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Antiseptic for tick bite?

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 6:48 pm
by MarySkater
A neighbourhood cat who comes through my garden from time to time turned up one day with a tick on his face, between ear and eye. I fetched a tick hook and removed it carefully - as far as I could see without a microscope, I didn't leave any bits in the bite. Afterwards, I started wondering if I should have put a dab of antiseptic on the place - maybe with a cotton bud dipped in TCP or something?

He came by a few days later and I checked the bite spot. There was no swelling or soreness, so it looked okay. I've never had to take a tick from a cat before. My own cats get flea/ tick treated, and are restricted to an enclosure. But if the situation arises again, what would people recommend? Is there a basic antiseptic that's safe to use on a cat? Because of the location of this tick, the cat wouldn't have been able to lick the place (although I would have had to be very careful of his eye). But I'm aware that almost anything applied to the outside of a cat will soon be inside!

Re: Antiseptic for tick bite?

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 6:57 pm
by alanc
I believe Germolene is safe to use on cats, especially where they can't lick it off. Next door used it on Tay when he got some wounds from sticking his nose where he shouldn't (Grumpy cat from up the roads dinner bowl).
Edit see latest post: I would not recommend using Germolene.

Re: Antiseptic for tick bite?

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 7:06 pm
by MarySkater
Thanks, Alan. I just studied the small print on my tube of Germolene. It says "external use only," so I don't think I'd risk it somewhere it could get licked (especially on someone else's cat - I don't know who owns my visitor). But it might have been suitable for the face bite I dealt with.

Re: Antiseptic for tick bite?

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 7:45 pm
by Ruth B
I'd suggest my standard favourite for most things, good old salt water. It doesn't sting anymore than normal water does and it is perfectly safe as long as they aren't drinking it by the pint and have ready access to clean water. A bit of salt licked off the fur will just make them thirsty and the fresh water will neutralise the salt. I've used it on my self as well as on cats for cleaning wounds out and (touching wood) I've never had them get infected afterwards.

For myself i also go for peroxide for cleaning wounds, but I wouldn't use that on a cat as it does sting a lot, and I certainly wouldn't use it anywhere near an eye.

Re: Antiseptic for tick bite?

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 8:04 pm
by MarySkater
Thanks, Ruth. That sounds fairly straightforward. Does it need to be a fairly strong solution? Maybe a teaspoon of salt to an egg-cup-full of water? Or less than that?

Re: Antiseptic for tick bite?

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 8:15 pm
by alanc
Some useful info here: https://www.cat-world.com.au/antiseptic ... -cats.html
Iodine and salt water recommended (external use only), peroxide, Detol and TCP are definite no no's for cats.
Whilst Germoline contains chlorhexidine which is safe, it also contains phenols which are not, so I would not recommend its use, even externally.

Re: Antiseptic for tick bite?

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 9:09 pm
by MarySkater
Thanks, Alan.

Re: Antiseptic for tick bite?

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 9:19 pm
by Ruth B
Interesting article, does anyone actually keep iodine in anymore?

I normally go for a couple of teaspoons of salt in half a pint bowl of water, so I guess i go for a weaker solution than they say.

I've also used commercial saline solution to bathe close to the eyes. When Stroppy moved in with us her eyes had been rather neglected while Mum was in hospital (and possibly for quite a while before) and had badly crusted up under them and along side her nose. Rather than risk a home made salt solution I decide the solution i had for rinsing my contact lenses would be better for cleaning her up, it's safe to go in my eyes so I guessed it wouldn't do any harm if it went in hers by mistake. I was always careful working close to the eyes and while she wasn't keen on having it done it never seemed to cause a problem. It took several days to clean it off a bit at a time but she did seem happier once it was gone.