Ticks

Absolutely! If you’re heading outside it’s important to apply bug repellent that specifically protects against ticks. Look for repellents with DEET and/or permethrin which tend to be the most effective when it comes to keeping ticks at bay. If you’re pregnant or applying repellents to younger children, consult with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure there’s no harmful ingredients in your chosen repellent.

If you have pets, look for animal-friendly or animal-specific repellent as well—dogs and cats are common tick carriers and can easily bring these insects into your home undetected. Protecting them will, at the same time, protect you, your family and your home.

No—this is a common misconception. Ticks use hosts—you, your clothes, your pets—to get where they’re going and latch onto skin.

While ticks can pop up anywhere on you or your pets, they do tend to favor dark, warm spots—think underarms, groins and even the nape of your neck or scalp. Again, it’s important to check your scalp and hair, clothing, shoes and skin, pay special attention to these areas. If you can’t get a good view, use a mirror or ask someone to help check for you.

In pets, check around his/her head, beck and feet. Bad infestations, though, can result in head to tail ticks, so don’t ignore any spot.

If you’ve just removed a tick from your body/clothing (or your child/pet), seal the tick between two pieces of scotch tape to keep it contained then throw it in the garbage. Alternatively, you can effectively kill a tick with rubbing alcohol—submerge the tick it, wait a minute, then dispose of its body. Spot ticks on your clothes? Toss them in the dryer on “high.” Ticks hate heat and a simple tumble dry can kill them quickly.

If the ticks are in your yard or outdoor space, contact us for a professional treatment. Ticks are notoriously hard to kill—their hard exoskeleton protects them so simply “squishing” them won’t do the trick.

When a tick bites, its head stays in your skin for up to 10 days—though, often, there’s no redness or itchiness to signal the bite happened. If you’re allergic, you may have some tell-tale signs including swelling or pain. Otherwise, though, it’s not uncommon for a bite to go undetected.

Many people are allergic to tick bites. If you or your loved one is allergic, you could wind up with blisters, rashes, fevers, nausea, difficulty breathing or a stiff neck soon after being bitten. However, these reactions tend to be short-term and easily treatable—a quick trip to the doctor, walk-in clinic or ER will ensure you’re getting the medical attention you need.

Beyond reactions, though, the real risk of tick bites come from the diseases they often carry. Lyme Disease is arguably the most well-know but, also, ticks can carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis, plus a number of bacteria, viruses and parasites. If you’re bitten by a tick, reach out to your doctor even if you don’t spot immediate warning signs or reactions. It’s better to take preventative measures early on then to wait for problems to bubble up.

Not necessarily. Some regions—the Northeast and Northwest, for example—are more commonly associated with Lyme Disease. Same goes for types of ticks. It’s estimated that 50% of blacklegged deer tick, for example, carry Lyme Disease.

Beyond these considerations, keep in mind a tick has to latch on for at least 24 to 48 hours to transmit this bacteria. If you spotted the tick pre-bite or immediately after, you’re likely in the “safe” zone—but, again, reach out to your doctor and follow any precautionary steps he/she provides.

Harmful viruses and bacteria can be transmitted to your pet, so it’s important to contact your vet if you suspect your dog or cat has been bitten. It’s also a good idea to save any ticks you find on your pet—store them in a sealable sandwich bag or container. If your pet has been infected, having the tick could help your vet identify potential issues before they arise.

After a tick bite it’s important to check for signs of Lyme Disease including:

• Flu-like symptoms
• Rashes
• Tiredness, fatigue or general malaise
• Joint pain
• Fever
• Change or problems with vision
• Cognitive/Mental declines or neurological impairments

Another common sign is the “bull’s eye” surrounding the bite mark. Keep in mind, though, that this isn’t always present in Lyme Disease cases, so don’t wait for the bull’s eye to seek medical attention.

There are NO effective DIY remedies for Lyme Disease—you must seek medical attention immediately. Oral or intravenous antibiotics are typically prescribed and, within a few weeks, most patients report a complete recovery. In some rare cases, though, treatment can take six months or more.

Yes! Contact us for treatment options. In addition, be sure you’re maintaining your yard or outdoor space. Frequent trimming and pruning will keep grass, trees and shrubs from getting overgrown—piles of leaves, wood and other debris can attract ticks.

If you spot a tick, use tweezers to carefully remove it. Grab the tick at its base and pull it upwards. If you try and grab the tick’s body it could send fluid back into your body, increasing the risk of Lyme Disease. After you’ve removed the core, double check to ensure you’ve fully extracted the tick’s head and mouth.

Once you’ve removed a tick, be sure to kill it—they don’t necessarily die on removal and could latch back onto you or onto another person/pet. After that, clean the affected area thoroughly with warm water, soap and disinfectant.

While ticks can’t swim, they also won’t drown when submerged in water. Some species of ticks can survive for days in water.

Yes. By hiding in piles of leaves, debris or litter, ticks stay warm enough even in very cold climates and conditions. Once the temperature reaches about 45℉, ticks tend to come out of “hiding” to look for hosts—in other words, a warmer winter day could stir up ticks in your yard, so it’s important to stay vigilant year-round.