Have some tick questions...

[chiwolvesfan]

OK, so I'm feeling like a really horrible dog mom right now. I really thought I was making the right decision by not putting tick/flea meds on my Newf (Exelby) & Newf-mix (Snyder). I really don't like the idea of all the chemicals going on their skin and into their bloodstreams. We haven't used any type of flea/tick preventative for the past two years with absolutely no problems. We would go to the dog park, forest preserves, etc. with only 1 tick found during that time, and it never even made it to our dog's skin.

This past Monday we went to a different dog park than our usual. On Tuesday we found a tick on the back of Exelby. It had attached, but it came off fairly easily (using the crowbar type device called a Tick Twister that others have mentioned on NN). Following this find, we did a thorough search of both dogs and didn't find anything. The hubby & I have been brushing them daily, petting and actively searching to see if any more "buggers" were on either dog.

Then on Friday, I came back in from being outside, and I see a completely engorged tick laying on the floor by Snyder. I guess it could have been from Exelby but it was right next to Snyder on the floor. Since I was running out the door with some friends, I couldn't do a thorough check again until later on Friday night. I found another on his leg (that I have run my hands up and down numerous times) -- it was attached and appears to have just started swelling. Continued searching, and found one on his neck buried in all the undercoat that is still blowing out. This one also had attached, and was inbetween (size-wise) the other two.

So my questions...

1. We chose not to get the Lyme vaccine this year (I'm kinda anti-vaccine, I only get the bare minimum). What are their chances of getting Lyme disease? I know there is a waiting period before we can test. How long do we have to wait? What symptoms should we be looking for?

2. How long does it take for a tick to get engorged? I'm trying to figure out if these ticks are from my own yard or from the dog park.

3. If these ticks are coming from my own yard, is there a product that we can put down on the grass to get rid of them? Are they typically found in the grass or could they possibly be in the cut firewood pile?

4. After removing each tick, I wiped down the area with alcohol. Anything else I should have done?

5. Is there a way to be sure that the head is still attached to the tick when they are so swollen?

6. We are planning to give both dogs a bath on Saturday. Should I go ahead and put the flea/tick meds on them following?

I am so sorry for the long post but I thank you in advance for your help! This is always the first place I turn to for advice and information!!!

Cathy

 

[Capri]

1. We chose not to get the Lyme vaccine this year (I'm kinda anti-vaccine, I only get the bare minimum). What are their chances of getting Lyme disease? I know there is a waiting period before we can test. How long do we have to wait? What symptoms should we be looking for?
-I'm not an expert on Lyme's. You should Google it, and look how prominent it is your region (or ask your vet). You should also note that Lyme's isn't the only dangerous disease carried by the ticks. Our dog got piroplasmosis on spring, our friend's dog got anaplasmosis. Both VERY serious diseases, though luckily treatable (though the latter caused all kinds of other health issues to come up)

2. How long does it take for a tick to get engorged? I'm trying to figure out if these ticks are from my own yard or from the dog park.
-It depends again, usually a day or two, though it can be up to a week. It depends on "how hungry the tick is", how close to a vein it was attached (i.e. how fast it filled up), when did it actually attach (sometimes they just walk on the coat for a pretty long time before attaching) etc.

3. If these ticks are coming from my own yard, is there a product that we can put down on the grass to get rid of them? Are they typically found in the grass or could they possibly be in the cut firewood pile?
-Not that I know of. There is a product called Frontline Spray, but it's more for the dogs or furniture (dog beds etc.) rather than outside spraying. The tick prefer moist, tall grass, a little shady, but still quite "temperate" atmosphere.

4. After removing each tick, I wiped down the area with alcohol. Anything else I should have done?
-No, that's good. Either burn the ticks (make sure they 'explode') or put in a jar with alcohol) Just monitor the skin for the next few days - week to make sure a red ring doesn't form on the skin (that means, at least in people, that you've most likely got Lyme's)

5. Is there a way to be sure that the head is still attached to the tick when they are so swollen?
-You just have to look at the piece that you managed to get off, there should be a head still attached. If not, then you can't really do anything about it anymore, just clean the are well and hope it doesn't get infected.

6. We are planning to give both dogs a bath on Saturday. Should I go ahead and put the flea/tick meds on them following?
-Put the flea/tick medicine Sunday or Monday. The medicine doesn't actually get IN your dog, but spreads on the skin's oily surface. So wait a few days to get the skin's natural oiliness back, and then put the medicine. There's no reason to put it on Saturday or before Sat, as you'll "dilute" it when you wash the dog. (So, no swimming for a few days after you've put the product on either)

 

[Garden_girl]

There is nothing more satisfying to me than "popping" an engorged tick I find on my dog. I am pathetic, lol!

