So...ticks

BostonBanker

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#1
I have been able to be mostly blissfully unaware of flea and tick products for the extent of my dog ownership. Until last summer, I had never once found a deer tick on my dogs (and only 3 times ever found the big wood ticks on them), and we've never had an issue with fleas. All of a sudden last summer, the dogs and I both were coming home with a few deer ticks here and there. Mostly I got them off the dogs pre-attachment, a few were attached but didn't seem engorged...but obviously I missed one at some point, because Gusto is positive for Lyme now. Completely asymptomatic, as far as I can tell. It was just found at his spring exam.

While I wait on the results of the second test, I'm trying to formulate a game plan for this summer. The vet said that around here, Frontline is basically useless, Advantix still seems to work fairly well, and mostly she suggested the Serestro collar. I actually liked the idea of the collar until I found out they have to wear it all the time. Among other things, the dogs MUST have collars off for agility, and I can't tell from the pictures of they would be an easy on/off collar. I also can't wrap my head around Gusto sleeping under my covers with me wearing it. Also my big issue with the Advantix sort of treatments. That oily residue grosses me out, and I really don't want to be snuggling with it. And my dogs snuggle constantly.

I have friends who swear by a locally made spray, which might be an option, but even after Gusto plays with her dogs when they have it on, he requires multiple baths to get it out of his hair. It is super oily and smells and ugh. I know there is at least one brand of horse fly repellent that also works on ticks and is labeled for use on dogs as well. I suspect I will have the same issue with that.

Looking at some old threads, a few people mentioned chews; I know the tech today briefly mentioned Bravecto. I think Nexgard is the one I saw mentioned here. Has anyone had success with those?

So...brilliant thoughts? I know some other regions have been dealing with tick issues a lot longer than we have, so I'm hoping someone can shed some light on what has and hasn't worked for them.
 

FG167

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#2
We used Bug Off Garlic last year and were pretty happy with how it worked. I started at the minimum dosage and I think Kastle was the only one I had to increase to moderate dosage to make sure he didn't pick any up.
 

Southpaw

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#3
I just use diluted apple cider vinegar, but if that were to stop working for me I'd probably use Nexgard. It's done well in studies and people who use it seem happy with it.
 

*blackrose

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#4
Nexgard! Nexgardnexgardnexgard. LOL I use that for my dogs during the months when we're actively hiking and I love it.

The Seresto collar also works well. I'm sure you could take it off of them if you wanted to, it would just take that initial "start up" time to start working again when you put it back on them, I believe. And regardless, after 8 months (even of inconsistent wear) I'd pitch it and buy a new one. They're fairly easy to take on and off and they don't have an odor/leave a residue like you would like a "flea collar" would have.

But, for your situation, I'd personally use Nexgard.
 

meepitsmeagan

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#5
I just use diluted apple cider vinegar, but if that were to stop working for me I'd probably use Nexgard. It's done well in studies and people who use it seem happy with it.
Do you add it to their food or spray it on?

Last year we did nothing. I just searched when we would get home from going places. I'd really like to try the garlic, though, since we will be hiking and biking a ton this summer.

I've heard a lot of good things about certain essential oils as well, but have no experience with it.
 

Elrohwen

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#6
We have deer ticks up the ying yang and I love Vecta 3D. Works really well for us. We did a tick collar for a while and it was awful. He got lyme (symptomatic) and we found dozens of half dead ticks on our bedroom floor while he was on the collar plus Revolution. I taped the collar under a snap on collar so it could get it off, but I hated touching it. It wasn't Seresto but the name escapes me right now. Vectra repels them well and after about 24 hours there is zero greasy residue.
 

crazedACD

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#7
We use Nexguard on our 100 kenneled Labradors. No fleas, no ticks, no side effects. It is approved to kill deer ticks, on some f+t products you need to read the fine print as a lot of them don't kill deer ticks.
 

Southpaw

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#8
Do you add it to their food or spray it on?

Last year we did nothing. I just searched when we would get home from going places. I'd really like to try the garlic, though, since we will be hiking and biking a ton this summer.

I've heard a lot of good things about certain essential oils as well, but have no experience with it.
I spray it on :) It's great for in-between baths too lol, neutralizes odor and makes them soft and shiny!
I do add essential oils as well but mostly just for a better smell, I don't think I've really done any specific insect repelling ones. I think last year it was just orange essential oil that I added. I also have peppermint and lavender which I believe are both supposed to repel insects so maybe I'll try those at some point.

