ID this horrible creature please!!!!

So don't I. That 6" rash I had eventually turned into a scab ! It took up my arm :-(

I agree with you there. My dog is on Advantix and Heartgard. He's already been treated for heartworms (he is adopted from down South, where a lot of people don't seem to bother with heartworm preventative). Even with the meds, he contracted a tick bourne disease last fall. Not Lyme. It was really scary though.
My dad's illness went undetected/diagnosed for about 5 years. At this point there is nothing that can be done about his nerve damage and constant pain.
I hope NEVER to get Lyme! I use lots of bug spray and always wear white socks so I can see the little nasties if they get on my legs. I have been bit several times, but fortunately nothing has developed.
Sorry to tell you Kassia, but I got bit in my garden, not in the woods!
Chipmunks and mice are vectors for deer ticks as well as deer and woodchucks....

I got bit on the lawn or the dang thing was in the house. It was early early in the spring. I wish I kept the paperwork.

OH ... now I am way more worried.... Nino and Lilly were bitten 2 times this year... I was so frantic... but they were not dear ticks according to the vet!!!! so after that I put stuff in my lawn and don't let then go far... and I check them... I use a natural kind of med for the dogs because Lilly has tons of skin problems... they have been ok since... and they get a pill once a month for heartworm... so far no problesm !!!!

I want a pug... a little small pug... for Lilly and for me.... but they are so expensive...

It's nasty. My son had it but since we spotted the rash, the quick antibiotic treatment did the job. The tick has to be on you for 24-36 hrs to get Lyme - that's why checking yourself is so important. I have to admit that I don't too often. According to some sources your spray has to be at least 30% DEET to be effective. 100% DEET is available but should be applied to clothing, not skin.

People who are not caught in time can have very serious permanent neurological problems. Deer ticks carry Lyme but other ones (dog?) carry Rocky Mt. Spotted Fever, another very serious one.

Dangerous to be a gardener. I found one tick on me a few years back. I did not know about the 24 hr thing so I just took the meds.

Since I am rather sensitive to insect bites of all kinds I was surprised to find out I had Lymes Disease. I never had any indication that I was bitten until I was diagnosed and then I found the bull's eye rash. I never felt any itching or pain at the site of the bite. The symptom that brought me to the doctor was severe back pain. No pain med helped. The reason I was diagnosed was because I developed Bell's Palsy. After going on the antibiotics twice all of the symptoms went away eventually.

Victor it is dangerous to be a gardener. I find housework to be dangerous too.

Elsie, my next door neighbor, also an avid gardener, had Bell's Palsy as well. She never saw any rash. She was on 30 days of IV antibiotics. Odd that you got it so bad but caught the rash.

Scary stories. I've never had a tick bite but was treated for one that turned out to be a cyst. Same redness and bull's eye. We did have a dog once that was bitten by a tick and she was paralyzed by it. The vet said there was probably more than one and they could find them all. Went back for her at 5 PM and she had been bathed and they removed 5 ticks. From then on DH always used the tick control around the entire property and we've never had another one.

Kassia - have you looked for a pug rescue group? You could probably get a recycled pug for free.

Great idea!

I've lived in upstate NY, CA, and several other states, and I'd never even seen a tick until I moved down here to SC when my Lhasa got 3 of them on top of her head in the first week. Talk about grossed out!?!?! We got them out & she was fine, and I put Frontline plus on her. But then a couple of months later, I found one crawling around in my hair - omg - I couldn't even go to bed that night I was so freaked out. I had my lawn sprayed down and never had a problem the rest of the summer.

This year? I've had my lawn sprayed by the same people, the same chemical, TWICE since June and still got one attached to my upper thigh last week when I was just potting some new plants in the front yard. Didn't even realize it until the next day when I was taking a shower and ran the washcloth down my leg. It came out in the shower very easily, but I held on to it until I was finished so I could make sure what it was. I forgot to save it, but haven't had any symptoms of anything, so I should be ok, right?

Do you think they've been so bad this year because of the dryness? Or I have an empty house next door where they're not taking care of the grass - can they come from there? I don't understand why the same stuff didn't work this year.

Sorry to say symptoms don't show up for a while.

I just got tested for lymes last month.... said I had to wait just under three months before being tested... very happy it came out negative .... if I were you I would get tested anyway even if you feel fine.... it's easier to treat when caught early... my niece got lymes from a tick in PA a few years back... just a treatment of antibiotics and she is fine now

I have been looking at the rescue places... really interesting!!!!

oh those ticks are really gross... Lilly got bitten and she had a huge bruise... the circle was huge... I was really scared even if it was not a deer tick.... nino got one so close to his eye... it was such a pain to get it out of him...

Thanks for the info on the Lymes - I'll make sure I stay on top of it.

Kassia - I've done rescue work with Lhasa Apsos, Shih Tzus, and all the little ones in their "group", and adopted one of them. You can find some real sweethearts at rescue, and you can get some problem dogs. Make sure you ask a ton of questions about the dog - where he's been, if he has any known behavoir and/or health problems, and most importantly, why does rescue have him? Was he in a loving home and the owners just couldn't take care of or keep him anymore, or did he develop problem behavoirs? Our group takes the dog back if it turns out you can't keep it for any reason, so see if they have that policy there.

