 07, 2009, 10:33:17 PM
Also i have horses etc and still never come accross one , if they had, had one and i hadnt noticed what happens then ? Would they just fall out after a certain amount of time  :huh:
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: stuffster on May 08, 2009, 08:05:30 AM
Its so odd - I walk my dogs every day in the same woods and in the whole year I have had dogs, we have never had a tick. I have 2 friends nearby who do the same walk and are always complaining about the number of ticks on their dogs (1 cocker & 1 dachsund). I wonder why mine dont pick them up?
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Joules on May 08, 2009, 08:45:02 AM
Its so odd - I walk my dogs every day in the same woods and in the whole year I have had dogs, we have never had a tick. I have 2 friends nearby who do the same walk and are always complaining about the number of ticks on their dogs (1 cocker & 1 dachsund). I wonder why mine dont pick them up?

Maybe you have been lucky or maybe it is the same as some people who don't get bitten by mozzies while others get eaten alive  :-\
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: LizH on May 08, 2009, 09:54:46 AM
I have never seen one , how will i know if i come accross one  ph34r . Im off to buy an o-tom now just incase !!

Me neither - are they easy to spot / find?
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: bibathediva on May 08, 2009, 12:04:50 PM

When they full they are very easy to find  ph34r  :005: they are fat white and Lola's was about the size of a pea  ph34r
They will drop off of there own accord when they are full ...but that just means they are still alive and living in your house ready for the next meal  >:( blurry things
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Joules on May 08, 2009, 01:28:22 PM
I have never seen one , how will i know if i come accross one  ph34r . Im off to buy an o-tom now just incase !!

Me neither - are they easy to spot / find?

I can usually feel them rather than see them.  It is always a good idea to check over your dog after a walk if you have ticks around you.  ;) Check your cats too - they usually seem to attach to head and ears as that is the bit they see first when a host animal brushes past  >:(
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: LizH on May 08, 2009, 02:47:34 PM
Just out of interest - once the tick has been successfully removed should you do anything to the 'wound' - i.e. clean it, put on antiseptic, just leave it ...?

Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Joules on May 08, 2009, 02:51:54 PM
Just out of interest - once the tick has been successfully removed should you do anything to the 'wound' - i.e. clean it, put on antiseptic, just leave it ...?

Good question - I usually put a dab of Tea Tree oil on it but any antiseptic will do.  You will often get a small lump at the site of the tick bite even though you have removed the whole thing but it should disappear within a couple of days.  ;)
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: LizH on May 08, 2009, 02:54:33 PM
Great thanks for that - my O'tom is in the post so will shortly be fully armed in the tick war!  >:D

Then the only problem will be getting Pebble to stay still long enough for me to twist it out!
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: minimoo on May 08, 2009, 03:25:14 PM
Its so odd - I walk my dogs every day in the same woods and in the whole year I have had dogs, we have never had a tick. I have 2 friends nearby who do the same walk and are always complaining about the number of ticks on their dogs (1 cocker & 1 dachsund). I wonder why mine dont pick them up?

Maybe you have been lucky or maybe it is the same as some people who don't get bitten by mozzies while others get eaten alive  :-\
we are in sheep/fox/badger country and none of mine have ever had one, i have thought maybe its because they dip the sheep around here but who knows,   my sister lives in coventry and her jack russel gets them all of the time i dont know how she gets them out but he squeals apparently,  so im going to make her watch this when shes here in a few weeks hopefully she will buy one of these  ;)
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: cbaker023 on May 08, 2009, 04:13:07 PM
After doing Duke of Edinburgh award and going camping when i was 16 i had 2 or 3 on my arm, they are sooooo disgusting, at the time didnt know about the o tom etc so had a bath in the attempt that it loosened off and then my mum ( much braver than i was) got them between her fingers and twisted it out a bit like the o tom did, i was squealing like such a girl at the time.

will make sure i look out for any on marty though
x
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: LizH on May 09, 2009, 01:47:47 PM
I have never seen one , how will i know if i come accross one  ph34r . Im off to buy an o-tom now just incase !!

