Leaches How Do You Get The Horrid Things Off

[Jacquiboss&scoop]

I have just removed my third leach for the week and I dont know how many in the last 3 months , we use salt to get them off but I know that this stings a bit does anyone else have a pain free way to get them off the dogs ? as by the time I can see them through the coats the things are huge and keisha gets quite upset about them she comes to me to get rid of them but the salt stings so am following the poor thing around with a handful of salt she runs now when she sees the salt container , wish it was a little less wet up here now that the water tanks and the dam is full

thanks

[Gallomph]

I had leaches on me once. I poured a bit of liquid insect repellent directly onto them, and they dropped of quite quickly (within minutes). Might work for dogs too?

[Jaxx'sBuddy]

if you smoke you touch the cigarette tip on the leech and it drops off...not sure this would be good though just know it works

[kirst_goldens]

if it is happening all the time make a really strong mix of salt and water in a spray bottle ?? she will eventually be scared of this as well but at least its easier to apply?? otherwise anything with heat will get them off

[Jacquiboss&scoop]

thanks for the suggestions I do smoke but would be worried about accident burns on the dogs and burnt hair smells eww , the aerogaurd thing sounds worth a try though do you think Fly ban might do it ?

[Jacquiboss&scoop]

thanks for the suggestions I do smoke but would be worried about accident burns on the dogs and burnt hair smells eww , the aerogaurd thing sounds worth a try though do you think Fly ban might do it ?

[Jacquiboss&scoop]

might pull out the hair dryer if that would be warm enough she loves a good blow dry , attention hog that she is

[kirst_goldens]

sorry i should have specified needs to be like fire hot... like light a match and burn them off or as mentioned a cigarette head or u can light a lighter and let the metal head heat up and them hold it on the leech and that saves the dogs coat and makes it harder to hurt the dog??

[Jacquiboss&scoop]

ok that sounds better than the hot cigg Idea will try it out on the next one ,, am sure there will be more of them before it drys up a little more , just wish I could find where she keeps picking them up from

[Jaxx'sBuddy]

yep i used the cigs when i found leeches on me when i smoked but was a bit worried about burning the dog hair...however great suggestion about heating up the ciggie lighter, that will do it

Edited April 15, 2010 by Jaxx'sBuddy

[Stitch]

Salt - ever seen a snail when you put salt on them???

Same effect!

[Kirislin]

I dont think salt would sting her. You wouldn't need much for the leech, probably only a few grains. I also think the hairdryer would work. I cant imagine a leech would like to be dried out. What sort of environment do you live in to have leeches around, it must be very damp.

[sas]

I got this from the Burkes Bakcyatd website, the dude's a knob but this may work:

Unlike ticks, leeches do not burrow into the skin nor will they leave a poisonous head in the wound. Despite this, many myths abound about removing leeches. The simplest way is with salt: a shake onto the body and most will quickly drop off. Tea tree oil or vinegar dabbed onto the body are also effective alternatives. Less queasy victims may prefer to scorch them with cigarettes or lighters. Otherwise, simply pull the little bloodsuckers off!

It is probably a good idea to get a fresh wad of cotton wool and dab a little tea tree oil onto the open wound to prevent infection. While leeches are not known to spread disease, a particular type of bacteria has been identified in their stomachs which may be passed onto the host.

[GoldenGirl85]

Lol, I find it funny that everyone here has suggested ways of killing the leeches that wouldnt be considered 'humane' yet every thread Ive looked up about cane toads has a number of people boasting about the humane way of killing them and condemning the people who use the dettol trick on them...dont get me wrong, Im a dettol girl myself, I wont have them hopping around my freezer, infact I wont even touch them, I pick them up with a shovel after they have gone into a nice dettol coma, it just amused me thats all lol

[Jacquiboss&scoop]

Yup using salt at the moment to get them off , have used it myself and it does sting a little when the little blighters let go as it gets on the wound where they were hanging on , we are pretty wet at the moment , might be our grass is long around the house too as the lawn mower has bitten the dust and OH keeps putting off getting the new one ( would then need to catch up on the grass ) plus the girls love any thing and all things wet and muddy , thanks for all the suggestions thank dog its too cold here for the cane toads eww yuck things (and we would lose all our frogs )

[GoldenGirl85]

Yup using salt at the moment to get them off , have used it myself and it does sting a little when the little blighters let go as it gets on the wound where they were hanging on , we are pretty wet at the moment , might be our grass is long around the house too as the lawn mower has bitten the dust and OH keeps putting off getting the new one ( would then need to catch up on the grass ) plus the girls love any thing and all things wet and muddy , thanks for all the suggestions thank dog its too cold here for the cane toads eww yuck things (and we would lose all our frogs )

Lol, Im from NSW myself and cane toads scare the shoddy out of me...the only thing I hate about QLD so far

[Jacquiboss&scoop]

yup I like frogs but cane toads , at least the leaches dont do any real harm , my brother is in the top end of WA and lost a pup to a cane toad very sad they have spread all the way across now

[Jaxx'sBuddy]

i think that burning them is more humane cause it is quicker.

[Jacquiboss&scoop]

I might sound a little cruel but I just want them off , I suppose salt could be considered a cruel choice how complex is a leaches nervous system anyway ? yup instant death would be the most humane but even insect killer would take time to work , umm an ethics question I didnt expect now am thinking of how I dispose of the slugs and snails in the veggie patch ( beer and salt )