It's not just Ticks

[fallen-archie]

This summer has seen a huge rise in the number of Ticks, I have been de ticking my dogs every time they have been out in the fields or woods, sometimes just the odd one but several long walks have resulted in as many as 10 ticks on a single dog. These days I use a plastic hooked instrument to remove them because proprietary brands of tick/ flea prevention seem less effective. Anyone have any tips on Ticks.

[suzieseaside]

Advantix is supposed to work against ticks as well as fleas but there are worrying reports of adverse side effects with some dogs (e.g. some reviews on the big S American river site) so I won't try it.

I use Advantage for flea prevention (which has no side effects on my dog) but it doesn't prevent ticks.  I reckon physical removal is the best for ticks.  I use a tick remover because I find them difficult to remove with fingernails (and I'm not very keen on them!).

[al**bear]

saw this yesterday

This bug’s bite could turn you into a vegetarian

No — really.

It’s called the “Lone Star tick.” But unlike the Lone Star State — Texas — it will not whet your appetite for barbecue.

Thanks to the tiny creature, a tide of involuntary vegetarianism is rolling up the Eastern seaboard, where it is the likely cause of thousands of cases of severe red meat allergies.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/08/10/this-bugs-bite-could-turn-you-into-a-ve...

[saasher2012]

There is a tick control drop that covers all problems that dogs encounter, including most internal worms( excluding Tapeworm) fleas , lice, lung worm etc, it's called Advocate I think,but it's only obtainable via the Vets, the problem with tick removal if not done correctly is that the ticks mouthpiece can be left embedded in the skin causing infection at site, & yes the tick does carry desease which can cause the dog serious illness.

[astrologica]

As fallen-Archie says, it's not just ticks. This year has been a bad year for fleas as well. My cat Jinx has been suffering all through the Summer, despite being treated regularly with Frontline. The vet said Frontline is no longer effective, and recommended some Advocate, as Saasher mentioned. It is brilliant......within a day or two there was not a flea in sight, and she is so much happier. I'm glad she is not a dog...those ticks look horrible!

[al**bear]

seemed to be OK for fleas this Year

Then BOOM, first rain in September and they reappeared with a vengeance

[suzieseaside]

Advocate is good for fleas and other parasites like mites and nematodes. A friend of mine uses it on her dogs, but it doesn't claim to be effective against ticks, and her dogs have ticks.

http://www.animalhealth.bayer.com/5723.0.html

Advocate offers:

heartworm prevention
flea and lice treatment and prevention of flea infestations. The product can be also used as part of a treatment strategy for FAD (Flea Allergy Dermatitis)
gastrointestinal worm control including several larval stages
treatment and prevention of lungworms in dogs (Angiostrongylus vasorum and treatment of crenosoma vulpis)
control of ear mites in cats and dogs
control of sarcoptic mange in dogs
control of Demodex mites in dogs

[saasher2012]

Even more reason to discuss it with a vet !.😀

[suzieseaside]

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@al**bear wrote:

saw this yesterday

This bug’s bite could turn you into a vegetarian

No — really.

It’s called the “Lone Star tick.” But unlike the Lone Star State — Texas — it will not whet your appetite for barbecue.

Thanks to the tiny creature, a tide of involuntary vegetarianism is rolling up the Eastern seaboard, where it is the likely cause of thousands of cases of severe red meat allergies.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/08/10/this-bugs-bite-could-turn-you-into-a-ve...

---

Interesting article, Al. 

And weird! Strange to think that a little tick may contribute to decreasing meat consumption and help towards more sustainable food production, plus lower energy consumption and all the other environmental problems that meat production creates.