Pulled tick off dog, didn't get it all out

Bleh, it's been a shitty couple of weeks for ticks. The dog keeps picking them up from the long grass behind the nordfriedhoff, and the park too I guess.

Tonight's beastie removal left part of it's head behind. I sprayed the area with antiseptic, does this warrant an automatic visit to the vet? Or are there symptoms I should watch for first?

I HATE ticks!! I've never had a dog pick up ticks before I moved to Munich, even hiking in the woods in B.C. and Ontario. What is it with ticks in this place, anyway?

I think the main worry is some form of infection, so you should keep an eye on it certainly.

From here: http://www.petplanet.co.uk/petplanet/health/ticks.htm


I find a large gin allows me to grip tweezers closer to the skin than I might normally, thus preventing this happened. In addition, I've never used one of these, but I guess some do! http://www.pawsability.co.uk/shop/tickremoval.htm

Go get some Frontline for your four legged pal . . . Don't bother with all the other flea/tick stuff that the regular pet supply stores carry; they don't work.

no. just either put some dish soap (undiluted) on it or rubbing alcohol and hold it on for a bit. if do dish soap then later wipe it off and put on rubbing alcohol for a bit after (i'd do the combo).

As for flea/tick replent. Frontline was never the best repellent and it's rapidly losing it's efficacy even more. These products have a 'shelf life' of approx. 10 years. This means the formula is most effective for that period (not in it's container, but before the manufacturer needs to tweak it). Frontline is at the end of it's life. K9 Advantix works a lot better plus helps repel (that spelling doesn't look right) mosquitos. There's a new K9 Advantix that also works against some biting flys.
There are two new products out that are good and help protect similar to Advantix. At the moment the names are escaping me, but if you'd like I can get those names for you.
I know heartworm isn't a threat really in Germany so the mosquito bit might not be as important (since it helps deter mosquitos it's just another heart worm preventative aid), but it will help with itching and bites for the dog's comfort.

I agree about ticks and Munich- i don't get it. While there even with Frontline (one of the many reasons we switched from it) Bren picked up ticks. Once we switched it was better, but still. I don't get it we've been multiple places with lots of ticks and he's yet to get one outside of the Munich area.

Ok, thanks for the advice. We did use those same special tick tweezers but this particular tick was hard to get a hold on.


Straight up, or with a twist of lime? I REALLY like that idea -- it would sure help dull the "gross factor"

I will get to the vet for some repellent. She isn't on Frontline or anything like that, so it's more than time. I have read in some forums that Frontline and similar medications have some serious health risks - even claims that it has killed dogs. Do you know anything about that?

One more question -- if she picks up something from the ticks, like Lyme disease, what would be the symptoms? I read somewhere that they don't get that large red ring like humans do, but I haven't found anything detailing the canine symptoms.

Have a look at this site.

Apparently lethargy is a symptom, which with Turbo would be easy to spot --- not bouncing a foot or two in the air all the time...

Thanks for the link, lots of good info there!


Oh man, you're right about that! She earned her name honestly

For future reference, note that only half of Lyme cases among humans result in a bullseye rash. So should you find a tick on yourself in the future, don't use that as a benchmark. Most physicians say that having the rash is a good indication of infection, but not having it is not an indication of not having it by any means.

Look at the AVMA website for info on Lyme
The symptoms are similar to a lot of dog illness- inapetence, lethargy, fever (normal temp is 101F or 38C). If Turbo starts to appear to be sick take her to the vet. Lyme is treatable and long term side affects can be minimal/non-existent if caught early and properly treated. I know some Lyme dogs that are competing in agility, herding, etc.

Get some flea/tick stuff and ask your vet what brand they recommend. (I'd stay away from Frontline due to it's ineffectiveness. There are some out there that are better than others)
As for side effects of repellent... yes, you read about it, but it's your choice. I've yet to see a dog have issues with repellent (granted I'm not a vet). Some might develop a skin reaction, but the humans just switch products until one works. There are some 'organic' products, but I honestly question their efficacy. I'm all for organic and holistic, especially with dogs, but if they don't work then no. Make sure you are giving the right dose (it goes by weight) and apply it properly. Also don't pet the dog or let kids pet the dog in the areas where it was applied for awhile. Some people say 6 or 12 hours. Personally I put it on at night mid-late evening then in the morning I know it's fine and by the time I get home from work it's really fine. Also, try to make sure that the dog will be staying dry for about 24hr after it's applied. Yes some of this not touching the area or not getting it wet may be over the top, but it's to help ensure you don't get the stuff on you (or minimalize how much you do) and that it has time to start acting before it's washed off.

