Ticks

[Minda and Callie]

We just moved recently to Omaha from Phoenix and are experiencing ticks for the first time.  Our back yard is connected to a wooded park land.  Could someone give me a crash course on how to prevent ticks?  Besides my doodle I have a small shih tzu who is very unfriendly when it comes to touching him.  I see a black spot on him and I am thinking it's a tick but he won't let me near it.  I think I am going to have to take him to the vet for help.  I can't see paying for a vet bill every time he gets one. And I don't even know for sure it could be one.  Any suggestions? I do have him on Simple Guard 3 but even putting that on is a challenge. So bummed right now.  Wish Doggie Dan could come help me ;(

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

My vet just mentioned a collar-but I did not catch the details.  

If it's a tick, removal has to be done so you get the whole tick out and don't leave the head.  It should also be removed as soon as you see to prevent disease.  If you Google-there are tons of articles about this.

Some vets have a flat rate for removal that is affordable.  

No fun!  Good luck 

[Minda and Callie]

Thanks Lori!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

I would call your Vet and ask if a Tech could help you remove the tick. They probably wouldn't charge you an office visit, as long as you saw only a Tech. Either way, it had to come out! Like Lori said, just make sure you get the whole thing. You might want to speak to your Vet about Tick preventives. We use Frontline P,us for Ticks, as Enzo is on a Trifexis. Good luck!

[Minda and Callie]

It was a tick and I am not crazy! :) I ended up taking Sam to the vet and he took it off for free.  I couldn't thank him enough.  

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

LOL...Crazy???? Not at all!  Glad you got it taken of!

[Minda and Callie]

I mean't crazy if it was there or not.  I could just see going all the way to the vet and it be a piece of dirt :)  My dogs are on SimpleGuard 3.  He has been on it for 2 months but he is difficult to put it on him because he doesn't like to be touched and gets scared. The vet helped me put it on him today so hopefully he is good for a month. I beginning to realize Phoenix was pretty nice after all because it's too hot for fleas and ticks to live :D

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

I'm not sure how to prevent ticks. They are nasty!! I pulled at least 8-10 off Yogi during our camping trip. It's a bad year for them. He is on Frontline Plus. Not sure how much it helped though.....

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

We get ticks all the time here. My dogs are both on Frontline Plus and vaccinated for Lyme's Disease. It has been a bad year for ticks. I use this tool. I bought mine at REI, but I don't see it on their page anymore. It helps you lift the tick up and out and then I always flush them and clean the area. With this tool you don't have to get anywhere near the tick.

http://www.filtersfast.com/P-Sawyer-SP620-How-To-Remove-Tick-Head-P...

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

We have something similar , called a tick key. Works pretty well too. Beats pulling them out with a tissue and popping them!
http://www.amazon.com/THE-TICK-KEY-The-Tick/dp/B000R1D3KQ/ref=zg_bs...

[Moe]

My dog used to get tons of ticks. I used to use Advantix. It is supposed to repel ticks and kill them if they attach. It didn't seem to work at all. This year I started using the Seresto collar by Bayer. It is a bit expensive but supposed to last for 8mo. So far we have not seen one single tick. This is the first spring my dog has gone more than a few days without a tick. We walk off-leash in the woods. It works great and it may be good for you because you put around the dog's neck and you don't have to worry about touching the dog with monthly treatments.

If you do get ticks the tick key is great. So easy to use. I'm sure any groomer would take a tick off your pup. It would probably be a lot cheaper than a trip to the vet. Good luck.

[DJ & Chance]

Ugh. Chance had a tick bit a few month ago that got infected.  Not pretty.  And of course now I worry about the diseases he may have contract from this creature.

[Mari Bezanson]

There is no product on the market that will  guarantee 100% tick coverage.   There are very strong pesticide laden meds and collars available (collars are not safe around children) however, I think the best they can guarantee is 40% coverage, so why expose your dog to this poison?  We live in a very high tick population and we check our dogs daily.  It takes very little time and if we do find one, we just remove it.  You DO NOT have to do to the vets to have your tick removed.  Get a tick remover or use twizzers and  take it out yourself.  Make sure you take out as much of the insect as possible and keep an eye on the bite to ensure that it heals properly.  (I also use polysporin as long as it's in an area the dog can't lick)  In the extremely small chance that your dog may contract Lyme, treatment is available.    It does take some getting used to, and it is disgusting, but don't panic.   You can do it, and your dog will be fine!