Ticks

[Lee Seidman]

My daughter just told me that she has had a problem and  her two dogs were infested with ticks. She said that there is an epidemic on the East Coast this year.  She checked our two guys and fortunately found none. I have never even seen a tick.

My question is, Billy and Lexi are on Comfortis but I believe that it only prevents Fleas and not Ticks. What is a preventative that you would suggest for Ticks?

 

Also, Lexi has Addisons and thank God her meds seem to have her under perfect control for it. She is doing great but needs a dental. We are going to try a anethesia free dental. Has anyone had experience with this,  I hate to put her in a stressful situation?

[Wendy and Sully]

I use K9 Advantix II drops for fleas and ticks. We live in a wooded area in SC and have a big tick problem. We've never seen fleas on our dogs, but occasionally will find a stray tick. When we find one, we pull it straight out with tweezers and rub alcohol on the area the tick was removed. The place I tend to find ticks is on the head. The drops are placed between the shoulder blades and then you work your way back. I'm not sure if the head is protected and perhaps that's why we find them there.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

We use Frontline Plus.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I use Advocate, but not many ticks here until Summer time.

[Lynda Kamrath]

We use Frontline Plus, but only during the tick season.  I don't like it because it is a topical insecticide but better than the alternatives.  The tick season has started.  Problem - it doesn't work for people around the dogs.  If the dogs get a tick, the tick dies when it bites the dog, but they can migrate to us.  We check whenever we are out in tick areas.

About the anesthesia free dental.  Groucho had a bad reaction to the anesthesia when he had a little surgery (lump near his rectum) and I told them that while he was out to go ahead and clean his teeth.  They actually used three different types of anesthesia and one of them got him.  He had to be shaved down over much of his body and put on other meds.  The allergic reaction ended up costing more than the surgery.  I am taking him back tomorrow for another lump that keeps draining (this one on his front shoulder) and want no anesthesia used, if they decide to do surgery.  Maybe a local?  I'll let you know tomorrow.

[Donna Ross]

I am unsure of the name, but our Vet supplies a white collar that is water proof and lasts for 90 days.  It does have to be in contact withe the skin (so you have to make it tight), but it's great and no ticks on any of our dogs.  We have swimmers, so the waterproofing was a big plus!

[Ron Carnes]

I also use a topical flee and tick. I believe your oral flee product works on a different pathway. It kills the flees before they bite the dog. It is great for dogs that have an allergy to flees. It is typically used down sourth where they don't have a tick problem. I don't know if there is a side effect by useing two different flee products at the same time. Donna is correct about the tick collar. It may be your best alternative. A couple of manufactures will have an oral flee and tick prodect on the market within the nexf year.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I live in the northeast and only Advantix II is effective in our area--many dogs here have had fleas and/or ticks when on Frontline--I use it year round because any warm-ish day above freezing can bring out the ticks. The dogs that I have had get Lyme disease both got it in February.

[Lee Seidman]

Thank you to all that responded. I wil speak to our Vet as well to see what has been most effective in South Florida. Gotta take good care of our fur babies!