Preventing Tick Bites

Avoid direct contact with ticks
- Avoid wooded or bushy areas with high grass
- Walk in the center of trails

Repel Ticks
- Use repellants that contain 20 to 30 percent DEET on exposed skin and clothing for several hours of protection
Find and Remove Ticks from Your Body
- Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors
- Conduct a full body check
- Examine gear and pets
- Tumble dry clothes in dryer on high heat for an hour to kill ticks
Preventing Tick Bites on your Pet
Removing Ticks
1. Use fine tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible
2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure.  Do not twist or jerk the tick
3. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the skin area with rubbing alcohol
4. Dispose of live tick by submersing it in alcohol, placing in a sealed bag, and wrapping tightly with tape
5. Never crush a tick with your fingers

If you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, see your doctor as soon as possible.  Be sure to tell them about your recent tick bite.
Dogs are susceptible to tick bites and tick borne disease. Signs of tick-borne disease may not appear for 7 to 21 days or longer after the bite. To reduce the chances that ticks will transmit disease to you or your pets:
- Check your pets daily for ticks
- If you find a tick remove it right away
- Ask your vet to conduct a tick check at each exam
- Talk to your vet about using a tick preventative

Note: cats are extremely sensitive to a variety of chemicals.  Always consult with your vet before applying any repellants. 
Information obtained from the Ohio Department of Health
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