Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok may sound like a ridiculous question but let me explain that I am allergic to meds for Lyme disease so doing my best to be able to spot deer ticks on dogs before they can get to me Anyway, am planning on adopting a beagle and ws hoping to find a lemon or tan tricolor but recently met a nice little rescue that has black on the body but not on head. I don't care to use the chemical repellants on my dogs so wondering if anyone has any input about whether its possible to spot the ticks on the black hair or do ticks always go up onto the head? My other dog has light hair but must admit as its long I often miss spotting the ticks and usually find out they are on him be feeling them once they are attached. Thanks for any input.
anneh

Hi!

I have greyhounds, not beagles, but my girls are all dark in color and seeing a tick is almost impossible. After they have been outside and on walks where I know ticks are, I just rub my hands all up and down their bodies feeling for a tick. It is quite obvious when you feel one and if you do this after being outside, you'll catch them quickly. You also need to check betweek their toes and in their ear folds, because ticks sometimes lodge in there.

When you do find a tick, using tweezers, firmly grasp the tick by its head and gently pull. You do not need to try to burn them, use alcohol or smother them with vasiline like some people say. A tick will release from the dog if you gently, but firmly pull it off with tweezers. I have pulled hundreds of ticks off dogs and have never had one leave its head behind.

Once you have the tick removed, place it in a jar with alcohol until it dies.

Good luck with this little rescue you found. I don't think I'd let the dog being dark in color stop me from adopting the perfect dog!

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Melody/PHFasDog
Email me at PHFasDog
My furkids: Kira, Lyta, Jadzia

Thanks I appreciate the input :_)