Me neither - are they easy to spot / find?

OK so yesterday evening I found one on Pebble's ear  >:( so now I know what they look like  >:D

My o'tom only arrived this morning but I got a comb (as advised in another thread) didn't really have to twist it though as is was pretty full  - had a good look at it wiggling then bashed it so it couldn't come back for more  >:(  >:(

Pebble seemed completely oblivious  :shades:
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Jessie_Pup on May 09, 2009, 04:42:14 PM


The advise from my vet to remove a tick, Dylan has had a couple, was to open a frontline and put it on the tick it will kill it and it just drops off. He doesn't like the tick removers because if you don't get the legs out, it can set up an infection.
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Maria n Dennis on May 09, 2009, 05:44:46 PM
My o tom arrived this morning just incase we come across any  :D

Just one more question , if we Frontline are pets on a regular basis , will this not kill them anyway??
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Helen on May 09, 2009, 05:46:06 PM


The advise from my vet to remove a tick, Dylan has had a couple, was to open a frontline and put it on the tick it will kill it and it just drops off. He doesn't like the tick removers because if you don't get the legs out, it can set up an infection.

I think that's rubbish advice - I get out an average of 3 ticks a day at the moment with an o-tom and have NEVER left the head or legs behind with it - it is virtually impossible because you get in under the head and twist the tick and it physically cannot stay attached.

Along with flooding your dog with unecessary chemicals (which if you research them can cause untold long term health issues) that is a very expensive way of killing a tick  ph34r

Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Helen on May 09, 2009, 05:47:22 PM
My o tom arrived this morning just incase we come across any  :D

Just one more question , if we Frontline are pets on a regular basis , will this not kill them anyway??

Frontline kills the ticks once they attach (Within a 24 hour time frame) - you usually find them before they die and or some stay attached when dead anyway so still need to be removed.
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Maria n Dennis on May 09, 2009, 05:52:06 PM
My o tom arrived this morning just incase we come across any  :D

Just one more question , if we Frontline are pets on a regular basis , will this not kill them anyway??

Frontline kills the ticks once they attach (Within a 24 hour time frame) - you usually find them before they die and or some stay attached when dead anyway so still need to be removed.

Thankyou  :D

Ive been lucky so far though not found any on him or the cat  :D
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Helen on May 09, 2009, 05:54:18 PM
My o tom arrived this morning just incase we come across any  :D

Just one more question , if we Frontline are pets on a regular basis , will this not kill them anyway??

Frontline kills the ticks once they attach (Within a 24 hour time frame) - you usually find them before they die and or some stay attached when dead anyway so still need to be removed.

Thankyou  :D

Ive been lucky so far though not found any on him or the cat  :D

after the first one or 2 (and the o-tom being so easy) you get used to them...honest  ph34r :shades: ;)
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Joules on May 09, 2009, 06:36:09 PM


The advise from my vet to remove a tick, Dylan has had a couple, was to open a frontline and put it on the tick it will kill it and it just drops off. He doesn't like the tick removers because if you don't get the legs out, it can set up an infection.

I think that's rubbish advice - I get out an average of 3 ticks a day at the moment with an o-tom and have NEVER left the head or legs behind with it - it is virtually impossible because you get in under the head and twist the tick and it physically cannot stay attached.

