2016 tick discussion

[Stacy]

I know this is a discussion that is had over and over again - sorry about that. But, as we begin tick season (and the midwest didn't have much of a winter so I fear that it's going to be a hard summer with fleas and ticks.) I was hoping that we could have it again!! 

Katie is on Sentinel for heartworms and fleas. So I'm not so worried about the flea part. But we hike through the woods fairly regularly. I'm not sure if all that hair makes it better or worse. The ticks will presumably have a harder time getting to her skin, but I will also have a harder time finding them on her. 

I know we can't come to a 100% consensus, but there are just too many options out there. I still have a dose of parastar (fipronil) from last year. It was fine. She didn't have any problems with it, I never found any fleas or ticks. I'm not super crazy about the greasy coat thing after I put it on her. I'm really intrigued by the seresto collar. I read a discussion from several years ago that they warned against using it on dogs that sleep in their humans beds, but I didn't see that warning on the outside packaging of the product. I imagine that it's similarly toxic as sleeping in bed with a dog who has parastar on. 

I've also used frontline with good results,  but on dogs that didn't go outside a lot. I never knew if it worked because it worked or because we never came into contact with fleas and ticks anyway. I used parastar last year because that is what my vet was selling.

I am more afraid of tick-borne illness than the toxicity of the treatment. But I still want to do my due dilligence and try to find the safest and most effective (and let's be honest, I would also like to get the most bang for my buck!) So can we talk about what everyone is doing for ticks (and fleas, I suppose!) this year and how or why you made your decision?

Thanks! Stacy (and Katie too!)

[Amy and Annabelle]

Annabelle is on NexGard for fleas and ticks. It's chewable and she loves it, so I know she is getting the full dose. I also get her a Lyme vax in the spring. Last summer my husband took her hiking in a heavily wooded area and she came home with 2 ticks. I took her to get groomed the next day and they found 1 more. She had already been Lyme vaxed a couple of months earlier. It was a discussion I had with the vet early on since we do a lot of hiking and live near wooded area in the country. Anyway I don't want to take any chances.

[Becka]

This is exactly what I do for Sadie--NexGard and the Lyme vaccine. We spend summers in Minnesota where ticks are a real problem. I order the NexGard from 1800PETMEDS because my vet doesn't carry it. Sadie hasn't had any adverse reactions (knock wood) to either of these treatments.

[Nicole and Teddy]

Teddy is using the Seresto collar and so far, so good. My vet (who I really trust) recommended it over the digestible meds I had him on prior. He's had the collar on for about a month now and apparently he can go for 8 months without a switch. I am really hopeful that it keeps fleas/ticks away, but am looking forward to hearing others' comments!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Does his coat mat around the collar?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

My guys are both on Frontline Plus and Revolution...they are both topical.  They had been on Heartgard until Murph was diagnosed with IBD...then we had to move to a topical alternative. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Well tick season has definitely begun here in CT.....I just took two of the small deer ticks off of Murph after a short walk.  I'm so happy his coat is so light....at least I can see them.

[Kamela & Beckett]

I'm following this conversation as I have the same question. Beckett is on Sentinel primarily for the intestinal parasite treatment (after several bouts of round worm- yuck!). We are in AL, but Lyme has made its way here too, so I'm thinking we may need to supplement for the warm months with something that addresses ticks.

[Amy and Annabelle]

Annabelle had round worm at 5 months and was on Sentinel to clear it up. When I first got her she was put on Revolution. She was on the Sentinel for quite awhile after the worm treatment. I only changed because I wanted her on NexGard fea and tick and my vet wouldn't put her on that with the Sentinel, so I changed to a different worm med.

[Kamela & Beckett]

I'm not sure how/where he kept picking up the worms (although he does like to eat dirt for some strange reason). It got old having to take him in for treatment, not to mention it's just gross!!

[Amy and Annabelle]

We live in the country with lots of wildlife, so I think that is where Annabelle got hers. She was so fascinated with bunny and deer poop as a young puppy.  I guess I should consider myself lucky that it wasn't something worse.

[Kamela & Beckett]

That may explain it. We live in suburbia, but border a wooded area so we have bunnies galore. The pups think rabbit poop is a delicacy. LOL

[Lois Maturo]

I use the Serersto collar. This is my second year using it.  I had good luck with it last year.