ticks

[dillon]

i have recently removed a tick from my dog but don't think i got it all out - there is still a small lump - what should i do?

[janetsflower]

Go to the vets without delay. My friend had a cat with a tick which she thought she had completely removed but hadn't. The cat got blood poisoning and died about a month later. I really would take your doc to the vets to get it checked out. Better safe than sorry

[bednobs]

unless you have the right method, it's easy to leave the burrowed head in the animal - i usually take my cat to the vet if he gets one. i use that spot on stuff - it poisons the ticks

[Goofy]

you can also get good stuff from the vet to put on the back of the cat's neck. This prevents them which is much better than trying to get rid of them.

[bizzylizzy]

For future reference. Dab the tick with alcohol (some people cover the tick with vaseline), Wait a few minutes, then grab it firmly with a pair of tweezers as near to the skin as possible, then unwind the tick in an anti clockwise direction. Apparently they wind themselves into the animals skin, which is why if you try and pull them out they often leave the mouthparts behind.

I also use spot on flea and tick treatment which you put on the back of the neck/shoulders of your dog or cat. It works pretty well but doesn't stop the ticks attaching as far as I can see, it simply kills them when they do.

Good luck. I'm sure the vet will sort out the problem. But the other poster is right, you must go and get your dog checked out before the site gets infected.