Along with flooding your dog with unecessary chemicals (which if you research them can cause untold long term health issues) that is a very expensive way of killing a tick  ph34r

Agree with Helen - sounds like he has shares in Frontline  :shades: :005:  I prefer not to use Frontline and unless Coco becomes infested with fleas (has never happened yet  ;) ), will continue not to use anything unless it is needed.  There is no need for her to be rountinely subjected to chemicals to prevent something that may not even happen.  As Helen says, the tick needs to be removed whatever so it is better just to get used to it - I really don't find it any problem at all anyway and I really cannot understand why so many people are so squeamish about them  :dunno:
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: bibathediva on May 09, 2009, 08:18:46 PM
I really don't find it any problem at all anyway and I really cannot understand why so many people are so squeamish about them  :dunno:


Cus they is ugglllly  ph34r  :005:  :005:
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Joules on May 09, 2009, 10:17:29 PM
I really don't find it any problem at all anyway and I really cannot understand why so many people are so squeamish about them  :dunno:


Cus they is ugglllly  ph34r  :005:  :005:

No one's asking you to go on a date with one though :shades: :005:
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: bibathediva on May 09, 2009, 10:33:04 PM

Good job really as i would have to decline  ;)
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Joules on May 09, 2009, 10:37:00 PM

Good job really as i would have to decline  ;)

But it might have a great personality!!  :shades: :005:
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Michele on May 09, 2009, 10:38:42 PM

Good job really as i would have to decline  ;)

But it might have a great personality!!  :shades: :005:

That's as maybe but put one foot wrong and you get a real ticking off!!  ::) :005:
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: speedyjaney on May 10, 2009, 04:21:45 PM
i havent ever had a tick on either Jessie and Saffi.....i have an otom tho but I would ring my dad and ask him to help....i wouldnt be able to deal with it...i cant do spiders or dady long legs lol
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Lilly's Mum on May 10, 2009, 09:23:15 PM
well call me a sissy, but the thought of having to deal with something that bury's its head and front feet into your flesh and quadrouples its size by filling up on your blood, makes me feel a little ill!! :005: :005:

Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: jcmum on June 16, 2009, 09:32:13 PM
they are gross but just watched the video, i'll be off to get an O Tom tomorrow - hoping to never need it!! 
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: bondie on June 27, 2009, 01:00:52 PM
Just a thought - my previous cocker always had garlic pearls - we called them his sweeties - to help with heart problems, but he NEVER got ticks or fleas. Have since learned that garlic is a natural method of keeping these nasties away,( not just vampires!) My new boy managed to find a couple of ticks,( oh yes, they are yukkie!)  so he's onto the galic capsules too - loves 'em!!
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: JackieD on August 13, 2009, 04:05:02 PM
Ewwwww just watched the video, one of those things you don't Want to do but realise it is a must for the good of your pet.
Thankfully Maddy has never had one either, however she is also on a garlic capsule a day and is Frontlined regularly
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Lily Freya on October 10, 2009, 05:29:48 PM
I was reading a thread about tics the other day, and commented that I had never seen one on my dogs yet..............but, how would I recognise one??

Well, I found out.  There is this little reddish thing on under Luis' fur, and I am sure it's a tic.  Roger has just went to buy an O'Tom tick, but can't get hold of one.  Smothered the tick in vaseline....and am hoping that will kill it.

Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Nicola on October 10, 2009, 06:34:29 PM
  Smothered the tick in vaseline....and am hoping that will kill it.



You shouldn't do this, try to touch ticks as little as possible and don't put anything on them - vaseline, alcohol etc. - as this will cause discomfort and encourage them to regurgitate all the nasties in their stomachs (including possibly lyme disease) back into the dog. If you don't have an o-tom a sharp pair of tweezers is your best bet, stretch out the skin and be careful to grasp the tick at the head, just where it goes into the dog and twist it out cleanly. Don't grab the body with the tweezers or again it'll regurgitate. This is a good website which explains the dos and don'ts of ticks (scroll down the page)... http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/ticks.htm
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Lily Freya on October 10, 2009, 10:42:31 PM
Thank you so much Nicola.  I have already applied the vaseline as I read that it was one of the ways of getting rid of them.  I will leave well alone now, and go directly to our vet on Monday morning.  We have sent for a tick remover from Amazon, as none of our pet stores had them in stock.  They said it would be Wednesday before they could get one............so, hopefully Amazon's express will get it here quicker.

I have never experienced ticks before, but I think he might have picked this one up on a recent walk through a forest.

