Tick removal

Re: Tick removal

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:08:52 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

Now would we need to unscrew Australian ticks clockwise.............?

[/quote]

Surely you need to unscrew them clockwise in the northerm hemisphere and anti-clockwise in the southern? Anyway the most satisfying part is when you pop them afterwards especially if you aim at that irritating work experience student - just make sure it doesn't backfire

Re: Tick removal

Ian Ross — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:01:36 GMT

[quote user="i am ed"]

You have to decide whether the tick in question is right or left handed. Most ticks are right handed so of course an anticlockwise twist is appropriate. But with the (albeit rare) left handed tick, such a motion is bound to fail.

[/quote]

I was TICKled pink by all the jokes! What does this say about vet's sense of humour

Re: Tick removal

Edward Jones — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:03:42 GMT

[quote user="Emily Nightingale"]

We had a very sweet 15 y.o. work experience girl who thought we were advising clients to turn ticks " anTICKclockwise".. Not sure if any evidence for clockwise or anti.. Ideas anyone?

[/quote]

Re: Tick removal

Michael Woodhouse — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:10:35 GMT

[quote user="Emily Nightingale"]

We had a very sweet 15 y.o. work experience girl who thought we were advising clients to turn ticks " anTICKclockwise".. Not sure if any evidence for clockwise or anti.. Ideas anyone?

[/quote]

My boss insists on 'unscrewing' the anticlockwise. So I do. Can't honestly see it matters

Now would we need to unscrew Australian ticks clockwise.............?

Re: Tick removal

Laurence Webb — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:30:03 GMT

Not sure, but make sure you send her out to buy a tin of elbow grease to help it turn smoothly first. Apologies for such an antickuated joke.

Re: Tick removal

Emily Nightingale — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:07:42 GMT

We had a very sweet 15 y.o. work experience girl who thought we were advising clients to turn ticks " anTICKclockwise".. Not sure if any evidence for clockwise or anti.. Ideas anyone?

Re: Tick removal

sophia guymer — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:14:00 GMT

[quote user="Vikki Halliday"]

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

If we're trying to avoid upsetting the tick, why don't we all just hold the tick and turn the dog? Should stress it less - no?

[/quote]

How many female vets with PMT does it take to turn the dog?

(Oh yes, I feel a rubbish joke coming on..........)

Just the one.

Why?

IT JUST DOES, OK?!!!

[/quote]

Re: Tick removal

emerald — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:09:53 GMT

Good tick site!!!

http://www.bada-uk.org/

Re: Tick removal

Glen McIntosh — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:16:53 GMT

In Australia, where making a certain type of tick angry can kill you if you are a dog or cat, a cryogenic freeze spray to spray onto the tick is often used, the tick is frozen instantly before it has a chance to become upset and you can then remove it safely.

Re: Tick removal

Vikki Halliday LLB — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:28:27 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

If we're trying to avoid upsetting the tick, why don't we all just hold the tick and turn the dog? Should stress it less - no?

[/quote]

How many female vets with PMT does it take to turn the dog?

(Oh yes, I feel a rubbish joke coming on..........)

Just the one.

Why?

IT JUST DOES, OK?!!!

Re: Tick removal

Colin Cameron — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:28:08 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

Doesn't twisting and pulling a tick make it angry?

[/quote] With O-Tom you just gently twist and LIFT off without pulling. Tick is a bit dizzy but less angry ,I suppose! This anger is very short term!!

Re: Tick removal

Gillian Mostyn — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:50:33 GMT

If we're trying to avoid upsetting the tick, why don't we all just hold the tick and turn the dog? Should stress it less - no?

Re: Tick removal

Laurence Webb — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:10:30 GMT

[quote user="Vikki Halliday"]

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

Doesn't twisting and pulling a tick make it angry?

[/quote]Don't know, never asked him.

[/quote]

Surely you mean not asked her?

And Evelyn, I gently rotate the tick to encourage it to leg go of its hold on the dog whilst playing whale music in the background to help it relax. Twist and pull? Never!

Re: Tick removal

Noweia — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:01:21 GMT

Saw a cat today, whose owner had put a dab off dettol on a tick to get it off. Cat licked tick, cue hideously ulcerated tongue and miserable cat!

Re: Tick removal

Vikki Halliday LLB — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 18:05:36 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

Doesn't twisting and pulling a tick make it angry?

[/quote]Don't know, never asked him.

Re: Tick removal

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 16:34:36 GMT

Doesn't twisting and pulling a tick make it angry?

Re: Tick removal

Kate Richardson — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 12:38:58 GMT

[quote user="sophia guymer"]

The reason for this was that an angry tick would expell all it 'saliva' which would contain Borrelia (if the tick was a carrier of course) and make it more likely for the dog or cat to get Lymes.

[/quote]

I don't know about this regarding Borrelia, but when I worked in Australia where they have tick paralysis, it was generally thought that 'stressing' the tick would lead to more toxin being excreted by the tick and worsening the clinical signs, so I guess in theory this could be true for infectious agents being carried by the tick as well.

Tom O'tick removers are cheap and work really well.

Re: Tick removal

sophia guymer — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 18:53:50 GMT

[quote user="Rob Davis"]tick kebabs[/quote]

I like that, will have to do so next time!

Thanks all for clearing that up, will have a word at work now, feeling bit more confident about 'my way'

Re: Tick removal

Rob Davis — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 15:16:25 GMT

[quote user="Vikki Halliday"]Personally I find squishing rather satisfying...[/quote]

I prefer to make "tick kebabs" on a hypodermic needle - less messy!

Re: Tick removal

Colin Cameron — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 11:03:38 GMT

I have tried most things over the years and find the O-Tom hooks to be the best by a long way. So simple and effective with no effort at all. They then get a one way ticket to oblivion!!!

Re: Tick removal

Vikki Halliday LLB — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 10:10:10 GMT

Tick o Tom hooks, or on my own dogs just get my nails undeneath them and remove manually, (I can never find the blasted hooks at home!)

Personally I find squishing rather satisfying...

Re: Tick removal

Laurence Webb — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 23:11:49 GMT

I keep some of mine in a pot to show clients as I'm constantly surprised how many people think that sebaceous adenomas and warts etc are ticks, even though they've been on the dog for 2 years. One of the buggers was still waggling its legs 2 months after removal.

Oh, and no spirit here either. I'd not considered it as a cause of increasing Lymes transmission, but I'd have thought it may sting at the bite mark, making the dog more likely to move whist you're trying to remove the tick.

Re: Tick removal

nikki — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:46:45 GMT

same as Mike - except i dont do squidging and just put a bit of spirit on them once they're on the table.

Re: Tick removal

Charlotte Marshall — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:42:03 GMT

I just take them off with the O' tom tick hooks I find they work well, never put anything on. I'm not sure about making them expel saliva I do try not to squeeze them when taking them off!

Re: Tick removal

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:45:05 GMT

I just unscrew them, put nothing on first

Otom

Surgical spirit does kill them once off, but I just squish them

Usually put some Frontline on at same time in case I had missed any not yet engorged.