Tick Solution Home Remedy

Ticks normally live outdoors.

Ticks are small parasitic anthropods that reside outside. Unlike fleas, they do not infest the home unless one of their egg sacs are carried in on a person or pet. The egg sac would then have to hatch within your home therefore causing an infestation. During the warmer months it is a goal of many to prevent, eliminate and avoid these nasty insects.

Geography/Features

Ticks are small, round, dark insects found along the outskirts of wooded areas and in areas with ample amounts of tall grass and vegetation. They typically do not go dormant until the cold winter months and therefore are a concern for the majority of the year, depending on where you live.

Potential

Ticks will attach themselves to just about anything and feed of its blood. They latch on, bite, and burrow their heads. By biting you they can transmit disease and even cause anemia. Ticks are also known to cause rocky mountain spotted fever and lyme disease.

Removing

When removing a tick, it is important to use caution and have patience. A slow and steady removal is important to ensure that all of the pieces of the tick are removed. If there are any left, like in most cases the head, it can cause an infection. If you have removed a tick and feel the head or some part of the tick still remains in the body, call your doctor or veterinarian for assistance in removing the remaining pieces and take preventative measures against infection or disease.

Prevention/Solution

An excellent way to prevent tick bites and to prevent ticks from entering your home is to have your lawn treated by a lawn company. In addition, purchase a topical treatment from your pets veterinary if they are indoor/outdoor pets and comb through their hair after being outside to knock off any loose ticks.

When walking through a wooded area or field, dress yourself so the ticks cannot reach your skin. This way, you can just check the outer layers of your clothes and knock off any loose ticks.

If you find a tick alive, the best way to kill it is to place it in a sealable bag filled with rubbing alcohol.

References

• Stason: Fleas, Ticks and Your Pet FAQ
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Stop Ticks