I appreciate the link, and the advice.
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Susiefruitbat on November 18, 2009, 01:01:17 PM
Glad it is not just me. Meggie seems to be picking up 'loads' from our garden but we can't workout where  :huh:

We got the O-Tom from ebay and it is easy to remove 'IF' your puppy sits still lol. We have probably removed 9 - 10 in the 5 weeks we have had her. They are yuk and I wish I knew which bit of the garden she is getting them from.

Quite hard to find them in her ears though and you have to be quite thorough in searching.
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: rubyduby on August 25, 2010, 08:52:28 AM
I have tried various types of tick remover , but find they are only successful once the ticks have grown sizeably, some go red ,others blue and there are tiny black ones (different species) the heads do get buried into the skin and often break off and remain there especially if pulling with tweezers as the actual body and head of the tick is so tiny it is difficult to get anything finite enough to grip this strongly.
I think the ticks tend to occurr where sheep and deer roam, and the ticks will wait on the grass till they are brushed off, they can survive quite a while without food which is why they are so successful.
All our Cockers have suffered may ticks over the years and (touch wood) up to now we have managed to avoid any health problems.
Sadly there is no out of season for them, I have picked ticks off our dogs on Xmas day before now...guess it is just something we have to live with, noticeably when I lived in Lancashire we have very few problems , but now in Scotland they are pretty rife........
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Helen on August 25, 2010, 10:13:59 AM
I get the tiny ones off with the small o-tom :dunno:  Never use tweezers now as it's too easy to break the body from the head.  got a really tiny black one off Jarv last night no problem at all.
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Joules on August 25, 2010, 02:36:36 PM
I get the tiny ones off with the small o-tom :dunno:  Never use tweezers now as it's too easy to break the body from the head.  got a really tiny black one off Jarv last night no problem at all.

Same here.  ;)  The small O'Tom is great for getting the teeny ticks off although they are not nearly as satisfying to squish!  ph34r :lol2:
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Loudon on May 18, 2011, 11:30:35 PM
Yep I'm starting to scratch now thanks to you guys. Poppy came in with two and the little b's don't survive in boiling water that's for sure. My Poppy is quite nuts and often comes in with cuts with going into brambles etc and funnily enough the ticks had attached themselves to a wound that had healed. Yuck! When I was at my vets, for yet another deep cut, she said that ticks and fleas are much more common than a year or two ago.
 

Got Frontline Spray this month and think I will use the the Frontline spot on next. Is that the way to go?
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: jinter on June 13, 2011, 01:13:27 PM
Has anyone tried frontline spot...does it work?
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Loudon on June 13, 2011, 01:39:05 PM
Has anyone tried frontline spot...does it work?

Yep, sure does. I just replied to someone who is getting up to 15 ticks a day. Poor soul! Must be sheep country.

Frontline Spot On is effective for 60 days on fleas and 30 days on ticks. Also controls lice infestation in dogs. These beasties still latch on but are dead within about 24 hours. In reality I haven't found any on my dogs since using it. There is generic alternatives available but for the sake of a couple of pounds why bother.  If buying try online as I found this is much cheaper.

Have a look at Advocate too which I understand is very effective, has additional protection ie earmites and worms  but I believe is POM. As I said on the other thread if any members know about this product I would be keen to know their opinion.
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Magic Star on June 19, 2011, 11:30:42 AM
Has anyone tried frontline spot...does it work?

No, it doesn't stop them latching on, which is the worst bit really as once on, they can cause Lymmes Disease and infection, it only kills them within so long of them latching on. 
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: JeffandAnnie on November 19, 2011, 08:20:38 PM
Went to the vet yesterday with the Big T cat and he had a tick on his head (not the reason for the vet visit) which the vet removed with an O'Tom. He said this was by far the best tool for the job  :shades:
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: CospyCockerSpaniel on November 27, 2011, 02:58:06 PM
Pet grooming shops here in our place charge extra fees if your dog has lots of ticks. Is that the same in other pet grooming shops?
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: AndyB on November 20, 2012, 09:34:14 AM

