My Dog Keeps Getting Ticks

[Charlotte1486]

Hi, our dog keeps getting ticks at least 1 a week for the last couple of weeks. We front line him so they do fall off but he keeps getting them, why might this be? We take our nextdoor neighbours dog out as well and he never seems to get them. They both run all over the place, nextdoors dog probably does more than Max so they are both running around in long grass wooded areas wherever. Are some dogs more prone to them than other dogs? And is there anything we can give him to stop him getting them latching on? I really dont like them. Are there a lot of them this year? Any info/advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

[sallybb]

agree nasty little devils . Very lucky where we are, as Tash doesnt seem to pick them up. But always use frontline when away in lake district, Wales etc where she seems to pick them up. Unfortunately Frontline is not a deterrant, the ticks latch on , the frontline is ingested, then they die, before they have chance to engorge with blood. Have not heard of a solution to stop the little critters, sadly.

[coccinelle]

Ticks are dangerous for dogs (not for cats). In my chemist's (in France) you can get a kind of lotion or powder to rub into the dog hair to prevent them. There are also herbal tablets they can take.

[carmalee]

used to live in Africa and we dipped the dogs, horses, cattle etc on a regular basis - weekly if I remember correctly - thorough submerging or soaking - there's nothing that I'm aware of other than dipping which keeps ticks off - we used to feed huge amounts of garlick to all the animals with no bad side effects but I see that because it's of the onion family it's one of the no no's now. Funny though, in 25 years never upset any of our animals - guess that's progress!

[barb1314]

Apparently there is a big tick population this year in some areas..not sure why. We live in a relatively tick-free area but Lottie has had 2 when we've been away to Yorkshire. We use Frontline Combo Bi Monthly during the summer. Some of my friends in different parts of the country use Billy No Mates which is a natural remedy to repel ticks (and fleas too I think) and they swear by it

http://www.myitchydog...ent-for-dogs-75-p.asp

[ttfn]

Charlotte - ticks are especially prevalent in ferns - we have removed ferns from the garden to help reduce the population. I am afraid if you let the dogs run free it is the price to pay. Just check the dogs' coats carefully each time they have been out.

[bubba28]

Try Advantix instead of frontline as it repels ticks aswell.

[calicosrcool]

Yes, there does seem to be more this year, as my dad found 10 of them on himself, and I found a few on myself, also. This is particularly alarming, as we've never found any around. Sorry, I don't know the other answers, but here's some advice- If the dog has a lot of fur, shave it some. Also regularly check the dog for ticks. You should also try to keep them in areas that don't have long grass or many trees, as the ticks hide in those spots. (I know dogs don't climb trees but ticks drop off from them) Hope this helps!

[woofgang]

scalibor collar...I live in the New Forest, tick capital of the UK and my dogs haven't had a single one while using the collars.

[simba101]

we use herbal flea collars on our dogs. They used to do a geranium one too.

[jomifl]

I used to live in the New Forest and ticks are a huge problem there as about 2-5% carry Lime Disease which I and my wife have both caught from ticks in the garden. Ticks are most active in warm wet weather, they climb up grass flower stems amongst other things and then transfer themselves to their victims as they brush past.
So..Avoid areas with long grass and vegetation.
Don't let dogs loose during warm damp weather.
Take Woofgang's advice.
The tiny larvae are the most dangerous as they are difficult to see. I have been bitten dozens of times by ticks and they produce a characteristic itch
that I have never had from any other insect bite.