Ticks/ Lyme in NH? (Dover, Hudson: home, refrigerator, living in)

[Positiveone]

Hi there! How big of a problem is Lyme in NH? And what part of NH of the biggest Tick problem? Is it so bad that dogs bring them in all the time?

[Tarastomsgirl]

"Tick safety for both humans and pets in New Hampshire is of great importance this season owing to a tick population said to be the highest in years.

"This year's population (of ticks) has been as bad as I have ever seen it," state entomologist Tom Durkis said. Durkis, who oversees the insect population in New Hampshire, said the number of ticks has been inexplicably on the rise for a number of years and it appears to have reached its peak this summer.

"Fifteen or 20 years ago you could walk in the woods of New Hampshire and not come out covered in ticks," Durkis said.

That is no longer the case. Because of the rising population of the insect, Durkis said it is important for people to know how to avoid ticks and be able to deal with them if they are found on humans or pets, since animals such as dogs and cats are common targets for ticks. "


NH Health and Human Services.. from what I've read in some articles the tick and Lyme population is a big problem. NH is filled with trees and brush everywhere so they're easily picked up.. I would pick them out of the paws of my dogs feet and between his toes every once in a while

[DareToDream]

Originally Posted by Positiveone

Hi there! How big of a problem is Lyme in NH? And what part of NH of the biggest Tick problem? Is it so bad that dogs bring them in all the time?

We're in northern NH and for the past 2 years, we have not had any problems. Hubby is in the woods quite often and has not had any. Our dog has not brought any in. We lived in the Mid-Hudson region of NY and our dog constantly had both deer ticks and wood ticks that had to be removed. Hubby also had ticks when he returned from the woods. We still check for them, but so far haven't found any on human or canine of the family

I don't know if we've just been lucky or if the tick population isn't that bad up here.

[buck naked]

It depends a lot on the season. My cats and dog will pick them up. They tend to be on the woody underside of the leaves of trees. My cats walk a stone wall and I have to check them every time they come in because usually, they will have at least one tick, usually two! I've found them riding piggybag. The male is much smaller and will tag along...the little buggers.

I use the drop on the back of the animal's neck and that seems to really help a lot, but a physical check is an absolute MUST if the animals are going outside. Otherwise, you may find them on your person or an infestation within the house. So sorry to be the bearer of bad news....(shaking head).


I don't remember them being so bad just 40/50 years ago, but the past decade or so, it's become really bad.


I'm thinking that the increase of the deer herds may have something to do with it.

[fishnfool]

We do a lot of work on the old Dover Landfill and I could walk through a 10 yard stretch of brush and walk out with literally 20 ticks on my jeans. I would flick off probably close to 50 a day but in the 6 weeks I was working there I only had one attached. They were all dog ticks thankfully.

I spend lots of time hiking though and have never found one one me from that.

We can bring dogs into our office and there are usually a few here and there on my co-workers dogs as well.

[theflynns]

From personal experience...

My now seven-year old got Lyme last year around this time. We live in Dover and he and the other kids here play around woody/grassy/overgrown areas quite a bit. I am usually pretty vigilant about tick checks on the kids and dog, but somehow missed this one on his leg!

We are lucky in that: my son exhibited the classic "bullseye" at the site (which only occurs in less than 30% of affected individuals), and as my husband is an ED nurse, we caught it VERY early. My son thankfully was placed on antibiotics and never developed complications.

You never think it will happen to you...

PS: Our old dog also contracted Lyme while we were living on the south side of town years ago (we now live on the north side)

[Valerie C]

TheFlynns, your little boy was very lucky that he developed the bulls-eye rash. Otherwise it would have been very difficult to get a round of antibiotics. I'm very happy for you that you were able to get treatment and avoid all of the issues that are possible with Lyme Disease.

When my daughter was 12, she suddenly developed severe hip pain and stiffness just after a lingering illness that had flu-like symptoms. Fever, severe headache, stiff neck and overwhelming tiredness were the main symptoms, also a lingering cough. None of these symptoms were thought at that time to be connected to the bacterial infection that we now know is actually Lyme Disease. We never saw a tick on her, and she never developed a rash except for a small nondescript rash on her chin (which was almost certainly not the area that she was bit--we PROBABLY would have noticed that!)