We holiday in the Lake District several times a year and ticks can be a real problem there.  I always carry a bottle of Tea Tree oil in the "doggy" luggage and if I find a tick I put a couple of drops of Tea Tree oil on a cotton bud, part the dog's fur carefully and gently rub the cotton bud around the mouth parts of the tick.  Wait a few seconds and then remove the tick with a tick remover and apply more Tea Tree to the area with a clean cotton bud.  The tick always comes away very easily using this method and I have never left the mouth parts still attached.   I have to say it is a two person job, my husband holds my wriggly cocker Jazz firmly while I remove the tick. 
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Helen on November 20, 2012, 10:06:26 AM

We holiday in the Lake District several times a year and ticks can be a real problem there.  I always carry a bottle of Tea Tree oil in the "doggy" luggage and if I find a tick I put a couple of drops of Tea Tree oil on a cotton bud, part the dog's fur carefully and gently rub the cotton bud around the mouth parts of the tick.  Wait a few seconds and then remove the tick with a tick remover and apply more Tea Tree to the area with a clean cotton bud.  The tick always comes away very easily using this method and I have never left the mouth parts still attached.   I have to say it is a two person job, my husband holds my wriggly cocker Jazz firmly while I remove the tick. 

as already stated on this thread and on the links to Lyme Disease awareness you should never put anything on ticks to make them drop off as it can make them disgorge their stomach contents which is exactly what you don't want.

If you read the thread you'll find the recommended way to remove ticks is with an o-tom tick remover.

Also, tea tree oil is very strong and shouldn't be applied neat to a dogs skin   ;)
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Joules on July 21, 2013, 08:45:41 AM
Just bumping this up as there seem to be a lot of people encountering ticks again at the moment.

I just found a teeeny one on one of my cats this morning - unfortunately, by the time I had got the O Tom out and ready for action, he had done a bunk  >:(
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Jaysmumagain on August 23, 2013, 09:00:14 PM
Ladies this is going shock you all and can assure you I have never done this, but actually seen it done on a person  :fear2:
My first introduction to my love of cockers was my mate in Minnesota who had a darling called Dudley, every day she would look for ticks, and I just had to ask what she was on about, saying oh we don't have those in England - this was met with roars of laughter when she said well we had them in Ayrshire!
So every time I came in I would go in the bathroom and do a little dance and strip shaking clothes over bath - I was manic....why well here is the shocking bit, the thing that people over there do is light a match blow it out and stick it on the tick and it comes out. I aint having them do that to little ole me!
Told you it was horrid....as for finding them over here, well they were definitely at the Anglesly show last week cause I did my little dance and slight strip when one landed on my arm by the car!  Like a skunk once smelt/I mean seen never forgotten

Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: butterflywings21 on August 23, 2013, 09:22:40 PM
Last week I took Tilly to Boxhill so the children could have a good run around, sitting down to our picinic and I lifted up Tilly's right ear (I do have a habit of checking them) only to find one crawling on the underneath of her ear. Well that didn't stay there long  :005: :005:.
Only days before I had seen a picture of what they looked like at different stages. So I knew straight away what it was.
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: lilylulu on October 01, 2013, 11:18:51 PM
Just got home from work Lily got a big tick on her lower lip. Where can I buy an O Tom from in the morning. I am in Blackpool. Got to go to bed with Lily and the tick not impressed.
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: MaggieR on October 01, 2013, 11:36:13 PM
Your vets? Companion care vets in pets at home do them....
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: lilylulu on October 02, 2013, 12:16:58 AM
Pets at home ? Thanks better get up early its horrible.
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Katie_and_Millie on April 27, 2014, 02:42:51 PM
I am currently sat here in tears because Millie has two ticks and I can't get them off  :embarrassed:

I've tried a tick remover, tweezers and dental floss (saw that on an internet site).  I just can't seem to get purchase.  I need to take her to the vets tomorrow anyway for her tapeworm treat (we live in Germany) to get back to the UK.  I'm embarrassed to go to the vet when I should be able to do it myself.

