TICK Killer and Prevetative -- HELP!

[noludoru]

I know I've mentioned he has ticks. He got a flea and tick dip + something at the groomer, but I was so flustered yesterday I forgot to ask what exactly she was putting on him. (Big mistake. *sigh*) I've started to go over him with combs, but I am truly terrified of them and can't "just realize they're not going to hurt me and keep going." It's not happening. I break down into tears and shaking.

Today he has ticks dropping off him like crazy. What do I mean by crazy? I mean this morning after cleaning up his crate and the mudroom (it's a very small tiled room, mind you) I got nearly 20 ticks, and the day before well over 30.

They are STILL dropping off. Most are dead, but some are still alive and crawling. I have three cats that I cannot let get infested with ticks (or fleas), and we cannot have our house overrun with them.

We're buying Frontline for fleas and ticks from the vet tomorrow. And ordering some diatomaceous earth hopefully.

But I need something that is going to kill these ticks. Preferably on contact. PLEASE, suggestions?

 

[blue]

So relocating to Alaska isnt an option?

 

[noludoru]

Blue, it's looking pretty **** tempting. Maybe not Alaska.. but there are other places without ticks. And fleas. No more rubbing our noses in the fact that you don't have bugs, Blue.

No more fell off in the night, after a thorough check. Either that means the ones on him are immune or they're all gone. I'm hoping it's the latter.

 

[mjb]

We had a problem earlier this summer. It was right after Spanky boarded, but I don't know for sure he brought them in from the boarding facility. It was also a torrential downpour outside, and the vet and pest control both said sometimes right after heavy rain is when you run into alot of problems with ticks.

The vet thinks Spanky got into a nest of them. I don't even know if they congregate in nests, but that's what she said. The first day after getting home from boarding, we picked about 10 ticks off. The next day 7. The day after that about 8 more. He is on Frontline, and it had been about 2 weeks since his treatment. We called pest control, and they came out and sprayed the house and yard. At the same time, we took Spanky in to the vet to be checked over for any ticks we might be missing and to get bathed and dipped.

The vet said she had had an infestation of ticks in her house, and it didn't end quickly or easily, but with diligence. I found out what she meant. We continued to find ticks on Spanky, but not huge amounts. One every 2 or 3 days. That was still bothersome as that meant we still had them in our house, and I didn't want them to start multiplying again. They were no longer attaching to Spanky very well, but they would be crawling on him.

The pest control people had to come out 2 weeks after the initial spraying and spray again. They said this was normally what they had to do. Then, they had to come out a 3rd time, and they said that was unusual. Since then, no more ticks!! Yeah!!.

The cats didn't get a single tick in all this, nor did any of us humans. The dog was put on medication.....I don't remember what. The vet said it was to prevent infection, but I looked it up, and it's used also to treat Lyme disease.

We found buying an inexpensive tick remover was VERY helpful. I suggest you do this since you find the ticks so disgusting. I did, too. My husband had always removed any ticks from our animals in the past, but this time I would have to remove some of them, and this was the way I could do it. It made removal much easier on us and Spanky.

Good luck, and I can sympathise with you.

 

[Maxy24]

I don't know how to get rid of them. in Max's ten years he never got a single tick (all we used is flea and tick collars but I recently found out they are supposed to be useless). But if you don't already use some tick preventative on your cat.

 

[mjb]

Yes, we also use Frontline on our cats.

I found out during our problem that ticks are a member of the spider family.

 

[LoveMyKees]

Ugh, we have the exact same problem with Max whenever we take him to a park or field. He literally drips with them. But its much harder with his long fur, because we really have to dig for them . He'll come home with like 20-30 crawling all over him...

I'm going to keep watching this thread, because we need the same help!

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

a while back Jason_Els had posted an organic concoction he was making and trying out to use as a preventative...wonder how that worked out?

 

[Brattina88]

I was wondering about that as well ^

while I haven't had a problem with ticks (on my dogs) I had a problem with fleas a year or so ago. After having them boarded they came home with fleas, bad. I was PO'd, because they were on frontline and I had called to check on them several times and no one mentioned they had fleas or needed a bath I called the vet and he said to reapply the frontline. I did, and I also treated the house. Still had fleas - the frontline didn't work.
So, after reading into some more "natural" flea/tick preventatives I found this at my local walmart. Its supposed to "kill fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes and other pests on contact". I've used it for several months now, and it works for us - no bugs here. However, I have read very mixed reviews on it! Some say their pets have had bad reactions to it, so I recommend it with caution.

