Tick Bites

When you pulled the tick off did you get the HEAD? That's always the biggie and really there should be no scab.

If a tick has been embedded 8-14 hours they say it can transmit disease (you don't even see them engorged yet many times.) "how long" it has to be embedded seems to depend on the study, the type of tick disease, etc.

The symptoms of tick disease can be anything from mild nausea, to arthritis-like-stiffness, general malaise, or just "off. You often don't see big huge symptoms -- frankly I'd wait a few weeks and if you see ANY change, get some bloodwork done. Even if you don't wind up with tick disease, it can trigger other things. One of the things tick disease does is make the dog anemic -- and that can be REALLY hard to watch for -- because many dogs just plain are stoic enough to stay on their feet WAY longer than they should.

Everyone else will chime in with their favorite chemicals. My experience is in the other direction. When my Billy got bitten by a tick I was watchful -- I saw some of the above and took him to the vet. He was more than a little anemic ... tested as "faint positive" for Ehrlichea (a Florida tick disease) -- but it actually wound up being IMHA (immune-mediated hemolytic anemia). Enter a 3 year massively expensive roller coaster disease. It's often triggered by things like pesticides, fertilizers, vaccines, etc.

So me? I'm mega vigilant ... I do use chemicals (this is Florida -- I *have* to -- it's the sticky, muggy, bacterial/mosquito/tick-ridden South), But I'm danged careful which I use and nothing systemic (in other words nothing that goes into the bloodstream and "stays" there all month).

I don't think for any of us finding a tick is a cause for joy. But honestly -- rather than just relying on what a bunch of us may say who live in various parts of the US -- you might want to simply Google for your state and tick disease. There are literally hundreds of different tick diseases in the world ... and where you are is a huge part of "what" is the big risk where you are. They can get other tick diseases but knowing what is 'hot' in your area is the best thing .. and honestly a call to your vet is probably where you should start.

 As Callie said, something is "off," that is what you watch for.

 My new boy Tony tested positive for Lyme.  As he was new to me, no way I had a clue.  He was not to the point of showing the alternate leg lameness - Lyme often affects the joints.  Once he'd been on the meds 3 days I realized: he had not been eating, and started; and he had been quite lethargic.  I admit was worried about that, he's a 3 year old, he wasn't doing much for such a young dog.  Oh yes, he is DEFINITELY feeling better now.  

 

 

calliecritturs

If a tick has been embedded 8-14 hours they say it can transmit disease (you don't even see them engorged yet many times.) "how long" it has to be embedded seems to depend on the study, the type of tick disease, etc.

 

FWIW my own doctor just told me its 24-36 hours which is what I have always heard. 

Honestly I don't worry too much unless the tick is engorged, if it isn't engorged it has fed yet which means it would be impossible to transmit disease.

You can get a nasty infection if you leave any part of the tick in the skin and you can also help the tick along if you squeeze it while its head is still embedded

Callie if you have studies to support the 8-14 hrs I would love to see them as I have had several bites this year 

Thanks you guys. I will call my vet and see what she has to say. I don't think I really need to worry, as I did get the whole tick, including the head, it was not engorged, and it can't have been on there more than 8 hours.

I will keep a close eye on Zeke, anyway.

(I can't quote in Firefox) "Callie if you have studies to support the 8-14 hrs I would love to see them as I have had several bites this year "

Karen, I've never bothered to keep track of where. I've never heard as long as 24-36 -- I know back when Billy got bitten (precursor to the whole IMHA thing) his had been in him way way less than 24 hours and it wasn't engorged at all. But that was ehrlichia ... all I really know is the disease cells are on the 'prongs' that stick down into the skin, and my vet (the 'regular' vet) told me the 8-14 hours along with his comment "It really doesn't take all that long to transmit disease for this". I've just always been struck by the fact that every source seems to reference something different but then, I've read about a lot of different varieties of tick disease. I've been to several seminars up at U of FL that have had sessions dealing with tick disease -- if I remember I'll see if there's anything in my old handouts.

[edited to say I know I butchered the spelling of ehrlichea}

http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/lyme/fact_sheet.htm

http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/vector-borne/lyme/lyme-faq.shtml#Q20

http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/transmission/index.html

All of the above suggest 24-48 hours. It isn't the prongs, it is the exchange of fluid through them from my understanding

Karen, "through" or "on" is a finer point than I've known ... didn't mean to be inaccurate. WE're now way into my own "ick" factor with ticks. and Firefox is making it nearly impossible to post so .... *sigh*