Topic: Please need ideas for Tick Protection - Going to a Farm!
disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
I realize this has probably been asked before, but I am not in the mood for searching. I have been depressed and upset today. Probably mainly because I should be happy - my husband surprised me with a vacation/trip to New York (Watkins Glen) to a Farm Sanctuary with saved farm animals.
This makes me SO excited, but I'm also extremely scared and somewhat depressed. 1) because I've never been to New York, and have heard it's EXTREMELY lyme endemic. And 2) because we'll be spending the majority of the time at a farm with farm animals who have been in a field most of the day (I'm hoping I don't have to walk out in the fields... I think I'd be way too afraid to do that!). I want to enjoy this vacation, but I'm ALREADY dreading it... and that makes me angry and upset because my husband surprised me with this and thought it would make me happy!!!
So my question is, what is the liklihood of going to a farm in New York and picking up ticks just by being there? Or maybe this is a bad question.... LOL.
And what can I do to protect myself and my husband???? I am scared for myself to be rebitten, but more so for my husband to be bit at all! He's the healthiest of the two of us, and it needs to stay that way.... or we'd both be out of a job and in worse shape than we already are financially.
I realize I might be overthinking this or getting myself worked up. But that's something I cannot help. So I am here to ask your opinions and suggestions on what I can do to really protect me and my husband? To keep ticks off us? I know DEET is good, but does that keep ALL ticks off of you or no? I know to wear socks and tuck our pants into them. What else???? Please help!!!
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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Dawn in VA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9693
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Permanone (brand name of permethrin). Spray it on your clothes and let dry. Kills ticks the minute if/when they crawl on your clothing. You can get it at target or walmart.
-------------------- (The ole disclaimer: I'm not a doctor.) Posts: 1349 | From VA | Registered: Jul 2006
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disturbedme
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Member # 12346
posted
Wow, really? It works THAT well?????
Thank you!
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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disturbedme
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Member # 12346
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Dawn - darn, is looks like permethrin it out because, from what I've read, it's highly toxic to cats and the B&B we are staying at has cats. augh!
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
I really depends WHERE in NY you are going. For instance here in the Hudson Valley we have tons of ticks, and tons of lyme. My mother in law lives 1.5 hours west in Oneonta and they have hardly any ticks. In fact, she has NEVER seen one. And my kids and I did a farm day there and found no ticks.
Posts: 524 | From Hudson Valley, NY | Registered: Jul 2007
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disturbedme
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posted
Catskill - we will be in Watkins Glen, NY, which is kind of in the upper part of the state. Upper NY. A couple hours from Rochester, etc.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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Just Julie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1119
posted
If the B & B you are staying at has cats (you said it did), and those cats are inside/outside cats, and there are ticks in that area, you will get bit, no doubt. If the cats go outside, then come in to sleep/eat, cuddle with the guests, guess where those ticks that are riding on the cat are going to end up?
On you.
I have an outside only cat, and pull ticks off daily, when the weather is right for ticks to survive, which is most of the year, here in Northern CA in my area. . . I do not let my cat come in my house, or even sit at my back door, because I have found ticks crawling RIGHT OUTSIDE MY BACK DOOR where he used to lay and wait for us to come outside and feed him.
I needed no further evidence, after that hair raising discovery. The ticks will find you, guaranteed.
I don't envy you your position. You will not have peace of mind if you find that this area and the place you will be staying at, has ticks. It's a no brainer. I'd lobby for a safer place to vacation at.
-------------------- Julie Posts: 1027 | From Northern CA | Registered: May 2001
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Just Julie - the cats where we are staying are indoor cats only and do not go outside, thank goodness...
PS - thanks for making me more anxious about a trip that should be making me happy.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
I spray TKO Orange (also sold as Orange Guard) on my clothing.
Can also be sprayed in the home, the yard, and lightly rubbed on animal fur. It not only deters bugs - it kills them.
The active compound, from oranges, is d'limonene.
It's biodegradable so needs to be applied frequently, I'd say at least every 24 hours.
Posts: 13101 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Wear those knee high rubber boots, cheap at walmart.
Long white tube socks, a baseball cap.
Most farms have chickens and guineas free roaming, and they eat ticks.
Stay out of high grass pastures, use your bug spray often, and inspect yourselves often.
Once you get there, you will feel better, with the beauty, and peacefulness, so enjoy, and take a break from being ill.
Also many farms have livestock rubs, inwhich the animal rubs against it( it has pyrenthins, opps spelling) to keep flies etc off them.
I hope you have a wonderful time.Also I have my kids wash their hands after being outside.xo
Posts: 261 | From Piedmont | Registered: May 2008
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Truthfinder
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8512
posted
Why not call the farm and ask some questions about what to expect? They can't guarantee anything, of course, but perhaps in their area, ticks aren't found very frequently.
Or, it's possible they have some kind of insect control in place already to protect the animals.....
I'm still recommending homeopathic Ledum and Hypericum in case anyone DOES get bitten.... easy to carry little bottles and easy protocol. I don't have the link handy but just type in 'after-the-bite' in the search box and it should show up, if interested.
Have a great time.
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
permethrin on your shoes
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I live about 30 min. from Watkins Glen-It is a beautiful area of the Finger Lakes . Hope you get to enjoy Seneca Lake.
We definitely have ticks (who doesn't, unless of course you ask your local doctor!), but it is not nearly as endemic (yet) as many other parts of NY & PA seem to be.
I am sure that with some spray & care you will have a good time.
Most people around here are still absolutely clueless concerning LD.
Suggested a parent of one of my students have him tested for LD last April after so many health issues & the possible dx of juvenile RA. He was positive. Surprised the heck out of our school nurse!
Now I just hope his Mom is smart enough to get him properly treated... Go.have.fun. Sue
Edited to add-If you are able, be sure to hike the falls....great experience & ice cream at the top!!!!
Posts: 240 | From finger lakes, ny | Registered: Jul 2006
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sizzled
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1357
posted
Watkins Glen is so beautiful. I never forgot it and that was decades ago.
The Sanctuary may spray and already have tick repelling spray for the horses.
I have been around horses for decades and never got bit by a tick. It was when I started gardening....
It has been very cool at night so it is easy to wear clothes pre-sprayed with permethrin (let dry or put in dryer)to prevent tickbites.
Hope this helps.
Posts: 4258 | From over there | Registered: Jul 2001
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