tick?

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Wendy - 23 Aug 2004 21:44 GMT

I just got a new rescue kitten today. She has a yuck brown, shiny, hard,
oval - thing - on her shoulder. It's about the size of a small pea but
elongated. An engorged tick maybe??????????

If it's a tick should I try to remove it or should I just treat it with
Frontline and hope it dies and falls off itself?

W

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~*Connie*~ - 23 Aug 2004 23:05 GMT

very much sounds like a tick.
http://www.oes.org/html/how_2_identify_different_ticks.html

you should probably try to remove it.. although once its fully engorged it
will die and fall off.
http://www.lyme.org/ticks/removal.html

> I just got a new rescue kitten today. She has a yuck brown, shiny, hard,
> oval - thing - on her shoulder. It's about the size of a small pea but
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> W

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CynW514 - 24 Aug 2004 02:06 GMT

>very much sounds like a tick.
>http://www.oes.org/html/how_2_identify_different_ticks.html
>
>you should probably try to remove it.. although once its fully engorged it
>will die and fall off.

A quick and dirty way to get off a single tick (I wouldn't do this often on a
kitten) is to saturate a cotton ball with nail polish remover and hold it
firmly on the tick (if that's what it is). That will kill the tick in a few
minutes and it will drop off, without hurting the kitten.

Cyn

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Sherry - 24 Aug 2004 04:44 GMT

>>very much sounds like a tick.
>>http://www.oes.org/html/how_2_identify_different_ticks.html
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
>Cyn

Oh, No! That's the worst thing you can do. Using nail polish remover, alcohol,
or using a hot match/needle. will cause the tick to salivate, and reguritate
back into the cat's skin, increasing the risk of infection. Here's a website
that talks about proper tick removal.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20020815/643.html

Sherry

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Kara Tyson - 24 Aug 2004 14:26 GMT

DO not use your bare hands.

Put the tick in a baggy, freeze the tick. Then send it to

http://www.igenex.com to test for diseases. The testing is not perfect
but it will help if your pet becomes ill later. Also, it will let you
know what ticks are in your area and the diseases that they carry just
in case you were to become ill later.

**
Kara Tyson
Lyme Disease Support Group of AL

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Jeannie - 24 Aug 2004 09:44 GMT

> I just got a new rescue kitten today. She has a yuck brown, shiny, hard,
> oval - thing - on her shoulder. It's about the size of a small pea but
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> W

Just leave it alone, it will fall off on it's own. I used to live on a farm
when I was small and ticks were a common occurence (Oh happy days!!). By
trying to get if off the cat, you run the risk of leaving some part of the
tick in situ, which could lead to infection and more problems. When it's
filled up with enough blood it will fall off, it usually takes a couple of
days maximum. One other tip, we used to put a dab of paint or something on
them so we could see them when they fell off and get rid of them.

Jeannie
Jeannie

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Wendy - 24 Aug 2004 12:22 GMT

> > I just got a new rescue kitten today. She has a yuck brown, shiny, hard,
> > oval - thing - on her shoulder. It's about the size of a small pea but
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> Jeannie
> Jeannie

Took her over to the vet last night and they removed it. I wanted them to
see it because we're in a high risk area for deer ticks and lyme disease.

W

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Kara Tyson - 25 Aug 2004 13:46 GMT

Hi Wendy,

Just remember for the statistics on Lyme (for people) the CDC only
tracks a certain % of people who make antibodies. CDC statistics do
not reflect diagnosed cases which are believed to be 10x that number.

All mainland states are reporting...except for Montana. But reporting
is no longer required in many states. Even CT no longer has mandatory
lab reporting to the CDC.

Kara Tyson
Lyme Disease Support Group of AL

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