If you do want holisitic there are some out there. Or you can do a mix (use the conventional stuff and add some holisitic things to your dogs food/life to help).
Garlic, tea tree oil, eucalyptus, some grasses (wheat grass is great for them, but i don't know if it helps repel fleas/ticks, i don't think so), citronella and a few others. Some recommend using nutritional/brewers yeast, but be careful with this and the amount given- especially since it can be an allergen for some dogs.
Also Palmarose or Rose Geranium oil helps (mix it with some other oil and put it on the skin, but be careful of eyes)

Also, a healthy immune system helps so make sure you're feed quality food, the dog is getting omega 3 and 6 etc.

You can add some stuff to your dogs food or water to help. Apple Cider Vinegar, Garlic, some different oils (depending on what you want the oil might change) etc.
if you want any info on some holisitic things to help with flea/tick, immune system or other stuff let me know I can send you some good resources.

Thanks for the great information!

Got a tick myself yesterday... is it a bad year for ticks?

It's worse than I remember - but my old dog didn't bounce around in the long grass and bushes like this one does.

Ick. Just found another one on her back.

When Brennan and I lived in Gruenwald he would get them all the time. He still would occaionally after we switched off of Frontline, but not as much.

I find the ticks there to be horrible! By keeping grass clippings and leaves all raked up it helps minimize the existence of certain types of ticks (they're still there, but not as much, but this only helps for certain ones).

I've only had a tick on me once in life and I got it playing disc golf in Weilheim (so in Germany).

Hmmm . . . My Oklahoma dogs have been on Frontline for years, and they have never had fleas or ticks while on Frontline. Maybe there is something different about these Bavarian über ticks

Who knows. I know Frontline is it's last years of life right now and the makers are developing other ones since they know the life/effectiveness of Frontline is coming to an end.

If in the US or an area where there's a risk for heartworm I don't know why someone would use Frontline if they can use something else that helps ward off mosquitos thus giving another added protection against heartworm.

It's all comes down to preference.

My dog uses Frontline but she still gets one or two ticks a week. I've had occasions where the head was left in but I just keep an eye on it now. I went to the vet the first time but he told me to watch for swelling of the site, lethargy or unusual behaviour, which pretty much sums up my dog anyway!! My daughter was treated for Lyme disease back in 2004, it wasn't any fun for her at the time but she is OK now.
The last couple of years have been bad because the winters were so mild.

I have to pop into my vets later this week anyway, so I'll ask for the name of that stuff she gives me. It worked quite well last year, and brings down the tick numbers to only a few a week on my two dogs. After applying, you have to keep your dogs out of water for 2-3 days, because it will supposedly kill off stuff in the water.

My dogs have had no allergic reactions or skin problems with it so far. (though different dogs might react to it) It also works against other pests, like "grasmilbe" or mites (Neotrombicula autumnalis), another tiny insect/parasite that got my dogs last year. The milbe were worse than ticks, since they also love humans and got both my husband and myself.

Another scary beasty to worry about I've never heard of Neotrombicula autumnalis. I miss bears and coyotes and cougars...

don't fret. I won't say nothing will happen to Turbo because we don't know if it's true or not, but there's a risk in everything and if you worry about it all then where will you be (or how will you be mentally)?

Do the best care you can for her and just relax. Some things you can avoid and you're a caring, responsible owner so you will avoid them. Some things you can so you just have to hope you're not in those circumstances or situations.
Yes, being educated about what's out there is great, but also stay calm and just enjoy her- she's a great dog with heaps of potential- you're going to have a great life with her

Perhaps random but do cats also suffer from the ticks around here?

Yes, if they are outdoor cats. My neighbors' cat had ticks very often (he died last year, nothing to do with ticks, though). Maybe it made it worse for him that he had fairly long fur, and would always be outside, probably also in the woods and who knows where else.