Be aware of the tick!

[illianabowhntr67]

I was out in the woods last saturday doing a little scouting and shed hunting.It was a pleasant mid 60's outside.Later that night I felt what I thought was a thorn poking me in the leg only to find out it was tick latched on to my thigh.It left a nice red welt and after a visit to my doctor I am now on a 14 day cycle of doxycycline to prevent lymes disease.So it's not to early to spray down and take precautions.

[Woodduck]

Thanks...snakes are out, here, too.

[Frank V]

Still too much snow in our high country to get out much yet. Frank

[Hawkeye]

Took a "half-filled" one off my dog today.  They are underway in Illinois!

[Rob DiStefano]

being in remission with the lymes virus for the last 5 years, i can attest to the value of being reminded of tick wariness for those who'll tread in tick country.  

i would also advise those who've been sucked on by a tick to consider homeopathic remedies as opposed to ingesting yet another round of antibiotics.  instead of visiting a western doc, seek out naturopath doc who's versed in lyme's disease - i did, and he literally saved my life without resorting to harsh chemical cocktails. the less antibiotics taken, the better for you.

[Jeff Roberts]

I had all the symptons last year of Lymes but the test came back negitive twice. I swapped doctors and the doc ran the test again looking for all tick bite diseases and it came back positive for (erichiolysis) sp? Any how is has the same symptons and side effects of lymes except you will fullyrecover from it whereas Lyme disease goes into remission. If you think you have Lymes have your doctor check for all three forms of tick diseases. This form I had is easily confused and can only be determined by test. The test for erichiolysis hasn't been in exsistence but for several years so some doc, just like the first one I used didn't know about it. Don't use that doc no more for sure. Living in the Deep South, ticks and skeeters are a everyday hazzard except for a few days in Jan and Feb. I am more diligent in keeping them off and checking every night for them.

[Rob DiStefano]

be aware that there is no foolproof western medicine testing for lymes disease.  none.  nada.  

the cdc sez ...

"Several forms of laboratory testing for Lyme disease are available, some of which have not been adequately validated. Most recommended tests are blood tests that measure antibodies made in response to the infection. These tests may be falsely negative in patients with early disease, but they are quite reliable for diagnosing later stages of disease."

the bug is insidious and deceptive, and once infected with the borrelia burgdorferi, it's guessed that it remains dormant within the host body.  

read up, get informed ...

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/index.htm

[PSUBowhunter]

What do you guys use to prevent ticks from getting on yourself?

I pulled five off of my dog during this past week. Last year was really bad around here, and I was hoping the bad winter would have killed some off, but it doesnt look like it did.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by PSUBowhunter:
What do you guys use to prevent ticks from getting on yourself?

permanone works to a good degree - soak yer clothing in it or spray it on yer clothes (not on you! it's toxic!).  pants inside socks or pants with good leg ties.  watch where you walk, avoid brushing against any bushes, leaves, etc.  being constantly tick vigil sucks, but contracting lymes sucks waaaaaaay more.

I pulled five off of my dog during this past week. Last year was really bad around here, and I was hoping the bad winter would have killed some off, but it doesnt look like it did.

living in the northeast, i can attest to the fact that cold does not kill or deter ticks.  in fact, even in mid-winter they're out there moving about - our last dog contracted lymes at least a half dozen times, and a few of those times were during the dead of winter.  ticks have survived since prehistoric times, and they'll be around when we've all long gone away to mess up another planet.

....

[pressure flaker]

I know of  a guy who will not turkey hunt because of ticks, and having a bout with some disease from them.