When I last visited the vet I asked about an effective flea and tick prevention treatment as from April we visit our caravan regularly in a tick prone area (Exmoor). She suggested I try Advantix. So she gave me a prescription for a year's supply for one of my dogs as I intended to go online to purchase (she knew I'd be using for all 3 dogs).

I gave them one treatment a few weeks' ago, and a second treatment a couple of days ago after seeing a flea crawl out of the youngest (18 months). The next morning, I noticed the dogs were itching a lot trying to reach the areas which the spot on had been applied. This morning was the same, and after our walk, I've bathed the youngest dog as she's got a show on Sunday.

Is it worth bathing the other two, and what would be an effective way to get the stuff off them? I know the active ingredient will by now have been absorbed into their skin.

Am feeling pretty sad that I've caused this by putting chemicals onto them! Needless to say I won't be using this stuff again!

Does anyone know of an effective tick repellent? I've heard of scallibor collars, does anyone here use them and are they effective? Just not using anything is not an option, last year I had to check the dogs over every time we went out whilst visiting the caravan. Sometimes I would remove several ticks from each dog which were crawling about in the fur!

We had this once after using a spot on and bathing made no difference. I think we ended up getting anti-histamine or something from the vet to stop him scratching.

I've not used a Scalibor collar or Advantix because they are both dangerous for cats. We always use Frontline now and a tick remover!

Hi, I live on Exmoor and as you rightly say, ticks are a problem here! I used Advantix a few years ago on my then old goldie boy- he reacted to it badly. His skin went red over his whole body and he scratched furiously, this started late at night so I gave him a couple of Piriton which did calm it.

The next day, I consulted my vet who said to carry on with the Piriton for a few days. He was fine and I have never used it again on any of my dogs. To be honest, all I do now is brush them after we come off the moor and any I miss, remove as quickly as I can.
If we have the car with us, I do the brushing at the car. Years ago I used to walk a lot in Thetford Forest and found ticks more of a problem there than I do here.

I hope your dog's skin soon settles down.

My Golden went almost insane after I applied Advantix. I tried to shampoo it off & seemed to make it worse. She was rushing around all evening until the initial effects wore off. I have never used it on any dog since.  We have loads of ticks from the New Forest, all year, even in Winter. I just manually remove them daily. None of the poisons actually do any good in my opinion.

I used Advantix on my golden and he had a terrible reaction, we had to call the emergency vet who advised us to put him in a darkened room to calm down, bath the area with cool water and yes, I also recall giving antihistamine too,..poor dog was literally screaming and climbing the walls. It was horrendous and so distressing,..I will never ever use it again.

many dogs react to Scalibor collars too . Frontline has a good safety record , bit I would use it more often if you are in a high risk area.

Some dogs react to Scalibor collars too . Frontline has a good safety record but I would use it more often in a high risk area.

I've used Advantix and never had a problem.

Spot ons ARE itchy:  Don't forget they are a liquid, which then dries into crunchy/crispy texture on the skin and the dog can't quite reach it, to scratch, because of the application site.

It may be nothing to do with the chemicals involved and just the result of an annoying, drying liquid.

I have used Frontline many times on my dogs with little reaction. This is the second application of Advantix, the last around 6 weeks ago. Four days later, the dogs are still itching and chewing. Even the youngest who has had a bath is still irritated.

I've since spoken to quite a few in my breed, and all who have used Advantix wouldn't use it again due to some sort of reaction, some recounted severe reactions!

So I've gone back to the drawing board and am reverting back to natural methods. Have just ordered some garlic powder as several breeders I know routinely give this daily. Not sure if it'll be 100% effective for repelling ticks but as it's such a good overall additive, don't feel I can go wrong. Cheap too at under £10 for 1 kg tub!

Have been told that apple cider vinegar diluted and sprayed on the coat, also adding to the water is also a good repellant. Anyone else used this?

Some dogs obviously do have a reaction to some of these treatments, and it isn't just the location of the 'spot-on'!

A golden with bright red skin all over, being my experience,  with that and from the posts here, it seems it may not suit a golden's sensitive skin.
 
I believe if a dog can tolerate it, Advantix is quite effective. That said, I will still never use it again on any breed!

I've heard good reports about 'Billy No Mates' from CSJ, so am giving that a try at the moment.

Yep, I use CSJs Billy No Mates. I used to use Frontline with no problems at all, I stopped using it when I met a dog that did have a problem with it :-( Never touched the stuff since.

I live in the Lakes, lots of ticks, BNM works just as well as Frontline did - ticks will attach but they don't stay healthy and they don't stay on long. Never used Advantix, and wont for the above reasons.

I haven't been to the Highlands since using BNM during tick season is March-November nowadays, if not longer! The tick problem is much greater there so not sure how our BNM will cope but willing to find out.

I have a friend who sprays on garlic oil - she swears by it, lots wouldn't. Frontline Spray is not so 'invasive' as the spot-on treatments, that might be worth trying I guess. I'd certainly try BNM though, totally natural so wont do any harm. However, you do need to start using it about 6 weeks for it to kick in, I usually start February/March time and stop in November.

Thanks for the recommendation of Billy No Mates have had a look on their website & looks interesting! Will try the garlic powder which I'm waiting to arrive first as it's so cheap at £10 for 1 kilo, will probably last at least one season.

As far as I'm concerned if I can find something non chemical which will do the job that's where I'll go. My dogs are still scratching almost a week after the application!

If I can't send the unused Advantix back, they'll be binned!

I binned my Advantix too!

I also had a look at Billy No Mates and I think I shall try it. I stopped using Frontline as it wasn't really helping much with the ticks. I couldn't see any value in putting a horrible chemical on my dogs, if it was less than effective! I tried garlic powder one year but it didn't stop ticks. It may vary from area to area and different dogs- hope it works for you.

The billy no mates looks good.  Any preference for tincture or powder?  Is one better value than the other?  the website isn't clear about that but I suppose it is difficult for them to quantify as different amounts will be required depending on the size/weight of the dog.

I think the powder much more economical. I did try the tincture once ... One of my 6 is very able to eat all her dinner and leave her herbs at the bottom of the bowl! Hence trying the tincture. It worked I guess, but it would have been far too costly for 6 dogs. I just mash the herbs into the meat that she usually has on top of her dinner.

I would be looking out for a 'cheap' flea/tick spray that contains Pyrethrins, the pet-shop sort. While these are fairly useless for normal flea control, Pyrethrins/Pyrethrums are an insect repellant, so a light misting over the dogs' legs and undercarriage before going to a tick infested place may well prevent them attaching.

Alternatively, get a small, empty plastic pump-spray bottle from Boots, add a small amount of water plus some drops of Citronella essential oil and Calendula essential oil, then spray as above. I haven't tried this myself but will do in a few months when I have a walk planned in a certain tick infested area, which myself and the dogs really love (an iron age hillfort nearby, which in late Spring has wild orchid meadows, and is the most peaceful and relaxing place I know).

I went to this area last year in May and poor doggie came home with about 6 of them. I then found an insect repellant spray with the active ingredient Pyrethum. I happened to go back to the same place a week later with a friend, used a very light misting of this on my dog's featherings and belly, and he didn't pick up any, so this year I will see if the essential oil blend will do any good (it won't do any harm, if the oils are used very sparingly and are diluted).