What wormers does everyone use? And how often?

Als,o now we have moved to the country, we are having trouble with ticks. What do people recommend please?

How often will depend very much on where dogs are exercised.  I once left my 3 Collies a year, and then sent faecal samples to Langford.  No worms were found. 

Basically, your vet will say to worm once a month, and that would be overkill for my dogs.  You have to make an informed decision on your own dogs.  Drontal is an excellent wormer, which your vet can supply.  Or buy much cheaper online.  Over the counter wormers at little pet shops are not a sensible buy, and can be just wasting your money. 

With ticks, I won't use spot ons, as it is just feeding chemicals that are just not needed, although, again, your vet will likely say once a month.  I keep the Frontline spray in, in case it's needed.  But haven't needed it for years!  If you find a tick, blast it with the spray, leave it to die, and remove very safely with the little green plastic hooks that most pet shops and vets sell.  Can't remember exactly, called something like Tom O Tick.  (I think!)

Hi,I use Drontal on my guy and frontline every 4 months......he 45kgs...

I tend to change my wormer as I've often wondered if worms don't get immune if you use the same brand all the time, as to the frequency, about twice a year or if they have caught and eaten a wild rabbit, and use Frontline spray on any ticks I find, I don't spray the whole dog as I try to keep chemicals to a minimum.

I keep the Frontline spray in, in case it's needed.  But haven't needed it for years!  If you find a tick, blast it with the spray, leave it to die, and remove very safely with the little green plastic hooks that most pet shops and vets sell. 

I just use the tom o hook to remove, no need for the frontline.

>I don't spray the whole dog as I try to keep chemicals to a minimum.

Totally agree.

When we lived in the city we Frontlined for fleas (never saw a tick even though we were always taking them out to forests etc?) and wormed twice a year.
Our dogs are now different and the area is different too. I dont like using chemicals at all to be honest (dont use any in the garden and minimum in the house) but accept they are a necessary evil.
We live in an area now where there are many deer, also sheep, so we cant get away from the ticks!
The dogs haven't had fleas in the 3 years we've lived here but we have wooden floors, no carpets in sight.
I am able to remove the ticks from the 2 girls but my male is a neo, and his skin is loose and I find it really difficult to remove them with the special comb. It is a tad easier if I have put Frontline on the tick first.
And yes, our new vet, recommended Prac-tic which you have to apply once a month but I dont want to go down that road.
So, I think I will use Drontal every 6 months and carry on as I am with the ticks.
Thank you :)

Jean sw I am totally in agreement with what you do, and dont like spot ons. have heard of a few dogs developing lumps around the site. As fcr are in particular are prone to lumps I dont want to risk anything

> Jean sw I am totally in agreement with what you do, and dont like spot ons. have heard of a few dogs developing lumps around the site. As fcr are in particular are prone to lumps I dont want to risk anything

Thanks FF i wasn't aware of that one - although i dont use spot on anyway.

> and then sent faecal samples to Langford.  No worms were found

Feel a bit daft asking this but does this show up lungworm too ?

It is only a few one of which was an fcr but I just dont want to take chances. What do you use ?

>Feel a bit daft asking this but does this show up lungworm too ?

It's not something I asked about to be honest.  Although they ran tests for campylobacter and giardia on the same samples.

> I find it really difficult to remove them with the special comb.

Are you saying that you actually comb them out? 

You should be "unscrewing" them, not dragging them out.

>I just use the tom o hook to remove, no need for the frontline.

My vet told me off for removing them live!!!!!!!!!

>My vet told me off for removing them live!!!!!!!!

I can't understand why your vet would have told you off for removing them live!!!!!  I just put the live ones in bleach and wash them down the drain once dead.  Much better to remove them ASAP (alive) and make sure you get the whole tick out than to treat them and wait until they've died and potentially leaving the head behind which can cause a nasty infection.

Always unscrew ANTI-clockwise.  If you unscrew clockwise then you have more chance of leaving the head in.  I personally use a clamp-like contraption rather than the hooks.  I find the hooks useless on tiny ticks that have bitten but not fed.

>I can't understand why your vet would have told you off for removing them live!!!!!

He told me that there was a higher risk of infection.

Yes, I know it's anti clockwise

>Yes, I know it's anti clockwise

I was pointing this out for other posters. 

Iv only used it a few times, but already knowing one had to twist them out couldn't quite work out how its done with a comb. I will invest in one of the hook ones methinks.