Don't feel bad about it, up until now, you've never seen a tick on your dogs, there was no reason for you to do anything about it!

A friend of mine has a very popular boarding kennel here in WI. I was just talking with her this week about Lyme and Anaplasmosis/Erlichia. She is boarding about 3 dogs per week with Lyme, and almost weekly, she will get a dog with Erlichia, so far this year. For me, Anaplasmosis/Erlichia is even scarier than Lyme disease.

I don't think anyone that vaccinates is "pro-vaccination", it just depends on whether the benefits outweigh the risks. I actually pay for double office visits when my dogs need their vaccinations. I can spread them out over a period of weeks, so I don't have to give them all their vacs at the same time.

You can see the head when you remove the tick. Here is a pic of what it looks like. I admit, it takes some experience to see the head, it's so tiny!

Engorged ticks

There are tons of tick maps all over the internet, here is a tick map for IL, from Jan 2009. Scroll to the bottom.

http://www.idph.state.il.us/health/infect/LymeDiseaseHlthProviderInfo.pdf

I don't spray my yard, but I Frontline and vaccinate.

 

[twright1231]

I’m a bit leery about vaccines too, but our boys both have received the Lyme vaccine. Our vet explained that there isn’t a titer for Lyme yet. My sister has advanced Lyme disease, contracted over ten years ago, and she has had some very scary episodes. And I’ve read not-so-pleasant stories about dogs with Lyme, so I think we’ll stay with that vac for now. Bettina is right though; there are many diseases ticks carry other than Lyme.
I’ve been researching food grade diatomaceous earth to sprinkle in the yard. Here’s a good site that explains how it works. http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/defaq.html . I don’t think Lyme is prevalent in our area, but I haven’t done research on that. Our spring has been so mild, maybe these buggers got an early start.
We have many trees and plantings in our yard, so lots of places for ticks to hide. The thought of having to remove a tick makes me squirm. I think I am going to make a practice of using the high velocity blower on the boys after the dog park. Hopefully we can catch any uninvited guests before they begin feeding.
Good luck Cathy, and you are a great mom. J

 

[twright1231]

Good info Garden Girl. Thanks.

 

[ardeagold]

4. After removing each tick, I wiped down the area with alcohol. Anything else I should have done?
-No, that's good. Either burn the ticks (make sure they 'explode') or put in a jar with alcohol) Just monitor the skin for the next few days - week to make sure a red ring doesn't form on the skin (that means, at least in people, that you've most likely got Lyme's)

Dogs don't get the red bullseye ring indicating Lyme. A lot of people don't either.

Also, if you have deer ticks in your area, your chances of finding one on a Newf are slim to none. The only way I can find one on myself is when it bites, because it stings and burns. They're smaller than the period at the end of this sentence.

If you're in a high tick borne illness area, I'd use Frontline or something of the sort.

If you're in a moderate area, you might be able to get away with just a Preventic collar (remove when he's back in the house and place in a baggie to put back on when he goes out).

http://www.virbacvet.com/preventic/product/preventic_collar_for_dogs/

If you're in a really bad tick area, you can use Frontline and the Preventic collar together. That's what hunters do and people with "field" dogs. They still take the collar off when the dog gets in the house.

Oh...and it can take up to SIX months after being bitten for dogs to show any symptoms of tick borne illness. So from a tick bite gotten today, a dog could start showing symptoms next November.

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

http://www.naturesfarmacy.com/store/details.php?prodId=102&category=24

I use the Flea Free oil and I have very good luck with it! I dilute it in a spray bottle and spray it on the dogs and I also put a teaspoon of it in their shampoo. The oil is very light and not greasy at all and makes the coat smooth an shiny.

The Lyme vaccine is not effective on all types of the Lyme diseases and it does have side effects.

 

[Bojie]

http://www.naturesfarmacy.com/store/details.php?prodId=102&category=24

I use the Flea Free oil and I have very good luck with it! I dilute it in a spray bottle and spray it on the dogs and I also put a teaspoon of it in their shampoo. The oil is very light and not greasy at all and makes the coat smooth an shiny.

The Lyme vaccine is not effective on all types of the Lyme diseases and it does have side effects.

THanks for that link! I'll use this prior to going on our hikes too!

 

[Windancer]

Please be aware that any of the 'tick' 'flea' products will not prevent the tick from biting....they will simply die after a bite....so can still spread disease.

 

[ardeagold]

Yep...and the most highly recommended product I've heard about for "prevention" from getting that bite, is the Preventic collar.