Dogs & ticks

by buffy on Thu May 01, 2008 10:25 am

yes its me here to pick your brains again.
Deci has,or had several tiny ticks on her,we live in a rural place & she goes to the beach alot.
I used bob martain tick & flea stuff on her last night,it bloody worked wonders! lots of dead ones in her bed.she doesnt have fleas,only these little ticks.Im always brushing her & going over her with a fine tooth comb & she has stronghold from the vets every 4 weeks,which isnt due for another 2 weeks.
does anyone else use stronghold? should I stick to this bob martain stuff that I know works? has your dog had a tick? what did you do? these were really tiny,smaller than a sesame seed,but coz she's dark & they were grey they were easy to spot.
any chance these ticks could attach to me or the kids?

thanks Smile

by **Marian** on Thu May 01, 2008 10:37 am

Be carefull they can attach to you. So always check yourselves if you have been in a place where they live. I put special tick drops behind Shoei's ear (in the neck) or when he has one my husband removes it himself (he's my tick specialist Big grin

I hate those little animals tongue

).

http://youtube.com./user/EstherAndBryce · by **Esther** on Thu May 01, 2008 12:29 pm

This might sound really ignorant, but where to ticks live and how does a dog catch them?

by **Marian** on Thu May 01, 2008 1:27 pm

As far as I know ticks live in grass, bushes and trees. They let themselves fall out of it onto the dog (or other animals or humans).

by **Scott** on Thu May 01, 2008 1:35 pm

my two have never had ticks flees or any thing ells i use bob martins stuff on the about onest evry two or so months and worm them at the same time....

dont tick feed on the blood????

one of the first places to check that you aint got ticks or like is your ankel area.....
well thats wot iv allways been told....but like i say never had them so dont know for sure....

stonghold is very good too...

by **hardtrackz** on Thu May 01, 2008 1:45 pm

[b]LYME DISEASE[/b] is a tick-borne infection common in the northern hemisphere and is caused by spirochaete bacteria. Symptoms are varied and may include rashes, fever, muscle and joint pain, and arthritis. The disease is not fatal and treatable with antibiotics. Despite clinical cases being reported from the early 1980's, there has been no confirmation that the disease occurs in Australia

Allergic reactions are the most serious medical condition associated with ticks. These reactions can vary from a mild itching with localised swelling to widespread swelling with pain to a severe and life threatening anaphylatic condition. Unlike with most other medical conditions associated with ticks, severe allergic reactions may occur with any tick stage. For people who develop severe allergic reactions, it is imperative that they must always avoid contact with ticks and avoid potential tick infested areas.

Treatment and Control

The best method of avoiding ticks is to stay away from known tick infested areas. If visiting such an area, light coloured clothing should be worn, as ticks will be much easier to detect. Trousers should be tucked into socks and shirts into pants. An insect repellent containing DEET or Picaridin should be applied, with a cream repellent applied to the skin and a spray repellent to footwear and clothing (note that DEET can damage some synthetic clothing). The repellent should be reapplied every few hours. All clothing should be removed on returning home and placed into a hot dryer for 20 minutes, which will kill any ticks that may still be on the clothing. Note that ticks can wander on the body for some two hours before attaching. This is how they become attached to the head (contrary to popular belief, they do not fall out of trees). The body should thereafter be searched well for ticks, especially behind the ears and on the back of the head. Children and pets should be examined for ticks after visiting bushland areas.

In locations where people live where they contact ticks in their backyard, then strategies can be undertaken to reduce the tick population and thereby minimise exposure. The Paralysis tick is very susceptible to dry conditions and so decreasing soil moisture can lessen their impact. This can be achieve through the reduction of foliage cover, which increases sunlight penetration to the ground, reducing the shrub layer, reducing mulching and watering, and ensuring that the lawn is kept mown low. Bandicoots, the main host of the Paralysis tick, can be kept out of the backyard through the use of animal exclusion fencing. This needs to go below the ground surface by 0.5m so that the animals cannot dig underneath. If ticks continue to be a problem, then insecticide control is an option. Currently the only registered insecticide for the control of the Paralysis tick in NSW is Brigade. Only a licensed pest controller can apply this chemical.

Tick Removal

If a tick is detected that is attached, never attempt to place any chemical such as methylated spirits onto the tick, nor should it be touched or disturbed, as the tick will inject saliva into the skin, which could make the situation worse. Rather the tick should be sprayed with an aerosol insect repellent preferably containing pyrethrin or a pyrethroid (if a repellent cannot be found which contains a pyrethroid, then Lyclear, a scabies cream containing permethrin will work fine). The combination of hydrocarbons and the pyrethrin acts as a narcotic and a toxicant, and prevents the tick from injecting its saliva. The tick should be sprayed again one minute later (or dabbed with the Lyclear) and left. After 24 hours it should drop off naturally or be gently removed with fine-tipped forceps. It is normal for a tick bite to remain slightly itchy for several weeks, however if other symptoms develop, then a doctor should be consulted immediately.

by Mattie on Thu May 01, 2008 5:40 pm

I use a flea zapper, it also kills ticks. I don't like putting toxin on/in my dogs as strong as those used to kill fleas and ticks but a zapper doesn't put anything into a dog.

I also enjoy the ping noise as it kills the fleas and ticks. laughing

Flea Zapper

by **staffsrock** on Thu May 01, 2008 6:23 pm

you're right Stich ticks feed on blood sick

Mine have never had them , mine had stronghold,now Advocate, have never had to deal with ticks and i take them to countryside all the time, so cant give any advice. Gives me the shivers dont want to see

by **Marian** on Thu May 01, 2008 6:56 pm

Didn't know there was a flea zapper. I'll ask our pet shop if he has one Smile

http://youtube.com./user/EstherAndBryce · by **Esther** on Thu May 01, 2008 11:52 pm

Thanks for the info Hardtrackz Smile

by **hardtrackz** on Fri May 02, 2008 5:22 pm

Esther & 'Tyson' wrote:Thanks for the info Hardtrackz

You`re welcome Big grin

by buffy on Fri May 02, 2008 7:28 pm

wow I didnt get a email saying you had replied,thanks all.
hardtrackz,uk ticks dont carry lyme disease luckily!
deci has been having strong hold from the vet,but I dont think it protects against ticks,Im gonna stick to the bob martain stuff.

esther the ticks you have there will be different from the ones here & carry different things.
they live in long grass,woodland,basically they can be anyway except the pavement.

omg Im gonna watch my ankles & check kids aswell as dog.
thanks
x

by Strals on Sat May 03, 2008 11:05 am

On the east coast of OZ, south of the equator, we have paralysis ticks, which can cause death. Gough had one 6 months ago. Luckily I found it earlier enough & pulled it out using a cotton thread between its legs & body. Gough thought it was a great game & wouldn't sit still & I couldn't stop swearing! I now use Advantix during tick season. Not me the dog!

http://youtube.com./user/EstherAndBryce · by **Esther** on Sun May 04, 2008 1:08 am

WOW i had no idea about them. When is tick season in OZ?

by Strals on Sun May 04, 2008 9:39 am

WOW i had no idea about them. When is tick season in OZ?

Esther, it's between September & March, not sure if you get them in melbourne.

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