I HATE TICKS!

[Christina and Cooper plus Benny]

Cooper and I went camping and hiking this weekend and had a great time!  We got home, and I found a tick - only one tick and it wasn't attached and was definitely on it's last leg - unlike the 13 I found after one trip last year.  I attribute the small number of ticks and the fact that the one found wasn't attached and dying to the Preventic Tick Collar (I also used Advantage for fleas.)  This was my first time using the collar, and I will definitely say it works.  However, I could smell it on Cooper all weekend, and I hate the chemical smell and worry about having it on him.  Plus the package says to wash your hands whenever you touch the collar!  I looked up more information this morning on the collar and it contains Amitraz - considered "slightly toxic" by the FDA.  Not good!   I don't want Cooper wearing something that is toxic at all!

So...I have decided to throw away the tick collar and the Advantage (which also had a strong chemical smell) and switch to Frontline Plus, which my sister has been using happily this year, and hasn't had a tick or flea.  Her dogs hike and camp with Cooper so I would hope for similar results!  

I know Frontline has had some bad press lately, but I HAVE to use something.  Having Coop come home with 13 ticks or more every time we hike is not acceptable!  I feel like I have once again wasted a bunch of money on these products and thrown them out.  I have been through Revolution - which is what Cooper was taking when he got the 13 ticks, Advantage and the Preventic Collar and now headed towards Frontline Plus.  Cooper is not yet 2 years old!   

My question is, do you use Frontline, and does it work?  Do any of you have experience with it and TICKS?  I believe it works well for fleas.  I also want to believe it is the safest product that is effective?  I have also tried herbal sprays that stink like cloves and all kinds of stuff with very limited success.  I am frustrated and tired of wasting money.

[Ann Kendig]

I forgot, my vet did have the dogs on Comfortis before the specialist started them on Revolution. The vet also told me the same thing about fleas becoming immune to Frontline and they were looking at other options for flea control. I'm almost positive that Comfortis doesn't have tick prevention. I didn't have a problem with fleas when the dogs were on Frontline or Comfortis. So far so good with the Revolution for flea control.

[ej]

We don't have flea problem here, but major major tick problem! For years, I refused to use spot-on until late Jan, it got really warm here, the dogs brought home ticks! Ovenight we saw ticks crawling on the dogs, on the walls and the floor. Straight to the store we went to get the organic tick & flea shampoo, a box of Frontline Plus and a few cans of pet & human-safe insecticide. Bathed the dogs, applied spot-on and fumigated the bedroom.

It has been a few months, and we are tick-free. Every now and then i still find one or two crawling on their feet when we get home from walk. I apply Burt's Bee's insect repellent (contains geranium oil) on them before we take them out for a walk. Sometimea I spray neem & citronella on their coat as well.

[Christina and Cooper plus Benny]

I LOVE the Burt's Bee's idea! Perfect! I am going to get some today and keep it with me for hiking - for both me and Cooper! That could be just what I am looking for - something that repels the bugs and is safe. I, of course, will us the Frontline Plus too, but hopefully the Burt's will keep the bugs from ever crawling on. I HATE to find ticks crawling in his fur - especially when he is snuggled up beside me! YUCK! Thanks for the post!

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

I have had more success with Advantix than Frontline Plus. I use it year round, every month. We had fleas galore with Advantage, and ticks with Frontline Plus. We're starting our second year with Advantix and no critters so far.... In my area the fleas have become resistent to Advantage.