From: Joann Date: May 7, 2012 2:38:20 PM Subject: RE: [mountainbikes-172] Fwd: Watch out for ticks when mountain biking! To: mountainbikes-172@meetup.com
Bob: To piggy back on the tick topic, we use OFF with Deet on ourselves before riding because, as Eryn mentions below, it is very easy to miss a tick on your body, especially in your hair, even if you do a check of yourself. We bike in Bavington with our 2 trail dogs and have never experienced ticks like we have already this year on us and especially on our dogs. We learned regular Frontline is not enough to prevent ticks from coming into the car and house after riding. We bought and just just applied K9Advantix II as it not only prevents the ticks from burrowing into our pups, but is supposed to repel ticks so they don't bring the ticks home with us. Yesterday was the test and so far so good.
Our vet said they have been seeing a phenomenal number of ticks and tick related issues on pets so pet owners beware.
Joann
From: robanco@verizon.net To: mountainbikes-172@meetup.com Subject: [mountainbikes-172] Fwd: Watch out for ticks when mountain biking! Date: Mon, 7 May 2012 13:31:07 -0400
----------Original Message----------
From: eryn hughes Date: May 7, 2012 12:54:17 PM Subject: Watch out for ticks when mountain biking! To: robert bannon <robanco@verizon.net>
Hey Bob,
I thought it would be useful to share what I learned with others that may be bit so that they can prevent severe symptoms and potentially lyme disease. Please SHARE.
For the first time in several years of mountain biking, I found a tick attached to my upper leg last night - at North Park. We rode the swimming pool loop but I've been hearing reports of ticks at various parks, as well. It seems like breeding conditions are better than usual for ticks, this year in SW PA. Additional preventive measures could be useful.
Basically, if you go riding check your body and your clothes within a couple hours for any ticks. Ticks are normally about the size of a pinhead, and become larger as they feed on your blood - they're parasites. If you get them before they have fed a lot, they are less likely to regurgitate bacteria-infected blood back into you when you remove them. This is why you want to use tweezers and grab them at the surface of the skin. Chances are, you won't know you've been bit - because you don't feel it - and if you haven't checked for them they could be feeding awhile and you could detect other symptoms from the bacteria. This link has a good list of symptoms (in addition to more detailed locations, removal tecniques, etc.) to help you get the treatment you require:
