The best way to deal with ticks!

27/07/2007

I am a little concerned that the article on ticks (linked below) may not have given your readers sufficient information.  Having lived for 11 years in the French countryside, where this horrible creature is common, I have had to remove many of them from my cats and from baby hedgehogs, the latter of which can die from a bad infestation.
 
It is important to remove the whole insect and be certain that the head has followed the body, because any attempt at interference will make them burrow even further into the skin and if part of the head remains, it can cause a serious infection.  Using tweezers may sever the body from the head and a failed attempt may make the insect even more difficult to remove.
 
There is a special tick tool available from pet shops which is cheap, very small and easy to carry if venturing into the country side. It makes the task much simpler, however, in view of the details in your article, the instructions should be read carefully as the technique is quite different, It really does work well.
 
If circumstances permit, it is also a good idea before starting the operation to dab the little beast with vaseline: this impedes its breathing so that it relaxes its hold a little to come up for air.
 
It should be noted that these creatures are very resilient and difficult to squash, so it is best to burn them before they find another prey.
 
I shall not forget sitting on my terrace on a warm summer evening, picking ticks off a poor little baby hedgehog and burning them by igniting kitchen paper in a large ashtray.  Such things are dreams made of!
 
Heather Alibakir