Ticks!

[jason s4]

Hi all!!

This is starting to get a little tiresome now.

We have two dogs that get walked in the forest every day.

Along with that, every time we get home, we eventually find a tick embedded in one of them, however, sometimes, one is missed and is there for a day or so and eventually grows to the size of a pea and drops off on to the floor.

Anyway, what this is about really, is... does anyone have any recommendations on prevention?

We are using the usual Frontline etc which are recommended by the vet, but these just dont seem to be effective.

Any suggestions or advice welcome.

Thanks!

[Jasandjules]

Natural remedies include garlic in their food.

Then there is the tick remover which every dog owner should have:

[jason s4]

Yes i do have the tick removers and they get used near enough daily!!

Does the garlic really work?

[Jasandjules]

It seems to work in the main for us. The dogs used to get a tick a week each, since going on garlic (which is around a year ago now) I've removed two ticks, that includes one yesterday found when grooming!

[Doshy]

When he was puppy, Hendrix got a few ticks. Best advice I had was to put a blob of vaseline on them for a minute or 2 then use the special tweezers and ease them out. Vet told me not to worry too much if one snaps off as they scab up and come out eventually (he was right).

[Le TVR]

I've had the impression that Frontline doesn't seem as effective these days. Our vet has also commented that he doesn't think it's worth using now.

Anyone have any comment or experience with Advantix?

[bexVN]

If the ticks are falling off after a day the Frontline is working, it is not a repellent and will not stop them jumping on but they will leave less of a reaction when they drop off than being lifted off.

Vaseline - not recommended anymore, causes the suffocating tick to release toxins into the bloodstream

Garlic - no personal evidence to see if this works but seems to be used a lot, just be very careful with the doseages.

[jason s4]

Thanks for the responses.

When they drop off, the ticks are actually 'full size', and from what i have read, had their fill and then looking for somewhere to have their litter

I was hoping there would be something that would deter them a little quicker, rather than letting them hang on.

[Japveesix]

Feed your dogs marmite.

http://www.jawt.co.uk/forum/general-discussion/gen...
http://positively.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&...

This is of course only anecdotal evidence but I work outdoors, I spend large parts of each day walking through tall grass etc and I have never had a tick on me, even though many colleagues have. I also quite genuinely never seem to get bitten by anything much, or very very rarely, and so don't bother with insect reppellant or long sleeves etc.

I eat marmite in reasonable quantity on an almost daily basis and have done for years. It seems to work for me

[Backseatdriver]

Frontline is as effective as it has always been. When it comes to ticks, NOTHING will stop them attaching themselves in the first place. The fact that you are saying they are dropping off after being attached 24 hours means the frontline is working. Frontline is a contact killer and anything that jumps on them will be dead within 24 hours.

How often are you applying the frontline? It needs to be applied every 4 weeks to be effective against ticks.

[kooky guy]

Backseatdriver said:

Frontline is as effective as it has always been. When it comes to ticks, NOTHING will stop them attaching themselves in the first place. The fact that you are saying they are dropping off after being attached 24 hours means the frontline is working. Frontline is a contact killer and anything that jumps on them will be dead within 24 hours.

How often are you applying the frontline? It needs to be applied every 4 weeks to be effective against ticks.

I got the impression that Frontline isn't as effective as it used to be - my cat gets reinfested with fleas almost immediately after treatment these days. He does have a few rabbits each week, but Frontline used to keep him flea free for at least a few weeks.

[bexVN]

kooky guy said:

Backseatdriver said:

Frontline is as effective as it has always been. When it comes to ticks, NOTHING will stop them attaching themselves in the first place. The fact that you are saying they are dropping off after being attached 24 hours means the frontline is working. Frontline is a contact killer and anything that jumps on them will be dead within 24 hours.

How often are you applying the frontline? It needs to be applied every 4 weeks to be effective against ticks.

I got the impression that Frontline isn't as effective as it used to be - my cat gets reinfested with fleas almost immediately after treatment these days. He does have a few rabbits each week, but Frontline used to keep him flea free for at least a few weeks.

Definitely not our first line use for fleas, too many people unhappy with it in recent times, however it still seems to be good against ticks.

[Jasandjules]

bexVN said:

Definitely not our first line use for fleas, too many people unhappy with it in recent times, however it still seems to be good against ticks.

I've heard that fleas are in essence adapting to the chemicals in it so it is having less effect. What do you think?

[Alucidnation]

I suppose its possible, considering we all keep getting told that anti-biotics are being less effective.

Strange really, as ours dont seem to suffer too much from fleas.

[Who me ?]

bexVN said:

If the ticks are falling off after a day the Frontline is working, it is not a repellent and will not stop them jumping on but they will leave less of a reaction when they drop off than being lifted off.

Vaseline - not recommended anymore, causes the suffocating tick to release toxins into the bloodstream

Garlic - no personal evidence to see if this works but seems to be used a lot, just be very careful with the doseages.

I give mine garlic sausage, as a treat. He loves it,and it keeps him tick//// flea fre.

[JumboBeef]

Garlic is very toxic to dogs in larger doses: be careful.

[TimCrighton]

Advocate. By far and away the best of the flea and tick treatments. Most vets will require a review of the dog first before giving a prescription but it's good stuff. We also hose ours down when they come back from walks at the moment as well and that helps

[windymiller78]

we too have noticed ticks are about more this year, its apparently due to a warm wet winter. certainly had a few on our two dogs, tick removal tool is best, if you stress a tick it disgeorges its stomach contents into the hosts blood stream and can make them ill. so you want to be quick and get all of it out head too, front line does work but like most heavily used chemicals fleas and ticks are building resistance. i'm a farmer and asked our vet last week!

[gd49]

TimCrighton said:

Advocate. By far and away the best of the flea and tick treatments. Most vets will require a review of the dog first before giving a prescription but it's good stuff. We also hose ours down when they come back from walks at the moment as well and that helps

Advocate is not effective against ticks (or at least it does not have licence claim for that, if it was effective Bayer would almost certainly have added that to the licence). Advantix is licenced, and in my experience at least, is effective.

[Pvapour]

latest tick collar works very well, only recently introduced, safer than the old one and covers other things.

Had to wait until she was 5 months old & before that she was getting an average of 3 ticks a week, dangerous here as we lots of deer around which carry Lymes disease.

Since fitting the collar shes had only one and that let go of its own accord, shes had no ill effects skin irritations etc.

when Gill gets up I'll post the name.

eta: seresto

http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/seresto-...