 

[noludoru]

While we were at the vet's today.. THREE MORE DROPPED OFF! We got two of them, the third is now somewhere in the gardens there.

Yes, the kitties are on Frontline and we're keeping them 100% inside for now. (Before we took them out occasionally for walks in the yard.) They are also separated from him, and not allowed in the room he is in.

That stuff looks interesting.. maybe I will pick some up and see. But what exactly are the ingredients? It looks like they use essential oils, but I don't know.

Thanks for all the help, guys... urgh. I just don't know how to get them ALL off..

 

[lubspaniel]

A little off topic but..I have been searching for a cocker spaniel pup. and we found a breeder and they had 4 pups and they were just infested with ticks and fleas and it was horrible the pups were 10 wks old adorable! they had the some were very shy and would run away or yep when being picked up..we left. and didnt buy any of the pups ..they were back yard breeders I assume..but I feel as though I should have bought one to save..but I didnt we left..do you think we did the right thing? I feel horrible about those pups

 

[Brattina88]

IMO, If you would've bought a pup, you would be supporting their 'business'...
And, in addition to that, you probably would've ended up with a health-mess ofacocker...
how sad!

 

[lubspaniel]

I know! it breaks my heart...a friend told me about them so we went there to see and I was so completely shocked! and disappointed..but I am still searching and I did email a breeder that sets their standards to the american spaniel club and also do the OFA cert. so we will see!! My heart just aches for one of these little cockers! but I know they are worth the wait to find a good breeder.

 

[noludoru]

Good luck in finding a good breeder! The one you went to was definitely a BYB, and if you were to 'rescue' a pup from them it would just support them in their breeding, and probably help them to breed yet another substandard, parasite-infested litter. If no one buys from BYBs eventually they stop breeding.

If you want some recommendations on good Cocker Spaniel breeders, a forum member MafiaPrincess just went through the harrowing process of finding a great breeder, and could probably throw you a few names, possibly some nearby.


Update: Advantix on him and no ticks found on him or nearby.

 

[TexasTulip]

You need GUINEAS! They feast on ticks and many other types of insects. We bought a dozen of them to keep ticks at bay on 22 acres. If you have acreage, I'd say try them. I heard they even help keep snakes away. Downside is they are noisy.

 

[FoxyWench]

do the cats like/go neer the dog? if not K9 Advantix is the best way to go for ticks as it REPELLS fleas ticks and mosquitoes as well as kills them...frontline just kills fleas and ticks. however the active ingredient is dangerous to cats when ingested so if the cats groom the dog or sleep with it then advantix is a nono and frontline PLUS is the way to go. (i do prefer advantix for the effectiveness though)

you can also make a mixture with some lavender, clove and lemongrass oil in water, put in a spritz bottle and spray on him before going outside, this wont kill whats on him but it will help to repell any new ones.

in your home while hes still got live fleas and ticks, wash any soft furnishings OFTEN and keep him away from carpeting anf furniture as best as possible.

good luck...ticks are gross, but its the fleas that are the worst because they can be difficult to get rid of from the home...

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Seems to depend where you live.. Some places ticks are more immune to frontline, other places advantix.. I've hear some parts of NY it's so bad right now that neither is doing much good.. I thankfully don't have ticks here, but when we travel to NY we have issues..

Not to jack this thread, but cockers rarely ever have hip issues. Loose knees are an issue.. Many skeazy breeders will show you OFA hips and nothing else as it's super easy to have good hip certs when it's rarely ever an issue. Some of the big well known show kennels are passing on skeazy eye conditions..

 

[lubspaniel]

no kidding huh! well I am still on the hunt and I am going to check out this breeder later this week and I hope this is it.

 

[Angel Chicken]

I use the sprays that Britt posted as well, along with the carpet (speaking of which, my carpet is due for another de-flea vaccing) stuff too, and it works WONDERS. I don't even have to use a flea and tick preventative.

 

[noludoru]

We're probably going to pick some up then, lmao.

Update: Found one bloated one on him today. This is worrying me, I do NOT want to drug this dog up more, but I need to find something truly reliable to get the **** ticks off.