It has been unseasonably warm in southern New England and since we haven’t had our “first frost” that means ticks are still alive.
We found out the hard way, when I noticed something on Mindy’s neck area last night.
Mike took a look at her neck, and confirmed it was indeed a tick. Yuck. Mindy was outside with Mike yesterday afternoon, and he had her leashed to a tree out back. She was nosing around in the woods, deeper than I usually allow her to go, so I assume that is where she picked it up.
So, after reading online the correct procedure to remove a tick, we got out the tweezers, the alcohol, and I scooped some peanut butter on a spoon to distract Mindy.
She was wiggly as usual, but Mike pulled and pulled on the bug, and it finally let go of her skin. It was a large brown tick, but was still flat in shape. I assume it didn’t get embedded too far on her skin, thankfully. There was no blood.
After it was removed, we put the tick in a little cup of alcohol, not sure why, but I thought I read something about not flushing ticks down the toilet because they could remain alive. ?? I am not sure, but I figured the alcohol would kill it.
We noticed there was still a mark on Mindy, sort of red, with a little scab area. I called the Vet’s office today to confirm, and yes, because the tick was literally pulled off her skin, it is normal for her skin to be irritated, like a bad insect bite.
And now I am wondering if the scabbed area we noticed a couple of weeks ago was also from a tick that possibly fell off due to the Frontline meds in Mindy’s system. We didn’t give her the monthly dose for November, since I assumed the ticks would be gone by now. I wish the first frost would come!!!
