TICKS

[mchis]

Ticks are naaasty! Saying that...what you describe can be normal. They're just like any other bug bite--they can swell, get pink & itchy before returning to normal. I'd keep an eye on it for infection & keep it clean in the mean time. If it gets pussy, the redness spreads & it worsens I'd have it checked by a vet. But sometimes they can take a while to heal. (few days to a couple months I've heard some people say it took to heel)

[sharona]

hi -looked on the itnernet and Eric did what they suggested and removed with tweezers. He said the whole tick came out including the head and feelers. does not look as though there is anything left there. Its just pinkish and can feel a small lump. Spoke to the vet nurse and she asked the vet who said to keep an eye on it - if it goes red or he stops eating or drinking then we should go to the surgery and they would give him a steroid injection.
Thanks for all your replies x

[Elle]

We have to remove ticks from our cats all the time, living in the country, and from little Harry a couple of times too. The pink lump is just where the head was buried and providing it was removed thoroughly, will go down in a day or two... it's nothing to worry about. I can thoroughly recommend the O'Tom tick remover (it's very cheap) and we've never failed to remove either small or huge ticks from either Harry or the cats, in a matter of seconds using this:

www.otom.com/otom-tick-twister-instructions

It's very unlikely that you were unlucky enough for Charlie to have got a tick carrying Lyme Disease, but there are a few places in the UK where deer ticks do carry it. Just watch that area where the pink lump is now and make sure Charlie seems to be acting normally. The symptoms to watch for in dogs in the early stages are loss of appetite, fever and lethargy. But as I (and others) have said, it's very unlikely that Charlie will have any problems at all, so don't worry

[Chloe]

I have one of those Elle they are great for removing ticks my cat gets a few each year.... Sounds ok Sharon I would just keep an eye on him

[Lucy]

Oh wow Elle just watched the video on that and it looks brilliant. Never had a tick on my dogs but I'm tempted to buy one just in case lol

[Elle]

It really is that easy to use... and it comes in handy for hooking other 'nasties' that get on their coats (you'll know what I'm talking about when Rogue gets a longer coat, lol!)

[sharona]

Thanks Elle will get one as well just in case we have another tick about!!! Charlie is ok but still has a small lump where the tick was so will keep tabs on him. At the Bournemouth show on Sat so hopefully he will be okay. Thanks for all your replies x

[sharona]

Hi just to let you know the lump from the tick bite has gone now thank goodness. I must order that tick removal tool from the internet. Looked at the Bournemouth show but none of the stands had them. I think he picked up the tick when we went for a walk in Devon but I think its best to get the tool in case it happens again x