Because the first Lyme test (ELISA) came back negative, we started on the rounds of various specialists to get an answer, which included possible diagnosis' of Transient Hip Synovitis, Legg Calve Perthes Disease, Fibromyalgia, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Lupus. Finally the primary care doc. ordered a Western Lyme Blot, and specified which lab she wanted to process the test. And there was our answer: Lyme Disease, probably "late or chronic Lyme" because of the particular bands that came back positive (more accurate than just saying how many positive bands, but which ones) according to the Infectious Disease doc. Not the best answer in the world, but at least we knew something...

As we were to discover, Chronic Lyme is difficult to treat. A year and a half of Infectious Disease doctor appointments, and various antibiotics (sometimes given in combination with other drugs to be more effective) brought slow improvement, and when she felt 95% of her old self, and had no Lyme symptoms for 2 months, she came off antibiotics. Since that time she's had one relapse and has needed a 6-month round of antibiotics. It's something that she'll have to be on watch for, possibly for the rest of her life. All due to a little tick bite....

Sorry for responding with a novel here, but it's REAL serious stuff. Tick checks every night before bed are VITAL. There is no need to stay inside and not enjoy the outdoors, but be safe and smart. Tick check, tick check, tick check!

Lyme Disease

[rmcewan]

Originally Posted by Valerie C

Sorry for responding with a novel here, but it's REAL serious stuff. Tick checks every night before bed are VITAL. There is no need to stay inside and not enjoy the outdoors, but be safe and smart. Tick check, tick check, tick check!

Yes yes yes. We had only been in NH for one month when we found a tick engorged on the back of my 2yr old's neck. She had it removed at urgent care, confirmed as a deer tick, and was put on 6 weeks of antibiotics. Fortunately, she has not exhibited any Lyme symptoms - but that beasty may not show itself for a while.

However, hiding from the outdoors is not the answer. As Val says, tick checks are. Heck, back in Los Angeles it was rattlers, black widows, and a toxic atmosphere.

And goodness, imagine living in Australia! I visited a colleague's home there in the Sydney burbs. His refrigerator had a sheet with a bunch of spider pictures and what their bites looked like and how likely you were to die from them. They have something like 9 of the 10 most poisonous creatures on earth. The Sydney Funnel-web (2nd most toxic insect) can be found in every back yard in suburban Sydney!!!

[buck naked]

A frost does not kill deer ticks.

If the deer tick is infected, it must be attached for 24-48 hours before it transmits Lyme disease, and at least 24 hours to transmit human anaplasmosis.



also, you may be glad to know that the male tick does not infect people. Most people don't take the time to see if it's male or female..LOL

Male ticks attach, but do not feed or become engorged. Because the adult males do not take a blood meal, they do not transmit Lyme disease, human anaplasmosis, or babesiosis.

[Valerie C]

Australia (a place I've always wanted to visit!) is host to some lovely critters isn't it!! In addition to the spiders (thanks for that info rmcewan!) there is also a tick in Australia known as The Paralysis Tick. This tick sends a neurotoxin into the bloodstream of its host that affects first gait, and eventually breathing ability.

I thought this was interesting on tick removal:
If a tick is detected that is attached, never attempt to place any chemical such as methylated spirits onto the tick, nor should it be touched or disturbed, as the tick will inject saliva into the skin, which could make the situation worse. Rather the tick should be sprayed with an aerosol insect repellent preferably containing pyrethrin or a pyrethroid (if a repellent cannot be found which contains a pyrethroid, then Lyclear, a scabies cream containing permethrin will work fine). The combination of hydrocarbons and the pyrethrin acts as a narcotic and a toxicant, and prevents the tick from injecting its saliva. The tick should be sprayed again one minute later (or dabbed with the Lyclear) and left. After 24 hours it should drop off naturally or be gently removed with fine-tipped forceps. It is normal for a tick bite to remain slightly itchy for several weeks, however if other symptoms develop, then a doctor should be consulted immediately.
Source: Ticks