Found a tick on Poppy the cavalier this evening....never seen one in all the 20+ years we have had cavaliers, so panic stations here!
(We've been taking them all out and about into forests, country parks, riversides etc a lot lately, getting ready for the Great Expedition to Cornwall in a few weeks time.)

I tried to do a quick search on Champ Dogs.....and that flippin' "l.parkins was having more than 2 user connections" again...and I couldn't get on..so rushed out to buy a tick remover from local Pets at Home.
Managed to get offending tick out easily, legs n all, and put a bit of tea tree ointment on the place where the nasty had been.
I was hoping not to have to use Frontline on the dogs.....I prefer regular grooming/bathing, but I guess I will have to resort to a chemical way of keeping them all parasite free, especially as we are going to be doing a lot of this country walking.:D

Anyone got any chemical free ideas?

Sami

I've not heard of a chemical free way of avoiding ticks, but I have been told that one of the best ways to get rid of the little critters; is to smear the body of the tick with petroleum jelly, which blocks the breathing pore, so they drop off intact, mouthparts and all!! :)

Hope this helps,

liberty

After long discussions with the vets because we prefer program for fleas we were told that we could use the spray on frontline directly on the tics and it would be safe in conjunction with the flea treatment we were already using. Spray on the tic and in a short while the tic will fall off. So rather than treating the whole dog you'd just be treating the tic itself.

Wendy

Thanks for replies.....
She's due for a booster this week, so will stock up on Frontline.

I'm now sending myself daft worrying that she may have picked up a nasty like Lyme disease........she seems ok......but.....

Sami

I cannot help but be amazed that someone gets in a panic over a tick!!! My lot often pick them up, its no big deal, you just pull them off!

Very helpful sam :)

If someone hasn't seen a tick before and finds one on their dog it can be quite a shock . They are revolting looking things and I can sympathise quite readily with sami.

Melody :D - Who still shudders at the thought of removing a tick

You can get handy little plastic "tick hooks" from vets, that give instructions which way to twist the tick so that it 'unscrews' from the animal. If you twist the wrong way you leave the head in and the dog gets a nasty abcess. :(

disgusting things - I got one off Willis the other day. I hate anything like that :( I sympathise sami

Not to mention if you 'just pull them off' you can leave the head in which is when it CAN actually spread the Lyme disease. Which is a nasty condition!

Wendy

Totally agree, Lymes Disease is horrible, my boy Sweep unfortunately was diagnosed with this a few years ago after having a Tick on him, it took him a long while to get over it.

Sweep x

I understand. A year or two ago our Chelsea picked one up and we tweezed it off and the head stayed in and we panicked esp as we were travelling at the time. (for those who don't understand it you've obviously not been reading all the horror stories put out by the vets!).

Anyway we called the vet who put us at ease and said in all his x years of practicing he'd only ever seen one serious case of Lyme disease and that as a one-off it should be fine.

As you managed to get it out completely I would guess you're in even a better position than we were.

Hope this helps.

WEndy

try feeding garlic is apparently has a deterent effect on flees and ticks

Neil

I want to give my pup garlic to stop fleas etc. Go you give a tablet or the real thing crushed up in their food. Also how much do you feed and when can I start giving it to my pup. He is 13 weeks at present.

we give zak garlic capsules same way as you would give tablets,pop to the back of the throat,and a little throat rub.1 capsule a day.you can get them specifically for dogs priced about £2.99 for 90,they were in a leaflet in a dog magazine,but i cant find it now i want it.if i find the leaflet i'll give you details.
mel

/Don't quote me on this because I get info from all over the place and can't always remember where it comes from, but i am almost certain that my vet suggested it would take 24 hours for anu infection or disease such as Lyme to go from tick to host.

Lindsay

Ticks really are the most disgusting creatures ever! Its not really chemical free, but you can get flea and tick collars i think.
and one more thing, what is that flipping l.parkins has 2 user connections rubbish? I'm always getting it!

I think l.parkins and max connections are having an affair......

THanks Mel I shall look in the mags I have and see if I can find more details.

Hi Sami,
There's been a big report on ticks spreading disease recently in cornwall especially in bracken and where deer like to go, so make sure you get the tick of asap!
I use surgical spirit if mine ever get ticks (haven't had any for quite a few years now).
Char

Thanks all for your replies!

Sorry Sam...but this had the same effect on me as finding headlice in my daughter's waist length hair about 20 years ago.....was only the once, but I shuddered for weeks!

I'm sure I was worrying about nothing....(I usually do)....Poppy's fine , and the place where the tick was is healing up nicely...still putting tea tree cream on tho', jic.

Still, p'raps the whole thread has been useful in reminding us all that these horrible parasites are out there, just waiting for their next meal!

I'm sure she picked it up in Savernake Forest on Good Friday, rooting around in piles of dead leaves and stuff. Looking on the net, it seems like forests are full of 'em! And they are quite partial to arms and legs of people too....YUK!

Definately getting the Frontline on before our holiday in......a Cornish FOREST!!

I would also think everyone from Lands End to John 'o Groats will be able to smell us too, 'cos I'm stocking up on garlic and surgical spirit for good measure!! :D

Thanks again all....and I agree about that L Parkins and Max Connections.....every night they're at it......disgusting behaviour on such a good forum!

Sami

its ok sammi...no need to apologise! i am just so used to pulling them off the hounds that I was amazed to see someone panicking...its just normal routine here in sheep country!!! Glad your dog is ok.

oh great...

hope they're taking precautions....

thats all we need, more damn L parkins and max connections around this place!!