The Top 4 Tick Mistakes You Don't Want to Make

We outline the top four mistakes people make when dealing with ticks, which can lead to potential health risks. We talk about the importance of tick prevention measures such as wearing Permethrin-treated clothing, removing ticks with tweezers, and saving ticks after removal to identify the tick species and determine the risk of disease.

Insect Shield Repellent Technology

[bonniebon]

Took my dog to a vet about a removal of a fattened tick in his ear. She gave me a $20 piece of Nexguard. Said it would come out within the hour. Tried to sell me seasonal allergy meds. Dog has a MASSIVE INFECTION IN THE EAR SO MUCH THAT HIS SNOUT WAS SWOLLEN. She said, “We don’t pull ticks out.” I went home and ordered some dam fish ox 500mg amoxicillin to reduce the pain, inflammation and infection. We made a home made muzzle and wrestled him to get the tick that had died in situ and was decaying among the ear rot. We applied topic antiobiotic in his ear. Would have been easier on the dog with a sedative. He’d been in bad shape if I hadn’t given him turmeric before we went to the vet and until I dosed him. If you have a $10k horse, call the vet. If you need practical help with your pet, do it yourself. Just pull the dam tick out.

Edit: After a full round of antibiotics, Mr. Goober is infection-free, pain-free and chasing squirrels again.

[gzman]

Living in Arkansas, seeing ticks is an every day thing. His recommendation of not squeezing the tick is good advice, as what he describes is exactly what will happen. Had to laugh about the taking a picture thing though. You'd be pretty busy here after a trip in the woods. Tick carried disease is no joke, ask someone who contracted Tularemia (rabbit fever) which is quite deadly. My brother did and spent 33 days in an induced coma to fight it. The US Army has weaponized it...the only treatment is Gentamicin. Living in Arkansas is a tick education experience. My technique for removing them is to 'hook' them with a finger nail and pulling them off. Using tweezers can do the same thing as squeezing them if you're not careful and I wouldn't recommend it. I have also come to use wild Oregano essential oil to treat all insect bites, ticks included. I also use it on my dogs, especially when I see a halo or ring around a bite. This stuff is anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-biotic and extremely potent. Never use the pure strength oil, always use it diluted in a carrier (it can be purchased this way as well). Oh, and it is death to chiggers as well and relieves itching/swelling quickly. As for preventing infestation or protecting ones self, cedarwood oil is very effective. Not only will this stuff kill ticks and fleas, but a treated area will have no parasites, including all the round-worm species (hooks, rounds, tapes...all of them) and kills their eggs, nymphs and young. The best part is it doesn't kill other insects(butterflies, bees, etc.) unless you spray them directly and is not toxic to animals. The brand I buy is from Cedarcide.

[GaiaMiranda]

Vacuum cleaner worked for me. Suction it against the skin and leave it there. The tick let go or was pulled into the vacuum tube and poof it was gone. Didn't seem to be any of it left in the skin. I ended up with a temporary purplish circle from the suction but it went away like bruises do.

[duvessa]

I’ve never seen tick repellent clothing or shoes sold. I am going to look on the Internet since I’m in the woods every day.

[julieb]

Omg. This is my worst nightmare. I'm having a panic attack just watching this. I would literally die if I see one in me. I feel like they are crawling all over me now

[raymondclark]

I think I'm immune to Lymes.
My blood chemistry is messed up because my parents had an RH problem and our family MD said bacteria need certain conditions to survive.
My ex got Lymes even though I was the one who always had ticks. A bottle collector and hunter who used our farm also got Lymes.
A Navy audiologist found one in my ear that tested positive but I never did.

[Devo]

I live in Australia, and, as a gardener, have had perhaps 100 tick-bites over the years. I recognize the sensations (itch/ache at the site) and apply lavender oil (100%, not the cheaper watered-down type). The tick dies within a minute, and the oil also soothes the itch. It will fall off/rejected within 24 hours, and, if you can't wait, remove with tweezers. Swiss-army knife tweezers are the best.

[kimcroe]

For 15 years, i use to backpack in west texas on the Nuaces River. I never used repellents. Seldom got a tick. I always bloused my pants into my boots. What i did is take a 15 to 30 minute soak in the river in the morning and at night.

[tiedryflies]

I was taught [don't remember who] to use the tweezer lightly holding the tick and un-screw it, turning counterclockwise until removed. Have done this to others, myself, and pets; I'm now 75.

[mawage]

I found out about permethrin about 10/12 years ago. First time I tried it on my socks/shoes/lower pant legs... and didn't get 1 single tick on me the entire Memorial weekend at Highbridge Hills in northern Wisconsin. Where as the previous years, I had to pull ticks off me about at least once every hour all day throughout the weekend. Permethrin is a game changer!

[Guitarty]

If you are in the middle of nowhere with no tweezers flick the thing really hard with your fingers it will fall off and take all its bits with it. In the UK Ticks generally live in grass especially where there are sheep grazing. After flicking it off make sure that you sterilise the wound area or at the very least clean it with soapy water or salt water.

[tombattino]

I check twice and shower right when I get home yet I still find one on me the next day sometimes either crawling around or biting me. Do you have any tips on where they hide cause I check everywhere extremely well

[scottwebber]

I’ve invested in permethrin products after a wake up call n my fingers are crossed !!

[Morbius]

Russian outdoor trousers have a downward fold at the calf which prevents ticks from migrating fully up the leg. When at rest you can flip up the fold and clear out the ticks. Do US manufacturers use this technique?

[Truthspreader]

I just finished 21 days of doxycycline for lyme disease in Poland. Fukn things are everywhere 😢

[bonniegeesey]

Had one them imbedded under my skin before on. My back was never treated and my dog nor my son's had fleas or ticks on them when they were alive

[paulk]

We have amblioma and dermacentor ticks. I am very sensitive to them and feel them right away and pull them off. I usually get them from my dog. They ride on him and crawl off on me. I use repellents in the woods.

[billclarke]

Permethrin is banned in the EU, and being phased out in Canada due to its toxity to children and aquatic life.

[nodemever]

Permethrin spray on all your outer clothing Hang the clothes outside and give them a good amount but don’t soak them Let them completely dry before wearing them
Use a good insect repellent on your skin I prefer high percentage deet type Buy yourself a tick spoon or make one out of a plastic takeout type food spoon just in case a tick manages to get past all your preventative measures The spray will last through multiple washings

[MsDaisy]

A lone star tick got me, and it was cemented into my backside upper hip. I could not get the mouth off, ended up going to my doctor…should have showed her a picture of the tick. She gave me a dose of antibiotic (one pill). Later I looked back at picture and realized it was a Lone Star tick.