Well I knew Leon would get a couple of ticks sooner or later but was not prepared for 8 in one go!! Bleurgh horrible things. Unfortunately most of them are round his eyes and on his nose. I went to get some spray from the vets and they said to apply with cotton wool so as no to get in his eyes/mouth (obviously) so have done this but having read the instructions it says to spray it all over him. Is this necessary? The vet didn't mention it. The only thing I was quite pleased about it he used to put up a real fight when I tried to give him anything like that but I have spent the last few weeks doing constant inspections and general prodding and poking and today he was brilliant, just let me get on with it! Just not sure if I have to cover him in the stuff, anybody know?

Cava got a massive tick infestation 2 years ago, I took off about 20 and one migrated onto me. :-o If I were you I'd do him all over as they are expert lurkers and get into oxters and other corners

Anne

Was it Frontline that was prescribed?  I just wonder as this is also used to treat fleas in which circumstances one would apply it all over, but it can be used on individual ticks.  The instructions on the bottle are not terribly clear!  If your dog has longish fur I'd spray all over just in case, as, I agree, they can lurk in unsuspected places.  I'm a veterinary nurse and this is the advice we usually give to clients.

Also, I'm sure you know already, but don't try to physically remove the ticks, as the mouthparts can be left behind and may fester.  They should drop off of their own accord.  Sorry to hear about your dog - I've been treating ticks for years and they still make me feel a bit "ick"!

Cheers both of you! It is Frontline and as you say Mary-Caroline the instructions are a bit rubbish but think I will give him a little spray all over to make sure this time as so many of them.

Charlie, where was he when he got them?

We are always battling ticks, every time we go out. Morse loathes being sprayed but theres no help for it. He eats enough garlic to stun a horse, we use the preventatives regularly to no avail. Its just constant vigilance for us with dogs and kids hair.

To be honest i'm not sure where they came from. I can only imagine a hedgehog brought them into the garden as he didn't appear to have them in the evening and I found them in the morning when I got up. Having said that I was very tired the night before and it is possible I didn't notice when we got back from our walk......which was in the fields (no animals living in those ones though). Fortunately I feel much better equipped to deal with it next time after this!!

Aargghh they're back! Is there any place they might be lurking in my garden?

My dog seems to be having the same problem.  I don't know where they are coming from.  He hasn't been near any sheep fields.  I am finding that Neem oil works very well but it is rather smelly

If you get hedgehogs in your garden they could be the source.

A tick comb from the vet is very handy.  Just get the tick between the prongs and turn it round and round and it just slithers out with its cute little legs kicking away.  Then drown the b---er down the loo!!

I reckon it must have been hedgehogs, fortunately he doesnt seem to have got any more...famous last words eh! pjw - you make the tick comb sound much more appealing than someone else who mentioned it to me - they described it as being a mini crowbar that you dig them out with! I didn't think he would like that but perhaps I will get one now. I figure the less chemicals I subject him to, the better. Thanks for that.

My boy went out last night and when he came back in, there was one crawling on his back!  I got it and drowned it before it had chance to bury itself in him.  Horrid little creatures - I think there must be hedgehogs or where hedgehogs have been in the garden

The tick comb is very easy to use and so quick.  I live in an area which, according to my vet, is known as tick county, and I would hate to be constantly spraying chemicals on my dogs, especially as I find ticks at the back of their front legs just above their pads - from the long grass I suppose.  I would think Frontline etc would wash off very quickly in the wet grass, and it would be a constant battle.  The tick comb twists off the smallest tick in seconds.

My vet actually said that most of the cats and dogs that come to the surgery have at least one tick, and they have become so adept at using the comb that the owners often don't even notice if they whip one out while examining their pet!  The comb is only about 2 or 3 inches long.

Tick combs are brilliant, they look like little crochet hooks with 2 prongs, just make sure you twist them a good few times.  Then stamp on them (the ticks not the combs!)

I've been nursing for years and they still make me feel a bit queasy (sp?)  Took about 30 off a poor old cat the other day - the owner thought they were part of the cat??????????  You have to wonder!

Aw poor lumpy old cat! Bet it was glad it met you!!

what is the difference between a tick and a flea ????

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