TICKS
From page 37
best to treat clothes before
There are various forms of
dressing. There are propri-
insecticides which are made
etary fabric sprays available as
to be sprayed onto fabrics. It's
well as a powder which
one mixes with water
and then soaks the
clothes in it. Once the
fabric is dry it is safe to
wear. You only need to
re-apply spray either
after every second or
third wash or even
longer for some
Eschar ... Site of a human tick bite
products.
Apparently ticks
which come in
direct contact
with the treated
fabric will not
bite and will
eventually die
A tick latched on to a pet
off.
above 60°C and leaving it out
If you are camping you can
in the sun for a few hours will
treat your sleeping bags and
go a long way to reduce the
other linen, with no harm to
burden of these parasites.
the fabric.
There is also a brand of hiking The bedding can also be
treated with the sprays or
socks which contains a
soaks mentioned above. If
formulation of the insect
the dog sleeps in a kennel,
repellent permethrin,
embedded in the fibres of the there is what is called a hard
surface spray, which the
sock, which protects the
makers say is effective for at
wearer against tick bites, as
well as mosquito, midge and least six months.
Also ensure that your garden
flea bites. This effect can last
is free from debris and leaves
up to 30 washes.
and that the areas around
Dogs and cats that spend
patios, under decks and
most of their time outdoors
under lawn furniture are kept
are at high risk of picking up
clean.
ticks and fleas, which they
Keep ticks from climbing and
bring into the home.
Frequent vacuuming, regular grabbing on to a passing pet
Continued on page 39
washing of pets' bedding
38
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