A Message From Andy to Ticks

Bugger off ticks. You're messing with the wrong pup.

Review | Tick Twister Pro

A couple of years ago we found a tick on Maxwell's neck and used a pair of tweezers to remove it. It wasn't easy to get a good grip on the tick with the tweezers and we were completely stressed out at the thought of popping it (the tick's saliva and gut contents may contain infective organisms). While we were able to successfully remove the tick intact we decided to pick up a tick removing tool to make future encounters a little less stressful. We picked up a gadget called the Tick Twister Pro at Petco for $3.99.

We used the Tick Twister for the first time the other night when we found a tick latched onto Andy's belly. It's a simple device - plastic, about 3 inches long, a handle on one end, and a notched "cup" on the other. Using it was just like using a crowbar: I slid the tick into the notch until snug, I then gently twisted the Twister and lifted until the tick came loose. The tick was dislodged intact with mouth-parts and all (you don't want to leave those behind as they can cause infection). The tick was small, about the size of a sesame seed, and I was afraid the Tick Twister would be too large to handle it but it wasn't a problem. 

In The Ivy

Blood Sucking Ticks!

We found a tick on Andy's belly the other night. It was a wee little thing, no bigger than a sesame seed. Andy has very little fur on his belly so my husband spotted it fairly easily. I dismissed it at first thinking it was a scab but upon closer inspection saw that it was in fact a tiny tick embedded in Andy's flesh. (So gross!) I haven't been able to identify what type of tick it was but I know that it was in its nymph stage (not a full grown adult). Thankfully we had a tick remover on hand and took care of the horrid critter right away. We're going to to look into a flea and tick preventative this week to try to avoid further encounters.

Ticks are a nasty business! If you frequent parks or wooded areas with your pup, as we often do, it's imperative that you check for ticks regularly. They like burrowing into necks and bellies but be sure to check all parts of your dog, including between the toes, inside armpits, and in the ears. Ticks spread disease (Lyme is one that comes to mind) and removing them as soon as possible is key. For detailed information on how to properly remove a tick check out this page at the Humane Society of the United States' website.

Wistful Andy

Frozen Yogurt for Andy

I made a batch of the frozen yogurt treats I mentioned last week and they're a big hit with Andy. I already had peanut butter and honey at home so I only had to pick up a container of fat free plain yogurt and a bunch of bananas; of which I only used one. All told the treats cost about $2.50 to make - much cheaper than the pre-made frozen treats currently on the market. Using the recipe I shared I got a tray and half of treats (24 pieces total) and I still have enough yogurt to make a second batch.  

The treats are just the right size - small enough that Andy can usually finish one without dropping it on the floor (the photos above are from his first taste of a treat...he dropped it on the floor and gave it a curious sniff before greedily finishing it off). I'm planning on giving them to Andy as a reward for good behavior on a hot day or after a nice long walk. The one downside of freezing yogurt is that the process kills off the probiotics (healthy bacteria) naturally contained within, otherwise these make for some simple, healthy homemade treats.