2016 tick discussion

[Stacy]

I know this is a discussion that is had over and over again - sorry about that. But, as we begin tick season (and the midwest didn't have much of a winter so I fear that it's going to be a hard summer with fleas and ticks.) I was hoping that we could have it again!! 

Katie is on Sentinel for heartworms and fleas. So I'm not so worried about the flea part. But we hike through the woods fairly regularly. I'm not sure if all that hair makes it better or worse. The ticks will presumably have a harder time getting to her skin, but I will also have a harder time finding them on her. 

I know we can't come to a 100% consensus, but there are just too many options out there. I still have a dose of parastar (fipronil) from last year. It was fine. She didn't have any problems with it, I never found any fleas or ticks. I'm not super crazy about the greasy coat thing after I put it on her. I'm really intrigued by the seresto collar. I read a discussion from several years ago that they warned against using it on dogs that sleep in their humans beds, but I didn't see that warning on the outside packaging of the product. I imagine that it's similarly toxic as sleeping in bed with a dog who has parastar on. 

I've also used frontline with good results,  but on dogs that didn't go outside a lot. I never knew if it worked because it worked or because we never came into contact with fleas and ticks anyway. I used parastar last year because that is what my vet was selling.

I am more afraid of tick-borne illness than the toxicity of the treatment. But I still want to do my due dilligence and try to find the safest and most effective (and let's be honest, I would also like to get the most bang for my buck!) So can we talk about what everyone is doing for ticks (and fleas, I suppose!) this year and how or why you made your decision?

Thanks! Stacy (and Katie too!)

[Nicole and Teddy]

The collars are supposed to be water resistant so that's a plus! :)

[Terri Kraft]

There are some essential oils that are good for flea and tick prevention if you are wanting something natural.  Palo Santo essential oil is suppose to kill a tick if one is on your dog.   I love their Animal Scents shampoo.   It's been good for Bentley itchy skin and it helps repel pests.  I use their essential oils on him for fleas/ticks also so we shall see how they work.  This is the first month without Frontline.  I made up a flea spray of several oils mixed with water to use on him as needed or daily for flea tick repellant.  I put a drop of purification oil on his neck and rump also to repel pests.  He smells wonderful and it's all natural no chemicals.   I just joined as a distributor this year cause I don't like putting chemicals on him and needed help with his scratching.  Must use a good brand of oils -- Young Living is the best.

[DonMarie and Picco]

I haven't heard of Palo Santo but I've heard geranium oil works. I was told to add the oil to water for a final rinse after a bath, have you tried or recommend it?   I'm going to be in SE Mo in mid-July and looking for short term tick prevention and would prefer to use a collar or oils/natural. 

[Rhoni Ann]

We have 3 dogs and all are on their 2nd month of NexGard.  So far, So good!  Shed is our 1 year old Lab mix, which some AHole dumped in the cattle field, he is our outside boy, hates being in the house.  Cash is 3 and Carter is 7 months, both goldendoodles. The only issue I have notice is with Cash, who is a picky eater and has a stomach issues.  He doesn't eat well for a few days after giving it to him but then is back to his normal self.  Next month I'm going to give him 1/2 a chewy and then a few days layer give him the other 1/2 to see if this helps.  Carter is a hoss and will eat anything up to and including my reading glasses, right now paper is her favorite.  I'd tried the collars with Cash in the past but didn't feel like it was doing much good with his thick coat, plus the mates where horrible.  The topical liquid didn't help with the fleas, ticks yes fleas no.  We live in Oklahoma and the ticks are already BAD, doesn't help we live in the middle of no where, where wildlife is plentiful. 

I'd noticed that Carter was fond of the rabbit poop as well. I questioned our vet about it, he said by the time the dogs eat the rabbit poop anything that was living in the poop at the time it was dropped would have long been dead by the time the dogs ate it.  (Makes sense if you've ever had a dog with round worms, they are there and then they are gone.)  He added that most anything that lives in the intestine will not survive outside the intestine. Not that I want Carter eating rabbit poop but I am sure she isn't the first dog I've had that did that, just the first I noticed I guess.