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First tick of the year.

bédébédé Posts: 3,095
in Problem solving
Last year my first was May 13, this year May 20.  Last year I was in shorts, this year I was in jeans and it got me on the neck.
 location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

Posts

  • Jenny_AsterJenny_Aster Posts: 945
    Cricky that's a warning. I can luckily say I've not had one, though I did find one on my tshirt after walking the dog once. Our old dog a spaniel-x used to get them a lot, twice he had to go to the vets to have it removed, one was on his eye lid and the other on his lip. Yet in 10+ years our German Shep has never had one. Don't know whether it's his different coat or whether the ticks are choosy. I'm glad they don't appear to like me.
    Trying to be the person my dog thinks I am! 

    Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    I used to have a long-eared dog.  He swept the garden.  My wife became an expert at removing the ticks.  Now, no dog, the ticks get me.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    So  far this year I have removed 4 tics from my cat and 3 from my dog so they are obviously around.
    I have never had one on myself. Famous last words.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I’ve only ever had one,  that was last year.
    OH seem very susceptible to them though,  had loads, I bought a proper tick remover so I can get them out.  He had one turn septic and had to go to hospital for antibiotics.  Dangerous if they turn septic.
    The cat has combined tick and flea tablets so he doesn’t get them. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Sepsis can be dangerous and can come from any tick bits not removed.  Lyme disease might be worse, from what I have read a bit like slow covid.

    I use insect repellent on bare flesh in the garden.  I have no evidence that it works, but worth a try.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    If you get the proper tick remover and use it correctly you get the lot out,  I always put it down and inspect it,  make sure it’s still alive before  destroying it. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I had Lyme disease, fortunately spotted really early. Much easier to detect on my very pale skin.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Lyn said:
    If you get the proper tick remover and use it correctly you get the lot out,  I always put it down and inspect it,  make sure it’s still alive before  destroying it. 
    "Use it correctly". and "get the lot out".  Not that easy.  Even using a magnifying glass.   My wife has a lot of practice but might not have got the last one out cpmpletely.  The swelling and inflamation has gone down buta bit of black remained. I can do it myself, but it is sometimes physically impossible.
      
    There is an organisation that likes to receive samples to plot occurrence and Lyme disease presence.  I can't remember, but look on google.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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