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The adult flea spends almost 95% of its lifeon carpets, furniture, and clothing.

Dear Andrea:

Our six-year-old golden retriever came in from a romp in the woods yesterday, and as
I removed some briars from her coat I noticed a large tick embedded under her hair.
I tried to remove it but unfortunately left part of it in the skin. What should I do?

—Robin Joss
Henniker, NH

Dear Robin,

When you find a tick on your pet, you should do is clip the long hairs around the area so you're better able to see it. Usually what we see above the animal's skin is just the tick's hind end engorged with blood. What we don't see, but need to grasp, is the head of the tick, which is often burrowed under the animal's skin. It's best to avoid contacting the organism with your own skin. But you can remove the entire pest by grasping it as close to the skin surface as possible with fine tweezers or forceps and gently pulling it out.

Some folks will attempt to drown the tick by pouring alcohol on it while it is still embedded in the dog. This often annoys the dog and does nothing to the tick; if you've ever felt alcohol on an open laceration, you know what it feels like! Others will attempt to burn the tick in order to remove it. Not only may this cause significant burns on the animal, but it often forces the tick further into the animal. (After all, if someone were yelling fire behind you, wouldn't you move forward?)

Needless to say, there are times when the head of the tick or part of it may remain embedded after removing the rest of the parasite. Thoroughly cleanse the area with soap and water or a mild disinfectant and begin hot packing two to three times a day.

Often, the body will wall off this intrusion and the tick will be extruded on its own. Rarely does a new tick emerge from the site, as the old wives' tale goes. If the area begins to look red, swollen, or painful, see your vet. A small abscess may have formed, either due to some part of the tick remaining under the skin or in response to inflammation, and may require surgery.

Frequently, owners are alarmed when a small bump appears on the spot where the tick was found. This doesn't necessarily mean the entire tick wasn't removed. Rather, this parasite can cause inflammation of the skin and provoke fibrous tissue to form around the bite, especially if it has been embedded for longer than a few hours. Depending on the prevalence of Lyme disease in your area, consult your vet as to possible vaccination for this disease.

Dear Andrea:

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