Ticks

[jessechp]

I have one golden retriever and 3 local dogs. They are having ticks. Is there anyone can help me with their problems. I have been bathing them with ticks shampoo every two days and sprayed anti-ticks but it doesn't work. I am worried especially my golden as he is staying in our house and i do see ticks crawling on the floor. I pitied him for the itch. He keeps scratching. Please help me

[foxi7778]

please take your dogs to the vet to have the ticks removed if you don't know how to do this yourself. If your dogs have an excessive amount of ticks your dogs may become slightly anaemic due to the blood loss, which will leave them feeling lethargic and generally unwell

[Annie]

I feed my dog a garlic clove crushed in her food once a week and she has had a lot less ticks since....I also have very good pincers made of a tough plastc that allow you to easiely and safely remove the ticks. Perhaps you can look on the internet or ask at the vets? You need to push down on the end to open the pincers, put them around the tick near the skin of the dog, and then, when you stop pushing down the pincers stay shut, and you can easiely 'spin' or rotate the tick off...
Ticks are normally found in grass, so when there are a lot of ticks around we walk mostly in the forest.
Watch out for a small infection after you have removed the tick. I put on some diluted tee-tree oil.
good luck,
Annie

[jessechp]

Thanks for those advice Foxi and Annie. I do agree with you Annie that my doggy would continue to scratch on that area after the tick has been removed. I will try with the tea tree oil. Well, my doggy don't have too many ticks that make them sick or getting tick fever. But I am not comfortable with it even they have 1 tick coz it will multiply very fast. We are living in tropical country. Recently the weather is pretty hot. That's why they are getting ticks. I think ticks do have season especially during hot season. Do you agree with me?

I've just bought another tick shampoo from the pet shop last night. The instruction said I must bath them with the tick shampoo and let the shampoo soak for few minutes before rinsing. Hmm... I'll try that. I hope my doggies will not lick while I bath them coz the shampoo is poisonous

[cadiar]

Can you not get Frontline from your Vet, Chemist or Petshop? ( In Spain you can get it from any of these) you put it on the nape of the neck once a month and it stops fleas and ticks, ticks just die as soon as they attach themselves to the dog, I have no trouble whatsoever as a result.
Good Luck!

[Annie]

I also used Frontline and it works really good, but I stopped using it when I had a baby as it is quite poisonous for young children....
Don´t forget that Tee tree oil is very strong and you only need a tiny ammount diluted in water. I put some mix in a spray bottle and can give my dog a squirt when she has an infection.
Annie

[jasminasul]

Hi, I`m confused, is the tea tree oil for the tick bites or for repelling the ticks? I use Advantix or Frontline but it is expensive because I have six dogs, and in Costa Rica there is a deadly disease called Ehrlichiosis that is transmitted by ticks, so it would be great if I could use something less toxic and cheaper.

[foxi7778]

Garlic is to repel the ticks....dilute tea tree is to treat any inflamed areas the ticks have bitten.

[Annie]

Thanks Foxi7778
saved me a sentence!
Ticks also don´t like 'clean' skin so you could try regular sampoos...but I don´t. If your dog gets loose stools it could be the garlic, but if not...then give lots as it works for me...what do you do with the removed tick? you need to burn them etc etc. Ticks do not ' multiply' but when is a nice hot dry day, there will be a lot more.
Annie

[puppylove]

Just in case this person is still looking for a tick repellent I have a good one that I use.

This herbal spray is based on herbalist knowledge, and it is a great find as a healthy alternative to synthetic pesticides because it really works well as a repellent. The spray calls for one ingredient, besides water.

This spray is good to use on pet bedding too.

You will need:

* 2 teaspoons Essential Oil of Rose Geranium or Palmerosa
* 2 cups water
* 1 spray bottle

1. Combine ingredients in the spray bottle and shake well to blend.

2. Spray on dogs and the areas where they sleep.

And here is some more information on using Rose Geranium and palmerosa oils on your skin and on pet collars:

Rose Geranium- by putting a few drops—no more!— on our dogs’ Collars.
The second best Essential Oil for repelling ticks is American Pennyroyal (also called tickweed).

* 2 tablespoons vegetable or nut oil (Almond Oil contains sulfur, a repellent in its own right)
* 10 to 25 drops Rose Geranium essential oil

Combine the ingredients in a glass jar; shake to blend.

Makes: 2 tablespoons
Shelf Life: 6 months

Dab a few drops on your skin or clothing, making sure to avoid eyes.

Palmerosa is a sister essential oil to Rose Geranium, and also repels ticks. It is cheaper, and sometimes easier to find than Rose Geranium.

Caution - Skip the Pennyroyal if there is anyone pregnant (including pets) in the home, as it can induce miscarriage. And as always, use Essential Oils with caution as they can burn the skin and harm eyes, and always use an oil base when applying any essential oil to the skin. Don’t use these Essential Oils around cats.