Freaking out about a Tic!

[FreakSteak]

I’ve just removed a tic from Ddog. I noticed he also had a small scab on a different part of his body, mildy oozing clear liquid, with some tiny brown flaky scabby bits in the fur around it. No sight of a tic in that area.

Now I’m freaking out that it’s a tic bite and it’s dropped somewhere in the home. DDog does get the occasional sebaceous cyst but they grow larger before they pop so I would have probably felt this before.

What should I do other than burn the house down?

Do you use anything like Nexgard to protect against tics? If so it would have died and then dropped off.

Ddog is treated with Advocate from the vet but I don’t think it is effective against tics.

No need to freak out.

Advocate does not cover ticks, so speak to your vet if you want cover.

Check your dog regularly , get a tick remover and remover as soon as your find a tic.

Most treatments still allow the tick to attach to the dog and then they fall off in about 24 hours. Seresto collars are meant to stop the ticks attaching and if they do attach will kill them off. Bravecto and nexguard need the tic to attach before it can be killed.

That is why it is good to check your dog regularly at least daily and remove when you find them

We live in a very high tick area and can usually see several ticks on the dogs fur at the end of a walk - you can also run a lint roller over your dog at the end of a walk and get lots of the buggers off before they have a chance to attach!

I will talk to the vet about Nexguard. What about the one that may have dropped off and is roaming around our home waiting to pounce? Do I need to worry ? I have little ones.

Most UK ticks can not live indoors. There is one that can, the dog tick (dont panic that is unlikely to be the one on your dog as they come from abroad usually)

Usually the engorged tic will wander off to "digest" and not be very active and due to our houses being drier conditions than they like it will probably shrivel up and die.

They need a host to survive so if they do not get a host they will die.

Have a hoover around look in your dogs bed or where they sleep. (this is why dogs will never ever ever sleep in my bed though!)

Load of to get over the shock and you will all be ok

I can understand your concern but dont let it get out of control.

Just a few things to remember is that, not all ticks carry diseases.

Even if you are bitten with an infected tick you may not still get any diseases

It usually takes 24 hours for the tick to fully attach so if you see a small tick on anyone they will not have infected you with disease just remove with a tick remover and keep an eye on the area it was attached.

The site can itch a bit and go a bit red but usually if no bulleye rash you are ok. If really worried keep the tic in a sealed plastic bag and they can be tested to see if they have disease.

It is sensible to check yourselves over - just a quick glance after a shower to check there is not a tick. As said previously we are in a high tick area.

With children check in their hair line, backs of knees and groin area. As well as the obvious legs and back.

You can usually feel the tic as it doesnt hurt or itch (initially) but does feel a bit different.

I have had many ticks attach to me, I remove them quickly and have as yet not have any issues from them.

Remove any ticks you may find quickly and generally all will be fine.

You could google to see if you are in a high Lyme disease area to be extra careful.

Just hoover all floors and upholstery. I’m sure it will be fine