Tick Prevention

To Prevent Ticks from Getting on You and Your Pets

The best way to prevent getting ticks is to avoid areas where ticks can be found. While staying inside all the time would solve the problem, that is not necessarily the best way. Going outside and enjoying nature is not only fun but important for your health and your pet’s health. I would recommend that when you are outside to simply look out for the areas they tend to inhabit. Generally, ticks inhabit shady, possibly moist wooded and grassy areas. Be aware when strolling on forested and grassy trails. There is also a time in the year that they are typically out and looking to feed. The highest record of ticks are in between the warmer months of April and September. So be extra careful in the summer. There is a lower risk in the winter, but still be cautious.

The next best way to prevent getting bit by a tick is to use repellent. There are many kinds of repellent on the market. However, the strongest is going to be permethrin. It is a spray that is used on clothes only, because it is made less effective by the oils on our skin. It will become odorless once sprayed and can last for several weeks. It  kills most ticks that make contact with it. However, permethrin has been under scrutiny for human side effects, but nothing has been completely proven.

DEET is going to be your second-best option. It is in most insect repellents, but one with 100% DEET will be most effective. You can find these at most local supermarkets or outdoor shops. However, DEET has come under a lot of criticism for possible human side effects. It has been associated with neurological damage and is a registered pesticide. The repellents on the market are regulated by the EPA and determined safe to use.

Essential Oils are the more natural way to prevent ticks. Lemon Eucalyptus has been shown to be very effective, but you have to reapply it often. Others that have been reported to be successful are Rose Geranium, Sweetgrass, and Garlic. You will have to apply them several times over the course of an hour for the best results. You can put the drops directly onto you, your clothes, or you can make a homemade spray. A spray can be made with ½ cup vinegar, ¼ cup water, and 5-10 drops of any essential oil.

To keep ticks off your pets, you are going to want to use different kinds and methods of repellents than for yourself. There are almost no studies to determine which is best so, I will just list off the different options. There are flea and tick collars that you can get at any local pet store. They have bandannas for dogs that are treated with permethrin. Both would be quite effective for the neck area but not necessarily the rest of their body. They also offer topical tick and flea repellents that you can apply to your pet’s skin. Finally, there are chewable tablets that you can give your pets once about every 12 weeks. Of course, you will have to do research and make sure the product you choose is suitable for your pet. You can consult your veterinarian for advise on which method is appropriate for your pet.

To Prevent Getting Bit and Contracting Lyme Disease

If you can’t prevent a tick from getting on you with repellents, you can prevent getting bit. If one happens to get on you, the best way to avoid being bit is to wear proper attire. Wear long pants and tuck them into your socks and shoes. You also want to wear a long-sleeved shirt and tuck it into your pants, to ensure no ticks get into hard to find places. If possible, wear bright or light-colored clothes to make them easy to spot and pull off. After coming back inside, make sure you do a tick check on you and your pets to find any ticks that could be attached. A smart idea is to throw your clothes in the dryer, which will kill any ticks left on your clothes that you missed.

The first and best way of preventing getting Lyme disease is to know what the risk of infection is. You can do this by checking your local county to see if any reports of Lyme disease in ticks has been confirmed. If you live in Michigan, you can click on the hyperlink and find your county at Michigan Emerging Diseases Website.

If you have been bitten by a tick, spotting and removing the tick within one day will be your best chance at safeguarding your body from Lyme disease. It takes 24-48 hours for a tick to give you Lyme Disease once it is attached. If you know you have been bitten by a tick, make sure you remove it quickly using the methods described on this website.

Here you can see a good example of the proper attire to wear when you know you will be in a tick populated area. The man featured in the picture to the right is wearing long, lighter colored clothes and tucking his pants into his socks. This makes it harder for ticks to attach and easier to spot.