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Here is the stupid little b*st*rd that bit me. I sent it to the Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory to be tested for Lyme and other diseases. It turned out, this guy was clean. He didn’t carry a single illness.
Since my Western Blot test came back positive, that means a different tick bit me, unnoticed, and gave me a fresh dose of Lyme. What mystifies me is, I’ve seen engorged ticks on my pups. They are visibly noticeable even on a dog with shaggy fur. How can I possibly keep missing these things when they bite me?!
Out of curiosity I looked up whether it is possible to get Lyme another way, but it looks like no. A statistically significant number of people who get Lyme, though, never knew they were bitten.
The moral of my story is: ticks suck. No wait, the moral of my story is that even if you tuck your pants into your socks or have your ticks tested, you still might miss the one that “got” you.
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Why don’t you get protection like I’ve got? Then you’ll be safe!
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(As a funny side note, my blog is more popular in China than it is in the US. I wonder what they are learning by reading humble Bitey Dog?)
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Find out what Murphy’s Cairn brothers are up to when no one is looking as you travel with them to the Museum of the Imagination in Dream Our World .
Inside the museum, Geordie and Toby view the world of art from a canine perspective while enjoying a day of unsupervised fun. There are many hidden gems inside Dream Our World, and it is a joy for all ages. Treat yourself to a read that is both fun and educational!
Dream Our World, and other fine gifts, are available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.
I’m mystified as well. Tick bites actually hurt! At least the little bugger was clean. I am guessing you don’t get the bullseye rash, which is unfortunate. You must have a very tick-friendly lawn. You might have to go the chemical route and use permethrin on your shoes and clothes. I also use reverse tape on my pant legs or boots to snag them as they start their ascent up to biting territory.
Anyway, I’m glad the ticklab.org resource I suggested worked out for you, even though the resulting information has added another layer of mystery to your life.
Anony-mouse and The Terrier
The last two ticks that bit me (that I was aware of) walked from Murphy’s fur onto me. Even if had taped my clothes, they still would have reached me.
Yes, I live along a deer highway, so groups come by every night. I plan to send future finds to the lab so at least the state is aware of the volume of ticks in this area.
Sending hugs to The Terrier
You found the one Clean tick in the world.
I’ll take my million dollars now! 😆
They are sneaky little creatures. if one bites me, it itches, and that is how I usually find them, unless I happened to see it crawling on me and can get it off before it bites. It is hard to see them if you do not have someone else to help you look the places you cannot see. Too bad they can’t, as Murphy suggests, give us the monthly prevention dose if we live where they frequent. That is very interesting that you are popular in China–perhaps your drawings and content are the hook. They are fun and clever!
Geordie hated ticks. He always knew when one was on him, and he said it hurt when they bit.
Based on how often I get Lyme, I guess I am oblivious to the way ticks feel. I’m glad you can feel them and get them off. At least you won’t be on antibiotics one month out of every year!
I amuse myself by imagining Chinese people trying to learn about us and thinking what they see here reflects normal America. 😂
You can claim to be world famous!
Ha! Love it! 😂
Ticks fear me. The ticks that try to bite me die on contact. Adult ticks tell stories to their little children ticks so that they will avoid me.
Now is this Reiko or Tom speaking? 🤔
Yes
Ticks are Satan’s minions. I smash them and flush them and they keep coming back.
If only they were like the Twinkie minions from the movies. 😠
Oh, gosh! 😦 Darn those sneaky little tricky nasty ticks! Grr! 😠 I know they tick you off…and worse! 😡
Oh, Murphy, you ARE fortunate that your mom gets protection for you! 🙂
Wishing and praying for both of you to be safe. (((HUGS))) and ❤️❤️, too!!!
Aw, thanks! ❤️
Hope you are enjoying some pretty, fall weather! 🍁 🍂 🍁
Those Lyme ticks are so small, it is hard to see them. I am surprised it didn’t itch. When I get a tick bite, it itches like crazy. I’ve often wished there was a monthly medicine I could take to keep off mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas! Add chiggers and fire ant protection to the mix and I’d buy enough for a lifetime!
I hope you start feeling better soon. (((Hugs)))
Ooh, if you ever find any of that, I’d love some too!
The only times my tick bites itched were when I got Lyme. For some reason, I didn’t notice itching with this case.
Stay safe from all those biting/stinging critters on your homestead! 🏡
Maybe you had a flare up of Lyme’s disease? Could they not have killed all the bacteria?
I looked into that, but evidently Lyme doesn’t behave that way. Either it’s killed, or you have PLDS (a dormant form that hangs around) or chronic Lyme which is constant and has no remission phase.
Well, this is what is thought to be known about Lyme now. The future might prove it wrong. I wish researchers had taken this disease more seriously decades ago. Every case of Lyme means months of minimum productivity from the victim. Multiply that by how many millions who have it, and imagine how much stronger our industries or economy could be.
I wish they had taken it seriously years ago. One of my cousins had it about 30 years ago. They didn’t figure out what she had for a couple of years.
I’m so sorry to hear that. I hope she managed to live a happy life in spite of the disease. ❤️
She eventually recovered and has been able to live a normal life since.
That’s good! I know there was a time when a Lyme diagnosis was practically a death sentence. ☹️
She was sick for a long time.
😢
Good question about the human tick meds !!! Sorry about the Lyme – Be well!
Thanks! As of now, no human meds, but I’m hoping that since this disease is so widespread that someone gets moving on one soon.