ticks - how to remove?

[LisaS]

This will sound really dumb, but we don't typically have a problem with ticks here in southern Calif - until this year.
Since in the past I always ignored all those articles about how best to remove a tick -
please enlighten me - what is the best way to remove a tick? How do I know if I got it all? What if I find a lump without a tick body sticking out - does that mean that it has become embedded? What do you do with them after you pull them off (how to kill them)?
thanks in advance -

[nick teifke]

Im not sure about California but we have a horrible tick population this year because of the mild winter we had in Wisconsin. We have pulled about a dozen or so off of Cleo already, just from one weekend of camping.
We just cover the area with vasoline, which will suffocate it. Then it will back out of the skin and you can grab it with a tweasers. You can also burn them out but I would strongly discourage that
I havent seen any deer or bear ticks which I believe are the ones who carry lyme's disease but I would recommend getting a lyme's shot anyways. Better safe than sorry.

------------------
nick teifke
nteifke@dog.com
www.angelfire.com/wi/1strottie
icq# - 28884141

[AngelBunny]

Lisa:

The advent of hot weather here in NH means the beginning end of this year's tick season.

Hubby blades our two girls when they get back from their morning walk. He uses this time to check for ticks, he looks in their ears, he goes over them w/ his hands, checking for cuts or scratches.

When the dogs & I get back from our nightly run, I do the same.

If I find ticks, I get a firm hold & pull them out. I can't be bothered putting anything on the tick. I then crush the tick between 2 stones. I've removed ticks this way for years & have never had any problems.

If we should find a tick on the dogs when we're in the house, I remove them because hubby says his fingers are too big to get a "proper grip." (I think he's a weenie & just doesn't like touching them--tho he seems to be able to do so in the mornings!) I dispose of these ticks in the toilet.

[act]

I was taught that the safest way to remove a tick is to use tweezers and firmly clasp the tick as close to the skin as possibe and pull firmly but gently. Be careful using just your fingers because ticks can carry blood borne diseases that can spread to humans.

[Patty1]

I was told by my vet to put rubbing alchol on a cotton ball and this will suffocate the tick and the tick will release its hold when you grab it with the tweezers.