[jazzharmony]

I have googled like crazy and can't find any information.<br><br>
We are having a horrific tick season - worst I have ever seen. The kids have already had a bunch pulled off of them and our dogs have had dozens.<br><br>
My 5yo had one two nights ago that we pulled off and it was surrounded by black specks. My husband says that it's tick poop and that he thinks it indicates that the tick was there for a very long time (we suspect it was a dog tick) but I can't find a single piece of information to back that up. I had checked her head and had been braiding and brushing her hair earlier in the day so can't imagine that I could have missed the tick.<br><br>
Anyway, does anyone know what black specks surrounding a tick means?

 

[calebsmommy25]

I tried to search a bit and found this on a pet care website for ticks, but it def. still could be valuable. Your DH wasn't off on the black specs being poop, from what I found the darker specs for fleas are fecal matter.<br><br>
Once the tick is removed, examine the area closely to look for signs that part of the tick has been left behind. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Black specks at the bite site suggest that part of the tick may still be embedded and if this is suspected, a medical attention is necessary as soon as possible. It is rare that a portion of the tick is left behind, but it does occasionally occur.</span><br><br><a href="http://petcare.suite101.com/article.cfm/removing_a_tick_from_pets" target="_blank">http://petcare.suite101.com/article....tick_from_pets</a><br><br>
That was all I could find, but IMO it might be worth taking her in to get checked out to make sure all of the tick has been removed. They may want to put her on some antibiotics.<br><br>
Ticks have been really bad around here this season too. It is awful!

 

[jazzharmony]

Thank you <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> I had seen that but there doesn't appear to be any remnants of the tick. I have searched since finding the tick, several times per day, and haven't detected anything at all. No rash either or other symptoms.<br>
The pediatrician's office said not to worry but I like to do my own research.<br><br>
Thanks again!

 

[calebsmommy25]

Oh good! I'm happy to hear there is nothing to worry about. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> These ticks can be scary! I have talked to several Mamas in our area and they are just all over right now.

 

[nurturebaby]

this site is useful for tick identification for future bites:<br><br><a href="http://tickencounter.org/" target="_blank">http://tickencounter.org/</a><br><br>
It also has info on tick testing for Lyme and co-infections (so if you're bitten and worried about whether or not the tick was a carrier, you can send it to a lab to have it tested).<br><br>
I would think that the black specks may have been dried blood - like if the tick was there for a while.