Ticks are arachnids that live solely on the blood of animals—and sometimes humans. Tick bites can range from mild nuisance to serious medical condition; and while most tick bites are harmless, on rare occasions, tick bites can transmit serious illnesses like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, relapsing fever, tularemia, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis (and even more in pets). Ticks can stay attached to their host for days, even weeks, after the initial bite. The longer a tick stays attached to you or your pet, the higher the chances are of contracting an illness or other infection (ticks removed within 36 hours rarely cause disease or infection). In other words, if you or your pet gets bitten by a tick, you need to remove it as soon as possible. If you suspect you have been bitten by a tick, here’s what you need to do:
Check For Ticks
Hiking, camping, dog-walking—any outdoor activity, especially those in or around tall grass, can leave you the host of a tick. It’s important to check both yourself and your pet for ticks after engaging in any activity that might have exposed you to these parasites. Ranging from the size of a pinhead to 2/3 of an inch, ticks can be brown or red and even white and blue-green (especially after feeding)—but in all cases, ticks can easily go unnoticed. Especially when searching your pets for ticks, it’s crucial to take your time and be thorough.
For Pets: Slowly brush your fingers through their fur, looking for any unusual bumps or lumps on or near the skin. Ticks particularly enjoy hiding in dark, warm locations, so be sure to check on and within your pet’s’ ears, between toes, under armpits, and under or near their tail.
When checking yourself for fleas, pay close attention to these areas: armpits, ears, belly button, scalp, around the waist, back of knees, crotch, thighs, and in between toes and fingers.
Get the Proper Equipment:
- Latex gloves
- Pointed-tip Tweezers
- Rubbing alcohol
- A Zip lock bag
- Soap & water
Put On Gloves
As mentioned above, ticks carry various infectious diseases. When removing a tick, it’s not uncommon (though it should be avoided) for the parasite to become damaged, spilling blood and other fluids in the process. To avoid having these potentially hazardous fluids seep into a crack or sore in the skin, it’s best to be cautious and always use gloves when handling or removing a tick.
Remove The Tick
There are countless myths and old wives’ tales concerning how to remove a tick—some involve burning the parasite with a match, others advocate suffocation with solutions like alcohol and even peanut butter. However, most of these tips are incorrect and, if used, can actually lead to additional complications like infection. Instead, follow these simple steps to properly and safely remove a tick (the process is the same for both animals and humans):
- Using pointed tweezers, grab the tick as close to the skin surface as possible; this usually means grabbing the tick by its mouthparts. Avoid squeezing or damaging the tick in any way—when harmed or irritated, ticks can expel infectious bodily fluids into the bloodstream of their hosts.
- Slowly and carefully pull directly upward. Don’t twist or yank the tick. With steady pressure, you should be able to remove the entire tick intact.
- If the tick’s mouthparts break off in the skin, attempt to carefully remove them. If this cannot be done easily, stop trying and leave them inside. Monitor the site and consult a medical professional if you spot any signs of infection.
- After removal, thoroughly clean and disinfect the bite site with soap & water or rubbing alcohol.
- Place the removed tick in a ziplock bag; it will eventually suffocate and die. You may wish to save the tick for up to two weeks—in the event you or your pet begin showing signs of illness, you may want to have the tick identified or tested for disease by a professional.
- Over the next two weeks, observe the bite site for any signs of disease or infection like rashes, swelling, tenderness or redness. Consult a medical professional if such signs occur.
- If you begin experiencing flu-like symptoms shortly after removing a tick (3-14 days), consult a medical professional immediately.
Prevent Future Tick Bites
Prevention is the only foolproof method of avoiding ticks and the serious illnesses they transmit. Before and after you and your pet engage in outdoor activities during tick season, it’s advisable to apply an all natural insecticide and repellent to both yourself and your furry friend. It’s also generally a good idea to treat your yard for fleas and ticks during the warmer months of the year.
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