Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Tick

brrrrr... tick-tick-tick!!

not_on_display — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:06:51 -0800

Eeeek! Bit in the ass by a tick! How did I get bit? Will I be OK? Two nights ago, I was mindin' my own biz, watching TV, and I had to scratch my upper-left asscheek. When I hit the spot, I felt something... was theree a piece of skin gouged out? A new mole? Owwie! WTF?

I asked my (good) friend to look at it and she said, "It's a tick!" We got the alcohol out, doused and removed it. It had bitten deep into my flesh, and it was reportedly a big one. (I didn't want to look.) And she got the head out, so I don't have a tick-head in my buttcheek.

Two days later, it's still very sore to any touch. I've never been bitten by a tick in my entire life. So: two questions:
1) Is there a risk of Lyme disease, or is that only transmitted by tiny ticks? What are the symptoms?
2) Where the hell could I have picked up a tick? I have no pets to suspect (only gerbils), I live in the cityburbs... and I had my pants on for a long time (over 12 hours) before I noticed the bite.

I know I'm yummy, but there's some diners I just don't want to accommodate again.

Bad head. Doggy style.

Sinner — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 11:38:54 -0800

A tick dug its foul way into my dog's belly yesterday. We found it dug in but not yet engorged in the middle of an irritated red patch of skin. I tugged 2/3 of of it out of my dog's skin, but despite my best efforts, the head's still in there. What now? I'll preface this by saying that I grew up with the same old wives' tales that many of you did about how I should have used a match, acetone, petroleum jelly, etc. It's pretty clear from even the briefest google search that the appropriate course of action is to pull the tick out, taking care not to leave the head in. What's less clear, however, is what to do if that care is taken, but the head and body still separate. This article states that :

"If the mouthparts break off in the skin - should I dig them out?

We have heard two competing opinions about this.

One viewpoint states that the mouthparts can cause a secondary infection, and should be removed as if it was a splinter.

Another viewpoint was shared with us by a pediatrician in a hyperendemic area. He states that parents can do more harm by trying to hold down a child and dig out the mouthparts with a needle. He instructs his families to leave the mouthparts, and that they will come out on their own as the skin sloughs off."

Can anyone do better than that?

Canine flea/tick preventative treatment?

jerseygirl — Mon, 24 May 2004 09:06:23 -0800

Canine flea/tick preventative treatment? I have a rough and tumble pup (18 pounds, 18 months old). He's quite an outdoor companion, and I find ourselves walking more wooded trails this year. I expect fleas, and especially ticks, are going to be a concern this summer. I am staying completely away from Hartz in all shapes and forms. I am very open to the idea of natural/herbal/homeopathic flea and tick preventatives as long as they work well. I am also interested if anyone has any experiences with Frontline or Advantage. Whatever the treatment, it would have to withstand bathing, as he is groomed professionally once a month and usually is rinsed down or bathed at home once a week (depending on how much mud he gets into). I will consult with the vet before going ahead with anything, obviously, but would really appreciate any of your personal feedback.