Deer/Sheep Ticks
A word of warning to anyone who is visiting the West of Scotland with their pets, especially dogs when out walking in the woods and fells, there are a perfusion of ticks this year. During and after a walk today along forest paths we have had to remove somewhere between 20 & 30 ticks off Flyte, our Springer, who because he is blind is on a lead and so doesn't wander or run off the paths that we are on. I suspect that he would have picked up very many more had he roamed into the vegetation.
Comments
-
It is not only Scotland but anywhere. Even in England ticks are on the increase. I had one on my leg last year picked up on one of the showgrounds even though the grass was fairly short and I was not wearing shorts or sandals. Fortunately we carry a tick removal tool in our first aid kit and I was able to remove it cleanly and I suffered no ill effects.
peedee
0 -
With increase in ticks comes an increase in chance of getting infected with Lyme desease which can be very nasty if not treated early.
peedee
0 -
Same over here as I have already had a very tiny black one on my arm and had a long sleeved top on whilst doing some gardening a few weeks ago also have got a tick removal kit which is always carried even when we had our 2 Springer Spaniels, we do get Roe deer sometimes on our field but not as many as previous years.
0 -
Thanks for the warning Nellie. Hate ticks. Always carry a removal tool
0 -
Sadly we’ve messed up, we have far too many deer around us, several species, some not native, which are impacting negatively on the natural balance and habitats. Their predators have been eradicated and in some areas of the UK numbers are kept artificially high for hunting purposes. One of those negative aspects is the increase of ticks which are plaguing us and our pets.
0 -
Very much aware of that peedee. At our last house, our neighbours beautiful Golden Retriever contracted Lyme disease from a tick and sadly died within 24 hours. The only way it was proved was because the owner was a biochemist and took a blood sample to work and examined it.
0 -
My eldest son worked in Germany for a couple of years and was bitten by a tick while working in his garden. He subsequently fell ill and was rapidly diagnosed with Lyme decease. Fortunately the doctors there are used to seeing it and it was caught early. He spent a short spell in hospital and fully recovered but had to undergo blood tests for sometime afterwards.
peedee
0 -
Thanks, Peedee, I will have a look at it. I believe that they also did an article on the Rutland Ospreys so doubly worth a viewing.
0 -
Thanks peedee, watched the episode, very enlightening. Enjoyed the ospreys and bat pieces. Certainly raised my understanding of the growing tick issues facing us.
I never can understand those that criticise CF, it seems to be one of the most fair and balanced programs which highlights those problems farmers and the general public face in this rapidly changing world we live in. Many problems caused by own actions and lack of understanding.1 -
We seem to lack a tick remover.
I asked yesterday in the large chain chemist and was shown tweezers with hooks at the end. Instructions to get hook under ticks. Didn't sound easy....... Declined the purchase and will chat to the vet in due course.
Does anyone have recommendations please?
0 -
I place a lot of reliance on Meg having her flea and tick treatment every month, without fail. I've got it marked up as a recurring event on my Apple calendar. I use Advantix which is supposed to repel and kill ticks and - touching a very large piece of wood - I've never found one on her yet. Given how dense her coat is, they would be very difficult to spot but I always check her out after we've been walking anywhere we might come across them.
I used to be able to order a repeat prescription over the phone from the Vet's - but now the RCVS have changed the rules and, apparently, she has to be examined before they will issue one - putting the cost up still further. More than a bit naughty on the part of the RCVS methinks.
1 -
Interestingly, one cause of this rampant increase of ticks and the possibility of Lymes disease transfer is the introduction of huge numbers of pheasants for shooting purposes into the environment. This is another example of how we cause many of these problems though our behaviours and pheasants specifically are a very serious vector for this disease..
0 -
I use Flea Away, spot on solution from B&M, as it donates all of the profits to the RSPCA. The main ingredient is Fipronil which is similar to Frontline and I have never had any ticks on any of my dogs over the years, including any of my 3 GH crosses which had long hair. It states on the box that it kills fleas, ticks and lice and is obviously far cheaper than buying from the vets. In view of the increase in tick infestations I will keep an eye open for them on myself and my current lurcher though. Better to be safe than sorry!
0 -
Don't know how you can make that allegation, mickysf - given the following quotation from towards the end of the article:
"It has not been clearly established that the avian form of the disease is the most prevalent. Other forms which give arthritic and cutaneous symptoms are more widely reported," he said.
"Pheasants do not pass on these forms and indeed ticks carrying these strains of Lyme disease may actually be cleaned up by the pheasants - thus reducing human risk."
And he said other researchers in the field had disassociated themselves from Dr Kurtenbach's views."
Another bit of fake news! Especially given that the research was conducted in only one area of the UK and then extrapolated to cover the whole of the UK. Not particularly statistically sound!
0 -
I don’t! The article says it all. The fact is that pheasants do carry the ticks , those ticks do harbour Lymes disease and the number of pheasants released is absolutely huge as reported. Those facts are not refuted by anyone and the potential issues are real.
For balance, and rightly so in my opinion. the report does provide the counter argument. Of course those with a vested interest will argue otherwise but the facts I quoted remain.
Of course, the study was localised but who’s to say the findings are not transferable across the county. This is an example of trying to deflect the possible implications of mass release of such birds into our environments.0 -
B2, we have used these for years now and they work fine for us. The smaller one is for tiny new arrivals while the other works best with those that have been present for a while and are bloated. Should you get a set just remember to twist it in an anticlockwise direction once you have the tick between the jaws. There are many others on eBay etc, just Google them.
These are called o'Tom tick removers.
1 -
Thank you Nellie. They look much more user friendly. The boots ones needed to get separate hooks under and then squeeze the tweezer element.
Touch wood we have never had an issue with Dora but did once with grand dog. We always use vets flea and tick treatments. But I have been known to spin the time spans. I'll follow properly this year!
1
