Ticks.... ugh!

[Khandro]

The woods around these parts in Southern Germany are plagued with ticks. Our new rescue dog loves to go for walks in the forests ( so do we ). We have tried various treatments of the spot-on type but he keeps collecting them. Does anyone know of an effective method of prevention other than walking only paved footpaths ?

[jules77]

Frontline spray works better that spot on. You can also try giving your dog a garlic tablet each day.

[Razzle09]

Khandro...have had similar problems in past with dogs over here...tried everything but found it easier to to tweek the little buggers of with my nails and put some antiseptic cream on the area. It's as good a way as any...

[jomifl]

If lyme disease is present in you area you should remove ticks both from your dog and yourself with the special tick removal forceps available from vets. If you try to pinch the ticks with your fingers there is a chance that you will squeeze its gut contents inot the victim, together with the parasites contained therein. Lyme disease is a potentially lethal disease which can be cured easily with antibiotics if treated early. If left for long, hospitalisation and an antibiotic drip is the only way of dealing with it. I will come back to this thread to see if you need any more information

[woofgang]

This year we have put Scalibor flea and tick collars on our dogs as one of them has developed an allergy to fipronil which is the active ingredient in frontline spray and spot on. We live in the New Forest in England which is heaving with ticks and a Lyme disease hotspot and I can honestly say that the Scalibor collars beat frontline hands down. We sprayed our boys religiously every month but they would still pick up between about one and three ticks a week between them. Since putting them in Scalibor collars they haven't had any, neither walking or attached. I don't work for the firm or have shares, just a satisfied customer. In the UK it needs a vet's prescription. Google for suppliers.

[jules77]

I am told you need to be careful with Scalibor collars if you have cats living in the same house.....The chemical used is extremely poisonous to them apparently.

[Khandro]

Thanks, the scalibor sounds well worth a try, I'll order one right away - do you know of any side effects to watch out for?

[Bambi_1]

I'm in Thueringen and have the same problem. I've used Frontline for the past three years on both dogs and cat - although the cat doesn't seem to get ticks for some reason - and it works as long as it's applied religiously every four weeks at the correct dosage. I've also become something of an expert at removing the little ******s from horses with my fingers. But it has to be done carefully to ensure that all the mouth parts are removed and, as already been pointed out, the body is not squeezed.

[jomifl]

Unless you remove a tick fairly soon after it has attached you will not be able to remove the mouthparts as they glue their mouthparts to the skin. I have had lyme disease,my wife has had lyme disease several aquaintances have had it too. If anybody wants to know the symptoms I will post them up on AB.

[fairkatrina]

once the tick is in I find covering it with vaseline is very effective for getting it out, they don't like it and drop off. whisky also has the same effect but it seems a waste...

[jomifl]

If you put anything harmful on ticks they may regurgitate their gut contents (parasitesincluded) into the victims bloodstream. I have been advised by experts that this is not a good idea. They should be removed with forceps.