Can anyone tell me what a tick lump might look like? Harley has a very small lump about the size of half a pea under his neck where his collar fits. I can't see any sort of critter there but its body may have been knocked off by his collar. Should I be taking him to the vets to get this looked at? It doesn't seem to bother him only me! Would be grateful for any advice.

My cat has had a tick before. It looked like a little white ball which if left get bigger. If the body has been knocked off its very difficult to remove - i would keep an eye on it, it could get infected. You could always phone vet for advice

Phone the vets maybe, but in the meantime smother it in vaseline. I grew up in a farming community and we kept goats. When one of my goats had a tick we were told to put vaseline on it by a farmer, which we did, and what that does is apparently it suffocates them, and the tick dropped off. Not sure about the science, but it did work in this case. If the body has been knocked off I was under the impression there is a danger of infection, so get it check out if you are not sure.

We're so wary of ticks, having lost our Phoebe to Lyme diease caused by ticks.

Don't do anthing to the tick which will upset it (!!!).    If you do, it will inject saliva into the host animal, and this may carry viruses or bacteria.    So, don't try to suffocate it or such like - we've been told that the quickest and most effective was to remove  is to get one of those little plastic hook thingies (vets have them) and 'unscrew' them - I think it's anti-clockwise, but could be wrong.

Then you can wreak vengeance of your choosing on the little horror.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

I grew up in Australia so daily tick checks for the dogs and us was a must or the dogs and us would end up very sick.

If you find a tick dab some tea tree oil on it  or acetone free nail polish remover if its a tick with a hard shell, just be sure not to get any on the dogs skin and only use if its somewhere the dog cant lick.
Both kill them off quick smart.

Lavender, lemongrass and geranium oils are tick repellants as well. So dabbing a bit on his collar will help prevent them

Ticks are greyish in colour and are small and oval shaped.  They start to change colour as they get bigger and feed from the blood of the host.  They can be removed by using a tick remover which are a bit like tweezers but with a claw on the end.  You have to 'unscrew' the tick as the legs are barbed and if you don't get all the legs and head out they can cause infection.  If you put vaseline on first this makes it extremely difficult to remove the tick as it becomes slippery.  All of my dogs have picked one up at some time or another.  I would, personally, take mine to the vet to have it removed just to make sure they get it all.
Regards - June

the problem we have with this "lump" is that if it is  a tick the body has already been rubbed off by his collar. Having looked again at the lump it looks like there is a little hole in the middle of it and the hair is quite thin around it although it is not visible unless you search for it. I found it when I was stroking him and it took me ages to actually find it to have a look as it is so small. It could be that he has just caught himself on some undergrowth but I am not sure. He has not been walked where there is any livestock but in the local forestry commission woods. If a tick's head was still inside would I be able to see anything or would it disappear from sight altogether? Would a vet's visit be fairly urgent or could I wait for a normal surgery on Monday?

if it was my dog i would wait till monday.
ticks can be any colour, we get them of by soaking cottonwool in frontline and hold it carefully on the tick for 20 seconds or so- it usually drops off in a day or so. but by description it doesnt sound as tho the tick body is there.

In my experience, if the main body has gone, you would still be able to feel a small lump.  If it is not bothering him I would wait until Monday to see your vet.  It may not be a tick but if you can still feel it, I would take him.  I have heard that you can apply flea spray directly on it to get rid of it if it is a tick but I don't know how successful this is.  One of my dogs had a similar thing happen with no horrid consequences of infection so all may be OK but if in any doubt I would get it checked.
Regards - June

Thanks for the replies - I will keep an eye on it and take him to the vets on Monday if necessary.