I still check them over when we get home from places but yeah... have yet to find a tick. And they pretty much live in the woods/tall grass from now through the fall. =P
 

noludoru

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#9
Rose geranium oil. I've never found a tick on either of us when we use it.

You CANNOT put it on bare skin or fur. I put a drop each on my shoes, a dot on the knee of my pants, and the elbow of my long sleeved shirt. I put 2-3 drops on a crappy collar and put it on the dog.
 

JacksonsMom

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I am getting Nexgard this year. I HATE the oily residue Advantix and Frontline leaves behind on his hair and it's nearly impossible to keep him out of the pool for the 48 hours (or is it only 24?) you need to keep them dry. So I was really excited to see Nexguard on the market in chewable form. I've heard all positive things. I was actually going to swing by the vets tomorrow and buy some unless I could find it cheaper online....
 
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#11
I use the Seresto on Hudson. You can take it off, but I wouldn't call it to take off. I just put his 2015 one on him, but I want to try NexGuard next year.
 
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#12
Is nexgard more expensive than frontline?

I would really love to switch to a pill/chewable form.

I use frontline currently, Chloe had an allergic reaction to advantix so I will have to check and make sure how the vet thinks she will do on nexgard. Or maybe it's something I could just look at the ingredients between the three?

I am also planning on picking up some apple cider vinegar and spray bottle to use diluted for when we go to woodsy/tall grassy areas. I like the idea of putting essential oils in it as well!

Some people say ACV leaves dogs sticky and others say it's smooth.. I'm confused, which is it?
 

JacksonsMom

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#13
Is nexgard more expensive than frontline?

I would really love to switch to a pill/chewable form.

I use frontline currently, Chloe had an allergic reaction to advantix so I will have to check and make sure how the vet thinks she will do on nexgard. Or maybe it's something I could just look at the ingredients between the three?

I am also planning on picking up some apple cider vinegar and spray bottle to use diluted for when we go to woodsy/tall grassy areas. I like the idea of putting essential oils in it as well!

Some people say ACV leaves dogs sticky and others say it's smooth.. I'm confused, which is it?
Yeah Nexgard is a bit more expensive. But it's from the makers of Frontline so I'd imagine it would be similar.
 

Southpaw

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#14
Is nexgard more expensive than frontline?

I would really love to switch to a pill/chewable form.

I use frontline currently, Chloe had an allergic reaction to advantix so I will have to check and make sure how the vet thinks she will do on nexgard. Or maybe it's something I could just look at the ingredients between the three?

I am also planning on picking up some apple cider vinegar and spray bottle to use diluted for when we go to woodsy/tall grassy areas. I like the idea of putting essential oils in it as well!

Some people say ACV leaves dogs sticky and others say it's smooth.. I'm confused, which is it?
It's more expensive than Frontline, but not terribly more. I think we sell it for like $20 per pill where Frontline is maybe $17 per tube.

The ACV doesn't leave my guys sticky at all. In the winter I spray it on them between baths just to freshen them up a bit, and they feel pretty similar to how they would after a bath. :)
 

Elrohwen

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#15
I've been doing some research on NextGard and from what I've read it doesn't repell ticks, just kills them. True or not?

The last time I used something that killed instead of repelled I found dozens of dying ticks on my bedroom floor, which I'd like to avoid for obvious reasons.
 

Southpaw

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#16
It does not repel, correct. Frontline also doesn't repel. With Nexgard the ticks actually have to bite and take a blood meal in order to die (Frontline, they don't actually have to bite).
 
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#17
It does not repel, correct. Frontline also doesn't repel. With Nexgard the ticks actually have to bite and take a blood meal in order to die (Frontline, they don't actually have to bite).
So, doesn't this defeat the purpose of getting a flea/tick product? Doesn't it just take a bite to get a disease?
 

Southpaw

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So, doesn't this defeat the purpose of getting a flea/tick product? Doesn't it just take a bite to get a disease?
It takes like 48-72 hours for an attached tick to transmit any disease, so these products SHOULD be killing them before that point, but it is something we mention to the people considering switching from Frontline - because, understandably, not everyone likes the biting part :p
 
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#20
I also enjoy NexGard. Always had good luck with Frontline, too but the dogs hated the trickly feeling and I had a hard time finding a good time to apply it between swimming and baths in the summer.
 

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