Hi
I discovered a big tick very near the eye of my 2 yr old cocker.  She's never had a tick before so i dont know what to do about this.  Ive heard the burn it and pull technique so the head doesnt get stuck but Im worried about doing this as itas near her eye.  Is it a case for the vet or is there a way I can get it out myslef?
Nat
ps. are ticks dangerous?

Ticks can carry Lime's disease so should be removed as soon as discovered.  I find the best method is to grasp the tick firmly as close to the dog as possible and quickly twist in a anticlockwise direction they don't react instantly so if you are quick about it you will have time to remove it before it has a chance to tighten its grip and risk leaving the head behind.  Put it outside on the path and pour boiling water on it to destroy - show no mercy :)

You are right to be concerned about using the match technique - even if it wasn't near her eye, dogs can move so quickly and end up really hurting themselves if you use this method.  Opinions vary, but given the position of this one, I'd be tempted to smear it with vaseline to 'suffocate' it, then remove it (some say twisting as you do, some say not.....) by gripping it firmly, preferably with round nosed tweezers so you don't puncture it.  Ticks can carry a nasty disease called Lymes disease with can affect dogs and humans :(  I always advise keeping the dead tick in a jar labelled with the date, then if you or the dog become unwell (symptoms include flu like tiredness in humans, it can also affect the joints with an arthritic like pain) then the vet can test the tick (so I am told) and see if you should be considering treatment for Lyme disease.  The disease is rare, but can take some weeks to develop and it's transmitted by the ticks bodily fluids - hence the advice not to squeeze or 'pop' the tick.......

Jo of the Casblaidd flatcoats lost her bitch Phobe to Lymes disease not so long ago, I'm sure she would tell you about the symptoms and troubles she had with it, so that you will know what to watch for.

I find the best way to remove a tick is to cover it with Vaseline and wait for a while, this stops it breathing and they loosen there grip to come up for air. Then get a pair a tweezers and turn the tick anti-clockwise. You turn anti-clockwise because when the tick bites they turn their teeth clockwise to latch on, so if you turn the tick anti-clockwise you are 'unscrewing it' so to say. Don't just pull the tick out as this could leave the legs behind and they quickly get infected. Hope this helps :)

Sarah xxxx

If you get some frontline from the vets and spray on it that will kill it.  You can also buy tick removers from petshop they are kind of tweezers designed especially for this purpose.  I have got to be honest that I have never had any but I have been told both of the above work.

Be careful spraying frontline close to the eyes - I wouldn't risk it :(

Quite right - but you can spray it onto cotton wool and dab it onto the tick.
:)

Sorry I didnt notice the word eye.