Our Lhasa is from a rescue shelter, too. He is as loyal and protective (and sweet and funny) as is possible.

You're 100% right on all point, SC, and I'm so glad you posted that information so others can benefit. Thank you.

I love my Lhasa to death, but she's my puppy-raised dog. I have her posted in the Pets forum - http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/767689/

My adopted dog is a Shih Tzu mix that was picked up off the streets in VA, but was clearly abused prior to ending up on the streets. I *knew* he was a problem dog when I took him, and after 15 mos with me he still has some lingering issues & phobias and gets aggressive at times, but I have a trainer coming in now.

I wonder if there is a pomeranian rescue group . . . Our little Zuzu died two years ago.

What a sweet name. How did you select that name for her?

It's always sad when a dear furry friend dies: I'm so sorry for your loss.

Google it Seandor, I'm sure there is. Both my dogs are rescues, one escaping the needle of love by one day. And she's the one who had lymes disease. Took two years to get it to go away, but today she is healthy and happy. She's the one on top.

SCN - how fancy your Pinkie is!

Harry gets visited by the groomer once a month and gets so nervous when he hears the van drive up that he wets the floor.

He is absolutely *adorable*!!! You have a groomer that comes to the house?? I would LOVE that!! I keep my male Shih Tzu cut down, too.

I keep Pinkie's hair long just because I love it and I think she's so pretty with it. I've actually had to start doing her grooming myself, tho, 'cus I haven't been able to find a good groomer down here in SC. When I do a full groom with shampoo, dry, brush, trim, nails & stuff, it takes me about 4 hours 'cus I'm still a little slow. lololol

Oh, such beautiful dogs and they look absolutely adorable. So sorry for your loss, Seandor - it certainly does leave an empty place in the home and hearts when they die. Eleanor

Thanks, SC and grammy. Yes, the groomer does a splendid job in about 45 minutes. She used to work at a vet's office and she'd watch the two Lhasas we had back then when we went on vacations. Then she went into grooming and her chef husband quit his job to do grooming also.

wow - either some of the other crazy NE threads, too long a day at work yesterday, or too many anthropology classes are obviously getting to me.

i totally thought that you said "her chief husband" !
(Woke me right up...)

amy
*

Ah . . . Zuzu was a very tiny little black pomeranian. She was named after the little girl in "It's a Wonderful Life." She is the child who is ill with a cold and says, "Paste it, Daddy, " referring to Zuzu's petals. DH named the dog.

We also had a black cat, Gordy, named for General Gordon of Khartoom. (David named that one as well).

I'll be sure to tell the Rose Queen, Zuzu!

I've had Freddie, Mac, Fannie Mae, Ginnie Mae - bet you can't guess I was in the mortgage business!

Amy - I'll be sure to tell Valerie, the groomer, about her chief husband: she'll enjoy it - I did, too.

Next one should be Sub Prime , Pirl.

We were offered another dog just yesterday but managed to pass on the golden opportunity. Harry is such a good boy, doesn't run away, can be trusted in his pen with both the door to the garage and the gate wide open but he likes stretching out and just resting. He's a sweetie.

We have had a whole generation of groundhogs living under the backyard garden "cottage" (fancy shed) since we moved here. Though there are a few things they eat, and everynow and then they scare the daylights out of me when I don't see them till the last second, for the most part they do no damage. And they are territorial, so you rarely have more than one around, unless it is a female, and I for one love to see the babies.

As with the deer, I just figure out what they eat or don't eat, and plant accordingly. It is their planet too, and even though it probably doesn't have anything to do with me personally, I feel priveleged when animals visit or settle down in my area. I love seeing them everyday. (of course I am careful not to leave food or garbage around and attract too many of them- but some visitors can't be helped!) Of course, I don't grow vegetables, so maybe I am not being too understanding!

By the way, did you ever see one of these guys run?? They can MOVE!!!!

Yes, I have seen them run and I've also seen what a dog looks like with his lung hanging out due to a kick from a deer. Yes, the dog died. I have absolutely no love for deer.

Omg, pirl, I was in the mortgage biz for many years too - can't imagine naming any of my animals after it. lolololol

Pirl! Really?! That is terrible! i will be keeping a closer hold on Andrew when we see deer this winter. So far, he's been pretty oblivious unless they try to run.

Why did Pirl name them that after leaving the business??

For closure.

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

Oh, Victor! There's no cure for whatever you have (happily).

Yes, Tamberlin, it's true and it was one of the saddest sights I've ever seen. Poor Joey.

That is a sad story Pirl. Didn't mean to detract from that. Hope he died quickly.

We rushed him to the hospital, 22 miles away, and they did operate but the vet said from before he started that it was doubtful he'd survive. He made it through the operation but died about two hours later, leaving behind an inconsolable Suga (no "r"). That's how we ended up with Harry six weeks later.

Here's a photo of a photo. Joey is the lighter one.

Very sorry to hear that. I didn't even realize you were speaking about your own dog. Thought it was just something you witnessed.

Joey and Suga now rest under one of the old pines in the backyard. Jack made a little cross for their area. Hope he does the same for me!