Ohio State’s Buckeye Tick Test Screens Ticks for Diseases in Humans and Pets

Ohio State University offers the Buckeye Tick Test, a program that allows ticks removed from a person or pet to be tested for the most common diseases.

Health officials advise removing ticks by grasping them close to the skin with tweezers and pulling gently upward. The tick should be saved for submission, the date noted and symptoms monitored.

In humans, symptoms may include fever, headache, joint pain, muscle aches, fatigue or a rash appearing within three to 60 days. In pets, symptoms may include fever, loss of appetite, stiffness, swollen joints, lameness, lethargy or, in some cases, diarrhea and vomiting. Symptoms in animals may take weeks or months to develop, if they appear at all.

Doctors and veterinarians recommend immediate consultation if symptoms occur.

More information on tick removal, submission instructions and testing costs is available at buckeyeticktest.osu.edu.