Ticks are driving me and the dog potty

[Mikey]

Ok so I might need some assistance, our springer spanial is coming home most days from a walk with a tick on him. OH is very good at inspecting him, she likes grooming us all but thats a different story!!!

I've not been giving him a specific tick treatment, he has Advocate for treating fleas and numerous other nasties but this doesn't treat ticks, why not I'm not sure.

When I go searching for products they virtually all seem to kill fleas aswell and I've no desire to double up on treatment or cost. I've seen some shampoos out there but don't know how effective these are and I'm aware you can get a pill but can't seem to find them when goggling.

Do you treat separately for ticks and if so what do you use?

[Nicos]

We use monthly Frontline Combo on the back of the neck.
The vet says it'll only work for max of a couple of weeks though.

[Nicos]

I've just seen this..it's an American site but it may be available here if you are specifically worried about the Lyme Disease aspect.
Lyme Vaccines

your vet could advise you?

It's been a very mild winter and warm Spring...there are going to be loads of ticks about this year...eeeewwww....

[Hazel at the Hill]

I think if you use Frontline instead of Advocate that kills both fleas and ticks. Check with your vet.

[veggiechicken]

I have Frontline Combo in front of me now!! It says "kills ticks on your dog and protects against re-infestation for up to 4 weeeks"
Also kills fleas and biting lice.

[Scarlet]

Does it work on kids? One of mine came home with one under his arm on the weekend

[scarey55]

I use Frontline which does ticks and fleas but I also have a tick remover thingy - strangely, my two don't get that many ticks (famous last words, I know)

[veggiechicken]

Can you get them to stay still long enough to drip it on the back of their neck, Scarlet?

[Scarlet]

Hmm, I could try!
Strangely enough the dog never had 1. I've always used the frontline spot on. Trouble with spaniels is that their always going through long grass.

[Nicos]

Does it work on kids? One of mine came home with one under his arm on the weekend

Te he...are we talking goat kids or human kids????

I found this for humans....

How To Repel Ticks Naturally: Natural Home Remedies for Tick Repellent

[Mikey]

Trouble with spaniels is that their always going through long grass.

Tell me about it, when in the fields you'd swear he thinks he's a kangaroo. boing boing.

I've been reading about garlic tablets apparently deterring fleas and ticks. I'm happy with the advocate, I'm just looking for something to deter the ticks and everything seems to want to do both. Plus with all the bathing he gets I'm concerned I'd have to reapply more often.

I'd rather something that he'd digest and excrete through his skin, sounds hideous I know....

[KittyColdNose]

Neem oil. Stinky but great for deterring ticks and fleas as well as midgies. Well, it works for us but prevention is better than cure so I would say speak to your vet.

You need to be careful with ticks. Lyme disease is transmitted by them when they bite.

[Mikey]

You need to be careful with ticks. Lyme disease is transmitted by them when they bite.

I've read that it takes 12 hours for this to have any effect though. So if you are diligent and check and remove after a walk I'd have thought this wouldn't be an issue.

[WendyC]

Slightly unrelated but we are having trouble controlling the fleas on our cats this year. Had to resort to spraying the house last week. Yuck! Guess it's the mild winter.

[marchogaeth]

Get a bottle of nail polish remover.
Take top off an invert over tick.
Hold for 5 minutes.
Use pliers or tweezers to encourage the b****r to let go.
If it won't repeat nail polish remover treatment until it does.
Avoid squashing body and leaving head in - not nice.
Works for humans and animals.
Inspect site over next day or so - if it develops the appearance of a bulls eye seek treatment.
One of my neighbours swears by something like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/OTom-Tick-Tw...2074726&sr=1-4 for getting rid of the ticks on her horses.