Deer Ticks!!!!!
Mar 21st 2011, 12:52 am
#16
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Re: Deer Ticks!!!!!
My wife found a tick on her stomach already this year and has already had her first case of poison ivy. It's really weird, she hasn't been in the woods at all, neither has the dog. Son and I are in the woods all the time and haven't seen any ticks or got any ivy. Her kind of luck I guess. We call the tiny tiny ticks (Looks like a sprinkling of moving pepper) seed ticks. I've been infested with hundreds of the bastards before and they are a real pain. Even after I remove them the itchy reaction I get from the bite is agonizing.
Anyway, when I know I'll be in the woods in tick season, I use Permanone (or something else with premethrin) on my clothes, making sure to coat my socks and boots especially well. This spray DOES NOT go directly on skin, and it's best if you treat your clothers and allow them to dry prior to putting them on. In a pinch I have treated my clothes as I was wearing them, but it's probably not a good idea. On any exposed skin, I use something with DEET, but products with higher concentrations of DEET are not supposed to be used on smaller children. For the dog, Frontline seems to do well. Ours still got some ticks but nowhere near as bad as he would have without it.
Anyway, when I know I'll be in the woods in tick season, I use Permanone (or something else with premethrin) on my clothes, making sure to coat my socks and boots especially well. This spray DOES NOT go directly on skin, and it's best if you treat your clothers and allow them to dry prior to putting them on. In a pinch I have treated my clothes as I was wearing them, but it's probably not a good idea. On any exposed skin, I use something with DEET, but products with higher concentrations of DEET are not supposed to be used on smaller children. For the dog, Frontline seems to do well. Ours still got some ticks but nowhere near as bad as he would have without it.
Mar 21st 2011, 2:56 am
#17
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
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Re: Deer Ticks!!!!!
I'm afraid that collars aren't much use -- I'd scrap it and use Frontline -- they say once a month, but I usually find that the dogs can go for two to three months between applications, as I don't like to OD on meds. The warm weather we had last Friday will bring out the ticks, I'm afraid. Also, check the children when they have been in the garden or the woods. I use tweezers to remove them from dogs and people, then dab the spot with alcohol. You can save the tick if you are concerned as to whether it might be carrying Lyme and they will look at it under the microscope at your doctor's office and let you know if there is cause for concern. The Lyme vaccine seems to be mostly effective, so your dog shouldn't have any after effects of the ticks.
One of my dogs had Lyme very badly before the vaccine was introduced, but just one has had it (and not badly) since the vaccine. I've had Lyme twice so far -- one has to be careful around here!
One of my dogs had Lyme very badly before the vaccine was introduced, but just one has had it (and not badly) since the vaccine. I've had Lyme twice so far -- one has to be careful around here!
Mar 21st 2011, 4:02 am
#18
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Re: Deer Ticks!!!!!
There are tick diseases other than Lyme, in spite of monthly Frontline we had one dog last year nearly died from tick problems. We noticed a rapid weight loss, took him to the vet and she caught it in time. She told us than had we waited a little longer he would not have made it.
Mar 21st 2011, 4:38 am
#20
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Re: Deer Ticks!!!!!
Right, now I'm totally freaked out!!!! I'm going to go with the frontline suggestion as the collar is not working at all. I've had to pull 2 from the same spot so far this morning, had to phone the vet because he's had really bad diahrea so just hope that the ticks haven't passed something on to him, and the fact that they can drop off and live in your house is making me cringe 
Mar 21st 2011, 5:38 am
#22
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,017
Re: Deer Ticks!!!!!
Right, now I'm totally freaked out!!!! I'm going to go with the frontline suggestion as the collar is not working at all. I've had to pull 2 from the same spot so far this morning, had to phone the vet because he's had really bad diahrea so just hope that the ticks haven't passed something on to him, and the fact that they can drop off and live in your house is making me cringe
Mar 21st 2011, 6:54 am
#23
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Re: Deer Ticks!!!!!
Right, now I'm totally freaked out!!!! I'm going to go with the frontline suggestion as the collar is not working at all. I've had to pull 2 from the same spot so far this morning, had to phone the vet because he's had really bad diahrea so just hope that the ticks haven't passed something on to him, and the fact that they can drop off and live in your house is making me cringe
Mar 21st 2011, 7:17 am
#24
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Mar 21st 2011, 7:19 am
#25
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Re: Deer Ticks!!!!!
Don't worry -- he probably just ate something silly as puppies do! The collars are kind of cosmetic, whereas the Frontline works through the bloodstream -- the tick takes a bite and goes yuk! something's not right here, and falls off. As I said, I've never found it necessary to apply it monthly, though you may want to do it for two months to build up the resistance, and then do it less often after that.
Mar 21st 2011, 9:32 am
#26
Deep in the woods of CT
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Re: Deer Ticks!!!!!
Mar 21st 2011, 12:54 pm
#28
Catahoula Lover!!!
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Seattle - WA
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Re: Deer Ticks!!!!!
Move to Seattle 
BUT I do frontline my dogs.. it is really good! or another natural remedy is a garlic powder called Bug off - I think that is what it is called...
http://www.springtimeinc.com/product..._garlic_d/dogs
This is a link, I don't use it as my dog is particularly sensitive to changes in her diet - she only likes horse poop, grass and sticks, Garlic would be sure to tip the balance - but I hear good things on it, bearing in mind our tick issues will be minor compared to yours!!
Good Luck!!
BUT I do frontline my dogs.. it is really good! or another natural remedy is a garlic powder called Bug off - I think that is what it is called...
http://www.springtimeinc.com/product..._garlic_d/dogs
This is a link, I don't use it as my dog is particularly sensitive to changes in her diet - she only likes horse poop, grass and sticks, Garlic would be sure to tip the balance - but I hear good things on it, bearing in mind our tick issues will be minor compared to yours!!
Good Luck!!
Mar 21st 2011, 2:39 pm
#29
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Reno Nevada
Posts: 15,917
Re: Deer Ticks!!!!!
This works for ticks as well its cheap and won't harm you or the pets.
HomeDepot, Lowes etc carry it.
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...cStoreNum=1022
http://www.ghorganics.com/DiatomaceousEarth.html
HomeDepot, Lowes etc carry it.
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...cStoreNum=1022
http://www.ghorganics.com/DiatomaceousEarth.html
Last edited by Poppy girl; Mar 21st 2011 at 2:48 pm.
Mar 21st 2011, 11:49 pm
#30
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Re: Deer Ticks!!!!!
We use frontline on both our dogs. They roam around outside most days and "touch wood" haven't found any ticks.
We also don't use it every month in the winter, but tend to every month in the spring/summer.
We also don't use it every month in the winter, but tend to every month in the spring/summer.
