Tick disaster

[thedendrochronologist]

DH Found a huge red patch under his hind leg (on the inside thigh)

Look like it's a tick that DH tried to remove but it was buried and part remained buried.

Do we go to the vet in the morning. Or wait and see? He's ok in himself. I took picture to see if it shrinks overnight.

He was yelping and a bit grumbly so we left him and put some leucelin on it.

Anything else in the meantime to improve it?

Vets tomorrow definitely.

I'm sure you already know about Lyme's Disease, but in case you don't - https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/general/ticks

I'd definitely see the vet tomorrow.

Tick forks make it much easier to get the whole tick out and are ever so cheap.

Is he on tick medication, if so the tick may die and the part left drop off, but the fact that it’s already red could suggest the head needs to come off and antibiotics given asap. My dog had one, it dropped off fully later in the day, he was on Frontline, but now on something stronger.

It was buried so we couldn't really get it with the tick twister so tweezered it out .

We do this all the times. But because it was buried it snapped.

We don't routinely pre-treat for fleas and ticks as we choose not too and appreciate this may be controversial. We may well review it!

He is terrible at the vets. He will bark endlessly and lace around and depending on who the vet is he may not cooperate and then they will suggest GA!

My fear!

Ticks are grim but I got half way through your thread thinking your dh had the tick..
Maybe he DOES yelp and is grumpy?

Definitely vets, if you leave it it could get badly infected or cause disease (if the tick was infected).

Without wanting to sound preachy, please don't use tweezers to remove - if you can't get it with the tick tool then a vet/vet nurse can do it for you.

Oh it does read like that

He certainly is in the doghouse that's for sure!

There was no way he could get that tick out but he was determined. Unfortunately I had hold of the grumbly biting end.

Anyway vets being called at 8.30am we have four hours when they are open before or emergency vet. Dog looks fine curled up as per usual. Not bothering him at all!

Vets at 10.30

He's fine no worse or better-Glad will get it sorted

Thanks for the advice

One of mine had similar!

The vet looked at me like I had grown a second head when I took him in. Said the tick was dead, gave me some cream and told me to leave! Didn’t even charge me for the consul - just the cream. So hopefully yours will be just as painless 😊

I wouldnt go to the vet for this. It will come out on its own. Keep you eye out for infection but usually the head will just drop out.

tbf, we do routinely pretreat for fleas (I would get eaten alive if we didn't, cats) & my cats still get bit ticks on them, sometimes. Routine drops are not a guarantee protection.

It's not a good idea to leave it as it increases the chance of disease (if the tick is infected which you won't know).

Separately from this tick…

If you live/walk somewhere where ticks are a regular issue, seresto collars are pretty good, stops them getting them in the first place rather than killing them once they’re there like spot ons or tablets.

mine are getting theirs this week and I’ll take them off about the end of October.

Vet said the head may not ever come out and may well be left in there and heal over!

Course of antibiotics due to size of lesion and watch it.

Loxicom from our stash at home for two day to reduce inflammation

Back in three weeks for annual jabs and check!

Feeling relived although £100 lighter now

As an aside if you are into the natural approach put apple cider vinegar with mother on the dog food or in water as ticks and fleas don't like it. It does work.

@Toooldtoworry I have some of that might give it whirlpool

Whirl! Stupid Autocorrect

Ha ha ha, I mean works to clean limescale too 😂

If the body hs been removed there is no risk of the chances of disease.

Only issue is if it becomes infected.

It really interesting as I don't think there is a best answer here

The tick was small and not engorged and I presume dead

Vet said highly unlike Lyme disease in the UK and they never travel from the bite site unlike what you may here.

Dog had a huge 10cm lesion of bright red blood. The vet called it a bruise. I thought it was infection or irritation but I think it was just blood gathered as a bruise?

It was really hard to see as she said it was in his groin in the inside of his thigh and can only see with when he rolls on his back which he did obligingly for the vet

I'm not sure AB were needed or just prophylactic.

Next time I would wait a bit as long as my as he wasn't ill or in well or festering. Hopefully there will be no next time!

Problem is he could have had it a week already!

This is my favourite vet! She is always conservative in my opinion. Thanks for all the comments been helpful.