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!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Rachel, I used to use Frontline and then the Doctor switched my two dogs to Certifect, too. I did not like it at all and felt like you did, that something was off with them after I applied it. I also could not stand the smell, which seemed to last for days. We are going back to Frontline. I also vaccinate my dogs for Lymes. We just have too many ticks in our area and I am afraid the natural products will not be enough. Other swear by them and will probably chime in.  I have already pulled deer ticks off Vern this year. Good luck!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Mine are on Frontline and get the vaccine and get ticks. I tried Cedarcide, a natural product and I couldn't bear the smell.

[Bonne Bouche]

I've spent hours researching this week and I honestly don't have a solution. I don't feel like any of the natural products are effective enough, and I honestly don't like the lack of long-term research done on the toxicity of all the chemicals in the "real" tick medications.

BB is 15 months old, and in the past year he's gotten close to 3 dozen ticks. We found out last week he's positive for lyme even though he has no symptoms. He was on K9 Advantix March-June last year, but we stopped because he was still getting 2ish ticks a week, he hasn't seemed to have any more than before. We live in Central PA, and we do spend a lot of time outdoors, even though we live in "town".

We shaved him short, (~1/2 inch or so), so for the most part we can comb and feel ticks pretty easily. He has a good daddy who is very diligent with checking him every night for ticks, and while sometimes it takes a day for us to spot them, we usually catch them very early.

[BG and Gavin]

We use Revololution.

[Rachel Felcher]

Thanks for all the responses. I too vaccinated for Lyme . Will let you all know if I find something that works.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I use Frontline for my guys.  I also keep their hair short during tick season, and I do a "tick check" each time I bring them in if we've been in a field or wooded area.  I also vaccinate for Lyme Disease.

[Gail and Bailey]

My girl Bailey had the same reaction to Certifect!  I will not be using it again.  I am searching for a replacement as well! 

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Ditto! They can get them from anywhere.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

I may be ignorant or naive, but how are all your dogs getting ticks?  Do you live by wooded areas?  I have no idea about this being such a problem.  We live in a suburban neighborhood with a fenced in backyard, but no woods nearby or anything.  Should I be looking for ticks on my doods each day?  I brush & groom them about every other day, would that be enough to notice something you think?  I thought the monthly preventative that we give takes care of that, but am I wrong?  Hearing all this is freaking me out.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Traci, I think the "tick population" varies by location....they are not a problem in some parts of the country.  I live in CT which is where Lyme Disease originated.....and ticks are everywhere.  During tick season I don't let my guys in tall grass, and we stay on the defined trails in wooded areas, but even so they often pick up ticks.  Even taking them to potty in our back yard they can be exposed to ticks.  Deer are plentiful here, and that's part of the problem.  So, I have to do the tick checks daily and keep their coats trimmed.  You're lucky....it doesn't sound like much of an issue in your part of the country.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Jane is right. It depends on the area. My yard is fenced but right outside the fence the deer are around. There are mice, which are the second vector for these ticks, and they can carry ticks where the deer can't go themselves. At any rate, my doodles can come in from my yard with tiny ticks on them. The dogs are light so I can spot the ticks often, usually one or two, but occasionally one attaches.

[Beth Lord]

Hi Rachel,  I too live in a bad area for ticks too so I feel your concern!  I just wanted to say that after an article I read in this month's Whole Dog Journal, I'd be cautious about applying a chemical treatment to the lawn.  They reported a Tufts study (admittedly broad) that exposure to professionally applied lawn pesticides was associated with up to 70% higher risk of canine malignant lymphoma.  :-(   I'm no expert, so I'm just passing that along for what it's worth; you may want to do some research into that.  Our vet just got Alfie on Certifect and I applied it yesterday.  So, the jury's still out!  Best wishes to you --