I am such a bad dog-mum  :-\
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Joules on April 27, 2014, 02:58:53 PM
Don't panic - it is something that you need to do a few times to get the hang of.  But, please do not use tweezers or dental floss - there is a good chance that you will end up leaving the head in and the tick will then regurgitate it's stomach contents with any infections (eg Lymes Disease) it is carrying  >:(

Are you using an O'Tom??  If you have read the instructions or watched the film, it is easy to use.  These are the only tick removers that I would ever use - they are very easy and effective to use  ;)   The only thing is to make sure you are using the right sized one (you get 2 sizes) - if the tick has only just latched on, it will be tiny and the larger hook will not get it.  ;)
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Katie_and_Millie on April 27, 2014, 03:21:50 PM
Not an o'Tom, just a wire tick picker.  I have ordered some o'Toms though. 

One is quite small, the other a bit larger and under her ear.  The small one is right by her eye so I am having problems getting enough pressure without her wiggling away.

Horrible  ph34r
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Joules on April 27, 2014, 05:59:42 PM
Not an o'Tom, just a wire tick picker.  I have ordered some o'Toms though. 

One is quite small, the other a bit larger and under her ear.  The small one is right by her eye so I am having problems getting enough pressure without her wiggling away.

Horrible  ph34r

The wire ones are useless.  It will be much easier with an O'Tom - get your vet to show you  ;)
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Katie_and_Millie on April 27, 2014, 06:27:07 PM
Thank you!  I thought I was just being rubbish as usual.  Poor Millie.  She is Front-lined so they should die soon the nasty little blighters.

Edited to say:  well the vet removed two this morning, and I got an o'Tom (the doctors were handing them out for free!).  This evening I found two more  >:(

Well, I am pleased to say I removed them all by myself - very proud of myself and confident I can do it again now.  All I needed was a good tool and to see it done :)
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: samigail on October 21, 2014, 02:03:13 PM
yucky things.
My Molly has had one  :-\
Purchased one of those o'toms to make it easier to remove in future but hopefully she won't get another
x
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: MIN on July 19, 2015, 07:00:34 PM
4 ticks now in 2 days. we are having a real job getting them off. they see the Otom coming so flatten themselves down to her skin so we can not get a grip.
 the other thing is I can not twist the otom without dropping it. Poor Gemma, not happy and does not like the antiseptic spray . Billy no mates is not working for us ( also found a friend)
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Helen on July 20, 2015, 01:07:42 PM
11 ticks off Jago's face last week....sizes started at 1mm - they were tiny! Got them all off with Otom.   Instead of spraying antiseptic spray why don't you spray it on a cotton pad and then put on the tick site?
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Archie bean on July 20, 2015, 01:52:01 PM
They are a real problem this year. BNM and a very short furcut still working for Archie although the odd one does get through. No trouble with the OTom for me. Luckily Archie seems to know what it is and stays very still for me. If you can manage it putting a finger either side of the tick and stretching the skin slightly helps to raise the tick up and makes it easy to get the prongs under. You don't need to get it right to the end of the V, sometimes a very quick swirl will do the trick.
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: MIN on July 23, 2015, 11:09:24 PM
still getting ticks off Gemma. now they are bigger. Is it possible that they are  belong with the first lot we found a week ago and therefore all attached at the same time and place  :020:  am getting the nak of otom tool now
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: rubybella on July 24, 2015, 09:44:24 AM
Yes, the bigger they are the longer they have been attached and the more blood they have sucked ! Yuck !

Look at this one which I found crawling across the floor a few years ago !!

(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb404/rubybella2/A35D2D53-C41E-4CBD-A13B-BB058AF2AE4A-15802-00001637C7BA5A54_zps34e0159d.jpg)
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: PollySpaull on July 24, 2015, 11:56:39 AM
Ugh disgusting things [emoji35]

Got one off Montys back the other day about the size of that one Rubybella! We have sheep in the field next to our house at the moment so he is regularly checked!!

