Our Favorite... Ticks! [Advice PLEASE!!!]

**Jessika** · 05-04-2008, 05:29 PM

So we went camping this weekend and brought the pups with us. Where we live they -never- get fleas or any other type of parasites (no worms, nothin') so I do NOT and have not had them on any preventative. Since I had finals/practicals at school the last week of April and then this first week of May was the start of my second Term, I've been thinking of nothing but school and buying them preventative before going has completely slipped my mind.

Charlie isn't so bad, but Jamie was pretty bad yesterday after we hiked in the woods. They were mostly concentrated under her collar around her neck and on the bottom of her feet. She has large deer ticks and some much smaller ones. My friend, sister and I spent at least 45 minutes straight last night pulling them off of her coat, face and feet.

My question now is what to do to ensure we get them all? I know some of them are so tiny that they are VERY easy to miss on an Aussie (have you seen an Aussie's fur on their feet?? NOT tick-removing friendly... lol).

What products do you recommend we use to ensure that we get the ones we may have missed? Any special baths or topical stuff? I was searching and thought maybe I would pick up some Frontline Top Spot, the only problem is that Charlie and Jamie are about 10lbs apart and unfortunately Jamie is in one category and Charlie is the next higher up bracket with the weight restrictions (she's barely 40lbs and Charlie is closer to 50/55lbs) and I don't exactly have a lot of money to spend... if it comes down to it and no other options then I assure you I will do it, but was wondering if there was another product you recommend? Just because I don't see any on Charlie doesn't mean they aren't there.

My main concern is Lyme disease...

I feel so stupid that I was so preoccupied with school that this complete slipped my mind... ESPECIALLY considering we have NEVER had a big problem with ticks before, ever.

**Catlady711** · 05-04-2008, 05:40 PM

My first choice recommendation for ticks is Promeris, my second choice would be Frontline PLUS.

**Jessika** · 05-04-2008, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by Catlady711

My first choice recommendation for ticks is Promeris, my second choice would be Frontline PLUS.

Frontline plus and not Top Spot?

How much would you say the M size Promeris would cost? Can't really find any info online since it's sold exclusively through a vet.

**Freedom** · 05-04-2008, 07:31 PM

I use Frontline Plus.

Also beware: there is a huge controversy re Promeris going on just now. It seems a rather new product with unexpected side effects.

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...light=Promeris

**Catlady711** · 05-04-2008, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by Jessika

Frontline plus and not Top Spot?

How much would you say the M size Promeris would cost? Can't really find any info online since it's sold exclusively through a vet.

The Top Spot doesn't have the flea growth regulator and the PLUS one does, other than that the ingredients/usefulness is the same.

Promeris should cost about the same or just a bit less than Frontline PLUS. And yes it's sold only through vets. Anyone selling it online gets it pulled as soon as the manufacturer finds it and traces the hidden bar codes back to find the crappy vet/rep that diverted shipments to online places which is illegal to do. When the rep or supplier is caught they get fired, if it's a vet they get ALL Fort Dodge products pulled from their hospitals and cannot put in any orders for more ever.

Originally Posted by Freedom

I use Frontline Plus.

Also beware: there is a huge controversy re Promeris going on just now. It seems a rather new product with unexpected side effects.

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...light=Promeris

The link Freedom refers to I posted a lengthy response to, it is well worth the read.

In addition to that response, we have since had 2 "reactions" in the last week. In BOTH cases the owners admitted to not applying the product as directed and the dogs licked the product causing the "reaction" as per the package insert warning. We still highly recommend using Promeris and have been taking additional time with each client to make them fully aware of how to properly apply it. We've not had any "reactions" with the ones that follow the instructions correctly.

**Jessika** · 05-04-2008, 10:38 PM

As far as promeris goes there is a spoof email circulating that I found on snopes.com (and was posted here too if I recall correctly) and was passed as being false.

For the time being are there any shampoos you would recommend using until I can make it to the store tomorrow?

**Spiritwind** · 05-05-2008, 08:48 PM

I have personally never noticed much, if any, affect on Ticks with Frontline or Frontline Plus. Luckily they for some odd reason don't seem to be a huge issue with my dogs and I live in NC and my dogs run the woods a lot... I pulled one off of Paris a few days ago.. that the first one of the year I've seen on any of my dogs...

Also I only apply frontline once every 2-3 months.... I've never needed to apply it every month...

Never used promeris... don't plan to, until its been out a while longer first...

**Jessika** · 05-07-2008, 08:03 PM

Ughhh please any advice, guys... I've given them a bath but it doesn't seem to have done ANYthing... ticks are still abundant and though we find more and pull them off every day it seems they're still popping up or migrating... I even found some full ones crawling around on my bed while studying, creepiest thing ever...

Plus Jamie has a weird red bump looking thing in her arm pit that may look like an old tick site that may be infected? It isn't warm to the touch or anything.

I'm just asking for suggestions on products that may kill them, topical applications, shampoos, or even prescription pills at this point, I just want them all gone and stay gone. Seems they keep popping up or migrating as soon as we can pick them off... we have NEVER, in their 3+ years, have ever had any trouble with fleas and CERTAINLY not ticks, so ughhh please help...

**Spiritwind** · 05-07-2008, 10:04 PM

Have you talked to your vet to see if they have any suggestions???

Honestly I don't know what to suggest. I, personally don't think Frontline works well for Ticks (atleast not in my experience).... and luckily I've never had huge tick problems like you are dealing with.

The last vet clinic I worked out, we used a shampoo called Ectokyl http://www.healthypets.com/ectokylca8oz.html.
I guess its the best flea/tick shampoo I've seen... but I HATED using this shampoo because it really bothered my skin..... anytime I used it on dogs at work my arms always broke out in really red rashes...

You could try this.. your vet might sell it....

Janna

**caseysmom** · 05-10-2008, 03:25 PM

Get some Ovitrol spray and spray it all over, also ask if the lyme disease vaccination could help prevent an infection at this point. We go camping so I get the lyme disease vaccine for mine and use the spray before and after our trips.

**MonicanHonda** · 05-18-2008, 08:42 PM

I would say Frontline Plus. My vet here sells them individually if you don't want to get all three or six months, you could try that. But just to make sure, I would give them two months to get rid of the ticks since people are saying it doesn't work that well. I would definitely try calling the vet and asking what flea and tick shampoo they would reccomend. Definitely not Heartz product, that did absolutely nothing for Honda. Other than that, I don't really know what to tell you. Although I did read an e-mail about using a cotton ball and liquid dish soap and it sucks the creatures from right out under the skin. That is just if you need help getting them off. I don't know if it really works, but a couple people said it did.