Ticks

[MC Sullivan]

I'm looking for ideas. Our Monty keeps getting ticks on his muzzle. We treated him with K9 Advantix but it does not seem to keep the ticks off his face. Obviously I am concerned about anything poisonous around his mouth but am looking for suggestions. I was thinking of maybe rinsing or wiping the area with Apple Cider Vinegar to help repel them.

Any suggestions?

What is funny is the girls don't have this problem.

 

[chumleysma]

After spending $500 to get diagnosed and treated for Lyme, I swore this dog would not get it again. This would be the third time. I no longer let him run free in the field behind our house. He has free reign of the house and a doggie door that leads to a small, manicured, fenced in lawn. Daily walks are on sidewalks or cinder paths. I won't let him walk through unkept grassy areas or push his nose through these. If he does go through tall grass, I check for ticks right away before they have the chance to bite. Of course, it's really easy to do since my dog is all white. Lastly, we too use advantix which is the last line of defense.
I suppose this seems harsh and I'm not letting my dog be a dog, but he fell very ill from Lyme this time. He just got sicker and sicker as we searched for the cause...thus the $500. I don't intend to go through that again.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

I've found nothing that stops them completely but what I will say is landlord at the shop put down DE and ticks were crawling away from the property. I bought a bag with hopes.

 

[jane]

Diatomaceous Earth!!! I have been spreading it around the perimeter of my yard since spring, when I found a couple of ticks on Merlin. Never found another tick all summer. I am also very careful with my dogs in the tick seasons. I do not let them in the woods or anywhere else. After freeze time, they have more freedom. You can also brush it through their coat. It is great for a lot of pests. Always get the food grade.

 

[Puppypeoplenj]

Be careful with DE!! Be sure it's food grade, because the "regular" kind is very dangerous.

 

[MC Sullivan]

Thanks. I'll try the DE, luckily I already have food grade in the house because I use it in my chicken coop. I put it in the chickens' food and sprinkle it around their coop and inside run. I also was thinking about using a citronella mist dog spray. Has anyone used anything like that?

Keeping out of the woods is not an option since I live in them. There is not a sidewalk in sight around here either. I talked with my vet and am going to get him the Lyme vaccine even though the efficacy is so so. She said its a matter of not IF but WHEN he will be exposed.

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" and all that jazz.

Does any one put DE in their dog food?

 

[Whybu1]

DE works on most crawling pests. DE is really the skeletons of tiny marine animals and composed of silica. It works because is has microscopic sharp edges that get in the joints of the pests exoskeletons and basically rips them apart and they bleed to death.

 

[charlieinnj]

Please do not get the Lyme vaccine for your dog. It's just not necessary....and can be dangerous.
The vaccine is not 100% protective...it protects for only a short time, probably less than a year. Nor does it protect from the other tick-born diseases that are just as serious, if not more-so. Trust me....My male has had Lyme twice, Ehrlichia twice and Anaplasmosis, once.
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/lyme-disease-and-lyme-vaccine-disease/

 

[MC Sullivan]

This is why I go back and forth about getting the Lyme Vaccine. I had stopped getting it for my girls but they don't seem to stick their nose into everything and pick them up like Monty. I do believe we over vaccinate our animals but am concerned because Monty seems to get quite a reaction to any tick bite.

I was thinking about making an herbal spray that I could wipe on his muzzle before and after he goes outside. I was wondering if anyone had created or used a product like that?

I have tea tree, lavender, and peppermint essential oils. Also was thinking about maybe something with rosemary in it. Just trying to think outside the box.

 

[charlieinnj]

Penny,
I haven't used it but a friend of mine makes a spray from essential oils.

The recipe:
In a 16 oz spray bottle fill with 1/2 water and 1/2 white vinegar.
Add one half teaspoon each of the following:
spearmint oil
peppermint oil
lavender oil
citronella oil
lemongrass oil
Directions: Shake well and frequently while applying. Use as needed.
How I use it. Each time I take the dogs for a walk (every couple hours) I reapplied the spray. Make sure to get every part of their body. Feet, tail, belly, legs and for their faces, I sprayed it into my hands and rubbed it on their faces.

 

[Murphy]

This is why I go back and forth about getting the Lyme Vaccine. I had stopped getting it for my girls but they don't seem to stick their nose into everything and pick them up like Monty. I do believe we over vaccinate our animals but am concerned because Monty seems to get quite a reaction to any tick bite.

I was thinking about making an herbal spray that I could wipe on his muzzle before and after he goes outside. I was wondering if anyone had created or used a product like that?

I have tea tree, lavender, and peppermint essential oils. Also was thinking about maybe something with rosemary in it. Just trying to think outside the box.

I know how much he loves having his face wiped... NOT... :run: you must be having a field day.. kiss his sweet soft darling face anyway for me.. :heart:

 

[chumleysma]

Please do not get the Lyme vaccine for your dog. It's just not necessary....and can be dangerous.
The vaccine is not 100% protective...it protects for only a short time, probably less than a year. Nor does it protect from the other tick-born diseases that are just as serious, if not more-so. Trust me....My male has had Lyme twice, Ehrlichia twice and Anaplasmosis, once.
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/lyme-disease-and-lyme-vaccine-disease/

I agree.
Also, my vet gave me 3 refills of doxycycline on my insistence. Should I find another deer tick on him, I plan to give him 3-4 days of prophylactic treatment.

 

[MC Sullivan]

Just what I was looking for! Thank you so much!

 

[MC Sullivan]

@ Jen - Monty is doing really well. I've learned to come at him with a towel and wipe his neck first (like a massage) and then work up to his face. He loves the "massage" and then lets me gently wipe his face, check his ears, and kiss his nose. He is such a good boy, I can't hug him enough! Plus he is learning that when "inspections" are over he gets one of his treats. He really loves those Monty snacks...blows drool bubbles and everything waiting for them.

 

[Murphy]

@ Jen - Monty is doing really well. I've learned to come at him with a towel and wipe his neck first (like a massage) and then work up to his face. He loves the "massage" and then lets me gently wipe his face, check his ears, and kiss his nose. He is such a good boy, I can't hug him enough! Plus he is learning that when "inspections" are over he gets one of his treats. He really loves those Monty snacks...blows drool bubbles and everything waiting for them.

:heart::heart::heart::heart::heart:

 

[plafleursr]

I'm looking for ideas. Our Monty keeps getting ticks on his muzzle. We treated him with K9 Advantix but it does not seem to keep the ticks off his face. Obviously I am concerned about anything poisonous around his mouth but am looking for suggestions. I was thinking of maybe rinsing or wiping the area with Apple Cider Vinegar to help repel them.

Any suggestions?

What is funny is the girls don't have this problem.

If you are using Advantix, it only kills ticks. Advantix II repells and kills.

I just had a puppy come down with Rocky Mountian Spotted fever from tick bite. He was on Revolution and we are on Mass CT border.