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When i was younger I got a tick in my stomach and they used iodine to take it out I was only young at the time but I seem to recall that the tick responds to this and comes out or maybe it killed them enabling it to be pulled out maybe worth a thought thats if you can still get iodine. Dont know if anyone knows.

Lynles

I recently read on a kayaking website the same thing, use the clawed tick-hooks you get from vets, and twist the tick out.  The post I read said unscrew it anti-clockwise!  I don't know if that's scientifically valid, but it's probably what I'd do instinctively.

I've never had a tick on me, but I've seen quite a few on horses in Scotland, and with global warming, mild winters and generally more bugs... well, maybe it's best to be prepared.

Mary

Never had a tick on me, my oh had it once, the dogs, well, we lost count. Our method is to pour some whiskey on the tick, wait half a minute or so for it to get "drunk" and weak, gently grab it with tweezers (normal ones) as closer to the skin as possible and rotate slowly but firmly. In 13 years it has always worked and it's a 5 minute job.

Sorry to confuse the issue of ticks but the claw instruments that are obtained from vets come in different sizes.Make sure you have a selection to choose from.Always keep your dog up to date with frontline as this is an exellent deterrent.As for adders fatalities in humans are rare but not in dogs.So be vigilant on hot sunny days particulary on banks.Keep dogs on a lead.

Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 01/6/2006

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Never had any ticks on me in x-ty years of camping, and I`ve camped in sheep fields and worse.

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Famous last words here...son got a tick in the hairline at the base of his neck on our last camping trip. The kids were paddling in a stream that ran through some grazing land next to the campsite (it was permitted) and I expect that`s where he picked it up.

Annoyingly, the tweezers had vanished from the first aid kit so I sprayed the tick with the alcohol spray I use to clean my glasses and after ten minutes or so, tied a thread round it and wiggled it out. Seemed to work, and son didn`t have any problems later.

I have to say though that my son was black affronted that the tick had decided to land on him. He keeps on going on at me..it`s my fault, apparently, because I didn`t force him to have a haircut before we went on holiday!

Just wanted to add my two penneth worth the fork type tools are good. I always use tweezers with angled tips to get hold the tick as near to the skin as possible, don't squeeze the body, because as has already been said, squeezing the body will more than likely force any blood from the tick back into the wound and with it any disease (like lymes) back into your body. A similar outcome can occur when you go at the tick with heat, in that it "panics" and regurgitates some of its meal. Once the tick has fed it will drop off naturally, by the time we notice them they are usually near this stage.

Adders rarely grow larger than 2.5' http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/identification.htm 

This is what I use if my dogs get them, very good like a couple of others have mentioned., Got mine from the Vets    "OTOM"

http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/information/tick_removal.htm 

Aly

Quote: Originally posted by jdc110571 on 01/6/2006

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Have just read through the checklist if items to take and couldnt help but notice tweezers for splinters and TICKS! Is this a common problem am going off the camping idea by the second!

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No touch wood, we have never had a tick prob!! Ewww cant stop itching now!!

Quote: Originally posted by westjack on 05/6/2006

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 dont use a tweesers!!!! ,you could leave the head in ....smother it ompletly  with vaseline it will die and fall out.......used to work

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Yep get the VASELINE!!