Just removed a tick. It was in the left hind thigh of Finn. The tick came out whole, still moving its little paws. Had sucked a large amount of Finns blood. Now there is a large bulb of 2 cm in his thigh. I cleaned it with alcohol. Called the vet and the assistant told me to watch the bulb closely for it has to diminish rapidly. If not I have to come by. My question is: Wouldn't it be safer to give hime antibiotics on forehand, or am I too anxious? Can I do more? Annemarie
ARe you sure you got the head out? If it stays in it can get infected. The darn things can still move their legs, headless, for quite a while. Nah, I wouldn't rush to antibiotic. Even if it does get infected it will most likely be a small, localized spot and if so pretty easily dealt with. The bigger concern here would be is it a deer tick and likely to be carrying Lymne Disease. I don't know where you are and what your disease concerns might be.
I would take him to the vet today for advice if you are worried and he/she will decide if antibiotics are suitable or needed. You will feel much better if it has seen by a vet
Yes, I am sure I got the head out. It was already swollen with the tick in it. The dog walker tend to let the dogs play in a dog play ground, which used to be a deer field! They got the ground of the village to be used as playground for dogs now. The deer has left since a couple of years.
I think I will give them a call tomorrow and see if it is still swollen and ask for advise. My own vet is on holiday, the vet I don't like is on duty... I am very tempted to get him antibiotics
Can you identify different ticks? If not Google will help you out . Deer ticks and dog ticks while they look similar they aren't and when you know what to look for you can tell what's what . Rather than me butcher a description I'd look it up . Your dog may have a tick allergy .
No, I can't identify different ticks. To me they do look all the same, especially when it was all filled up with blood. It looked like a green pea. I have removed several ticks in the passed of our dogs. They all looked like this one. The only thing different now is the big bulb of 2 cm...
I've had several ticks off my dogs this year before they were treated. It's not uncommon for then to get a lump especially Obi. It usually goes away on its own and no infected bites so far. Always go to the vet if you're worried though. The peace of mind is worth it and no forum advice can replace that
I agree with Barbara, that it's quite common to get a lump after a tick bit, and in my experience then a little bald patch for a month or thereabouts. If I went to the vet with every tick bite (before Bravecto that is....) Lilly would have never been off antibiotics. I think it would be best to check out Lyme Disease prevalence in your area personally - talk to your vet about this. A quick look on the (human) HPA site makes it look like London and South East/South West has the highest figures (surprisingly!). jac
This is exactly what my OH says! He says also to wait and see. He is a human medical specialist. I ques I worry too much. But on the other hand there are a lot of warnings about ticks. We had him protected with advantix, but nevertheless he gets them.
Aha! Well he will relate to my feeling that vets overuse antibiotics.....they give them for just about everything! LOL
