Would a cat flea/tick collar work on humans?

[Kiki-frog]

I really should know better than to ask this on AB once the sun is over the yardarm, but this is actually a serious question.

Mr Frog was working in a very overgrown garden today and got what he thought was a splinter. He tried squeezing it out, and out popped a tick. Or rather half a tick. He knows someone who got Lyme disease from a tick bite and was very ill for many months, so we went straight down to the hospital to have the rest of the critter removed.

Step daughter jokingly suggested that we get him a cat flea/tick collar, but that got me thinking whether this might actually be a good idea, if he tied a flea collar around each ankle, when working in long grass. (He'd remove the bell first, of course, and not risk looking like a total pussy!)

But seriously, might this work as a tick-deterrant?

[dotty.]

well if it's fastened around his trouser leg then the tick can't get to the skin anyway, abit like snake frighteners boy scouts use i guess

[woofgang]

no. Humans have different sebum type secreting glands. It might give him contact dermatitis too. Better to wear long sleeves and trousers when working in such circs. Wear wellies or tuck trousers into socks (wear closed shoes or boots not flip flops or sandals) and do a checkover of clothing before entering the house or undressing.

[daffy654]

http://www.bada-uk.or...epellent_products.php

[Kiki-frog]

dotty, what's a snake frightener? My mind is well and truly boggling.

woofgang, that's the kind of thing I was wondering about, so thanks for that. He only ever wears long trousers tucked into boots when working in an overgrown garden, so maybe it did get in while he was getting undressed.

Thanks for the link, daffy, calendula oil could be handy. I suspect OH will not like the idea, but it's got to be better than Lyme disease.

[daffy654]

Just the thought of a tick being on me makes me want to scream. I would freak out if it ever happened. lol

[woofgang]

when checking clothing, he should also check hair, neckline and behind his ears. I live in the New forest, it gets to be a habit.

[Bambiagain]

If the tick is removed quickly there is little risk of Lyme disease, but keep an eye out for a red ring around the place where the bite was - this is a warning sign. I'm now an expert at removing ticks from horses and dogs, and even me if they're in accessible places. The thought freaked me out when I first realised I'd moved to an area where they abound, but I've got quite blase about it. However, you are warned to wash your hands properly after handling animal flea/tick treatments, so they're not suitable for human use.