Hate them with a passion!


Love from Polly and Monty!

Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: AlanT on September 30, 2015, 04:40:59 PM
Be really helpful if posters on here stated roughly where they were.

This is much more of a problem in certain areas, but may be spreading.
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Finvarra on September 30, 2015, 05:17:09 PM
AFAIK they are all over the country. Can't speak about cities as I live in the country, but we travel all over the UK in our moho and have picked up the blighter just about everywhere. anywhere there are wild rabbits, deer, hedgehogs, etc, there will be ticks. Some years they are worse than others.

Vile things, they give me the shudders.

Lesley and Dylan
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Joules on September 30, 2015, 07:35:43 PM
Yes, you can find ticks pretty much all over the UK but some areas are supposed to be really bad.  I am in the Chilterns and usually get a few - quite a lot this year though.  >:(

New Forest, Wales and Scotland I believe have a lot of them, but they can be anywhere and it varies from year to year (this was a bad year) so we all need to be aware of what to look for and how to deal with the little blighters  >:D
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Poi on April 11, 2016, 09:18:53 AM
Becoming an expert at dealing with ticks while living in Romania. We have all these great untouched woodlands and mountains nearby but unfortunately, ticks are more of a problem here.

Thankfully our local vets has great teachers!
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: rubyduby on June 11, 2016, 06:01:25 PM
When we lived in Scotland , our dogs averages 5 -6 ticks a day on/in them, some yes were removed before they got attached, never got the hang of the midge 'tools; so after 20 yrs of coping with these critturs  I have my own finger technique for removing them. Works on me too
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Joules on March 18, 2017, 08:39:49 AM
It's that time of year again when the blasted ticks are out and about.  Just a reminder to anyone new to the joys of ticks - this thread will tell you all you need to know about getting rid of the >:D things.

I have already removed 3 from one of my cats who has a tendency to sit in the grass in a field stalking the bunnies  >:(  I am in Bucks and the weather has been mild this year, so, just a heads up to get that O'Tom at the ready  ;)
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: bizzylizzy on March 18, 2017, 09:18:50 AM
.......and just when we were starting  to look forward to some warm weather and carefree walks!!  >:(
- don't know what's worse, snowballs and never ending mud or tics, pollen and grass seeds! O'h the seasonal joys of cockerhood!!  :005:
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: pinkmarshmallow on June 30, 2017, 03:42:24 PM
Well today found a tick right by Benji's dew claw.  Couldn't see it but I know (from past experience) >:(
Does anyone know how to get yo it, other than cutting back all of his fur surrounding this blighter?  He has a lot of fur in this area but as its on the underside it should be ok.  Any advice would be useful.  His past ticks have been on the edge of his ear and his back.  Thanks in advance. 
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Joules on June 30, 2017, 07:27:08 PM
Well today found a tick right by Benji's dew claw.  Couldn't see it but I know (from past experience) >:(
Does anyone know how to get yo it, other than cutting back all of his fur surrounding this blighter?  He has a lot of fur in this area but as its on the underside it should be ok.  Any advice would be useful.  His past ticks have been on the edge of his ear and his back.  Thanks in advance.

If you follow the link in the first post on this thread, it will tell you all you need to know about how to remove a tick.  If you have an O'tom you should be able to get the hook under the tick without cutting back the fur.
Title: Re: How to remove a tick
Post by: Jillsn on July 25, 2017, 05:50:17 PM
Yes, Maria, they will fall off once they're full, and won't actually harm the dog in most cases. If they fall off, you might find them in the house as what looks like a shiny, black, oval button. Poppy used to get quite a lot, but since she's been on Bravecto the last couple of summers I've not found one on her. I imagine she still picks them up, but they die and fall off once they've bitten her. I tried the 'spot on' type treatments but I was never convinced that they worked very well. Bravecto is expensive, but it really does work.