Ticks – Nobody Likes Them

Hi. I'm a tick. I’ve gone off the rails and decided to tell you exactly how to kill me.

But first-what I like. I love when you don’t think. When a walk with the dog is "just a few minutes nearby." When you sit in the grass because it’s warm. When you stand in the shade because it’s nice. When you assume that since it’s a cool day, I must not be around. That’s when things go great for me.

In Short – What We Actually Use

For	What
Mrok	NexGard – one chewable tablet per month
Us	Permethrin on clothes; DEET or icaridin on skin
Reminder	Ticks don’t fall from trees – they come from grass, brush, and the path
Risks	Lyme: 24–48h TBE: immediate Babesiosis: often faster
Routine	We check ourselves and Mrok every day
TBE	Only the vaccine offers real protection

Permethrin? Works brilliantly - but before it dries, it’s deadly to cats.

Afanisep® 25 WP – an insecticidal concentrate containing permethrin. Once diluted, it can be used to spray clothing for protection against biting and crawling insects. Not for direct use on skin or animals.

Got a minute? Stick around.

We ticks don’t jump, fly, or fall from trees. I wait. Somewhere between blades of grass, at ankle or knee level, right where your dog’s neck passes. I sense heat, motion, and skin scent. You walk by - and I’m on board. Heading up.

I don’t bite right away. Sometimes I walk for hours. Then I slice the skin, inject numbing saliva, thin your blood, and start feeding.

If I carry Lyme - I need to warm up. Takes time. If I carry TBE - I infect instantly. If I carry babesiosis - your dog could be in serious trouble in two days.

These aren’t rare cases. They’re statistics.

What takes me down?

NexGard

A chewable tablet. The dog eats it once a month. The active ingredient circulates in the blood. I bite, feed, and absorb the neurotoxin. I’m dead in 24-48 hours. Works well for Lyme and anaplasmosis. Not always fast enough for babesiosis.

Permethrin

Not a repellent. A weapon. It works on contact. If I touch treated fabric, I’m dying before I ever find a place to bite.

They treat pants, socks, boots. Never skin. It won’t damage Gore-Tex. It’s safe for dogs. But for cats - liquid permethrin is deadly.

DEET

Repels. Doesn’t kill. But ruins my plans. It stinks. It works. Apply to skin. Protects for a few hours.

But: -melts plastic, -damages glasses, -destroys DWR coatings. Don’t spray your jacket. Spray yourself.

Icaridin

Milder. Works similarly to DEET, but without the smell or fabric damage. Good for shorter walks.

And if you still think this is overkill…

They’re not paranoid. They just know what happens when people don’t know. But if you're one of those who only react when you see a red banner:

TICKS CAN KILL. FOR REAL. Not years later. Sometimes in a matter of days.

That’s not panic talk. That’s what the vet file says. If you’re the kind who acts only when there’s an alert – well, here it is. That’s it. Now go enjoy your walk. Just don’t take me with you.

OK – this tick’s clearly a maniac, so maybe listen to him.

Just in case, here’s the summary – in human language:

Mrok and Us - Our Routine

Every walk with Mrok starts with a backpack. A small one. Inside: two first aid kits - one for him, one for us. And a dog evacuation harness, in case he can’t walk on his own.

We all love these walks. We enjoy them every time - and that’s exactly why we’d rather be ready, so nothing ruins them.

Inside the pack: DEET spray - for skin. Clothes were treated with permethrin earlier. That’s not panic. That’s just good practice.

We live with three cats: Tru, Zoe, and Dali. We don’t test our caution on them. We apply permethrin far away from the house. Once it dries, it’s safe. But before that? ! One touch is enough to kill !

And to save you some money: If you love your Gore-Tex Light shell, or that soft Polartec hoodie, or your fancy polarized sunglasses - check your spray. If it contains DEET, take off anything you don’t want damaged. Or just spray it on your hand and rub it onto your skin.

What We Actually Use – and Why

For Who	Product	Why We Use It	How It Works
Dog	NexGard (monthly chew)	Internal protection, no need to apply anything daily	Tick bites → Tick feeds → Tick dies in 24–48 hours
Humans	Permethrin (on clothes)	Kills on contact, protects lower body	Tick contacts fabric → Tick is paralyzed → Tick falls off
Humans	DEET / Icaridin (on skin)	Covers areas clothes don't protect	Scent repels tick → Tick backs off or avoids contact
Humans	FSME vaccine (TBE)	Virus transmits instantly; vaccine = real protection	Immunity active → No risk of infection after bite

Tick-Borne Diseases – What You Should Know

Disease	Affects	Time to Infection	Does NexGard Help?	Is There a Vaccine?
Lyme disease	Dog, human	24–48 hours	Yes	No
Babesiosis	Dog	6–12 hours	Not always fast enough	Not applicable
Anaplasmosis	Dog, human	~24 hours	Usually yes	No
Ehrlichiosis	Dog	24–48 hours	Yes	No
FSME / TBE	Human	Instant	Not relevant	Yes – and you should get it

Don’t panic - just act.

A tick can be removed by hand, with tweezers, or a special tick remover. They usually bite into areas with good blood flow and thin skin: -groin area, and on animals also around the -eyes, ears, -inside the mouth.

What to do if you find a tick?

1. Grasp it as close to the skin as possible (with tweezers or a tick removal tool)

2. Pull it out with a firm, steady motion

3. Disinfect the bite site and your hands

Important: – Don’t squeeze the tick’s body – Don’t twist while pulling – Don’t apply alcohol, oil, or other substances to a tick that’s already attached

Your dog, just like you, needs to move - and ticks don’t take time off. They’re always out there, sometimes more, sometimes less. Don’t give up walks, meadows, or forest trips. Just be prepared.

We share what works for us here in Poland, but products may have different names - or rules - where you live. Wherever you are, choose wisely, follow local guidance, and if vaccines are available in your country - get them. They’re always worth it.