Ticks are parasites that that try to feed off the blood of your pets. They can transmit diseases, so they can be dangerous. A Lone Star tick is best removed in the same manner as any other tick. All ticks have barbed mouth parts, and these can remain embedded and lead to infection if the tick is not removed correctly. All ticks should be removed as soon as possible, as this lessens the risk of disease transmission.
Instructions
1. Put on gloves. If you have no gloves or tweezers, place a tissue or a piece of cloth over your fingers to grasp the tick -- never touch a tick with your bare hands
2. Clean the area around the tick with antiseptic or soap and water.
3. Grasp the tick firmly close to the head, not by the body. Do not squeeze the tick because squeezing the body may cause it to expel its stomach contents into the bite wound.
4. Pull the tick slowly straight out and away from the skin -- do not jerk it out, because this can leave mouth parts behind.
5. When the tick releases, dispose of it immediately by sticking it to a piece of tape or put it in a jar of rubbing alcohol. If you want to have it identified, drop it into a small jar of alcohol and take it to your veterinarian.
6. Inspect the bite wound closely and remove any remaining tick parts as you would a splinter.
7. Wash the bite with soap and water, apply antiseptic and cover it with a bandage.
8. Check the rest of your skin closely for tiny, pinhead-sized ticks and remove these by pressing sticky tape onto them.
9. If you did not wear gloves, wash your hands thoroughly.
10. Mark the date of the tick bite on your calendar.
11. See a physician if the wound does not heal cleanly or you have flu-like symptoms or a rash at the bite site within two months of the bite.
Tags: bite wound, Lone Star, mouth parts, soap water, tick with