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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
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
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.
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Preventing Tick Bites on your Pet
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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The Ohio State University offers Tick Pathogen Testing:
Got Ticks? The Ohio State University (OSU) Buckeye Tick Test is offering cost-effective tick-borne pathogen testing for the general public with test results within 72 hours. After receiving the test results, individuals can share the information with their medical providers and/or veterinarians.
OSU's tick testing panels are specific to the germs transmitted by different species of ticks and include all the most common tick-borne diseases of humans and animals, like Lyme disease, for $49.99 per tick. Find out more details about how to use this testing service here: buckeyeticktest.osu.edu
Got Ticks? The Ohio State University (OSU) Buckeye Tick Test is offering cost-effective tick-borne pathogen testing for the general public with test results within 72 hours. After receiving the test results, individuals can share the information with their medical providers and/or veterinarians.
OSU's tick testing panels are specific to the germs transmitted by different species of ticks and include all the most common tick-borne diseases of humans and animals, like Lyme disease, for $49.99 per tick. Find out more details about how to use this testing service here: buckeyeticktest.osu.edu
Did you know that you can submit a tick for species identification?
The Ohio Department of Health accepts ticks (or photos of ticks) year-round for species identification. The CDC does not recommend testing ticks for diagnostic purposes. Call 614-752-1029 with any questions.
Submitting a Tick:
• Place the tick in a leak-proof container, such as a pill bottle. If the tick is alive, add a small drop of water. If
the tick is dead, add a few drops of rubbing alcohol. Seal the container in a plastic bag.
• Complete the form below. Place the form and the tick in a padded envelope for shipping OR you can submit the tick to our Environmental Health Services staff, and we can submit the tick for testing on your behalf. Call or email us to plan a time to drop off your tick specimen at [email protected] or 330-343-5550.
• Mail the tick to: Zoonotic Disease Program Tick ID
Ohio Department of Health
8995 East Main Street, Building 22
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
• Instead of mailing the tick, photos can be sent to [email protected] along with the form below.
Submitting a Tick:
• Place the tick in a leak-proof container, such as a pill bottle. If the tick is alive, add a small drop of water. If
the tick is dead, add a few drops of rubbing alcohol. Seal the container in a plastic bag.
• Complete the form below. Place the form and the tick in a padded envelope for shipping OR you can submit the tick to our Environmental Health Services staff, and we can submit the tick for testing on your behalf. Call or email us to plan a time to drop off your tick specimen at [email protected] or 330-343-5550.
• Mail the tick to: Zoonotic Disease Program Tick ID
Ohio Department of Health
8995 East Main Street, Building 22
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
• Instead of mailing the tick, photos can be sent to [email protected] along with the form below.
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