TIck Season is here!

[Rachel Felcher]

Does anyone have any solution or suggestions for tick management? At the suggestion of my vet, I applied Certifect ( waited until Rosie was 16 weeks old) since she had 3 tick bites. Certifect made her lethargic for 2 full days. I hate to have to apply chemical treatment  to the lawn, but 2 ticks were deposited on to me today, from her . I use Mink sheen 4 in 1 shampoo which is supposed be a natural repellent. Anyone have any other more natural products they recommend?  It is almost impossible with her hair to find ticks.  Thanks!

[Lindsey & Cocoa]

We live in the city and I just found one on my daughter this weekend.  Cocoa's fur is so think with tight curls I am afraid I may never know if she has one.  I try to give her a good rub down everyday but she is still in that nipping phase so I do as much as I can put up with.   My fear is if I find one how would I get it off?  There is no way I can hold this crazy puppy down to get it off.... guess I just pray I find it when the vet is open and take her in for help holding her down :(

My vet has her on Trifexus for flea & heart worm but I don't think that covers ticks.

[Jennifer Tramell]

It's not a big deal to get them off - after living in the country for the past 20 years, I'm a pro :-) 

[Rachel Felcher]

No Scott.. Not all ticks carry Lyme. That said, there are other tick borne illnesses as well. 

[Jennifer Tramell]

I think flea and tick management varies by region.  I live in middle TN and Frontline has stopped working for me.  I used it for years until about 4 years ago - then it just stopped working and the flea battle began.   I tried Vectra - worthless - then Revolution.  Revolution worked great for fleas so I used it for a couple years.  We moved to a semi-rural area (I have 6 wooded acres) and the battle with ticks began.  Revolution did nothing for ticks (it's really not designed for ticks) so we are on Advantix.  After the disgusting tick summer we had 2 years ago (finding ticks on the kitchen floors where the dogs laid!!!), I'm very happy with Advantix.

[Moe]

I use Advantix. The vet said to up it to every 3 weeks for the spring. We must live in a some type of tick hot spot, she has gotten dozens of ticks in her 6 month life. She is finishing up a 30 day course of antibiotics for Lyme. I think ticks are something we are going to have to put up with. I did ask the vet about using a tick collar in addition to the Advantix, he said it would be unhealthy. I recently posted about those holistic tick clips (Anibio and ShooTag) that use a magnetic field to protect the dog, apparently they are useless pseudoscience. I've posted this many times but the easiest way I've found to remove ticks is by using a tick key. They always come off in tact and are really easy to remove. You can get them on Amazon for 75¢.

[Rachel Felcher]

Thanks so much for your reply. I will order this tonight!