Ticks - in February??????

gettingready

Never knew they are around this time of the year but there was one on George today.

Pretty "fresh" one as still small - never seen the horrid thing yesterday and it was on top of his nose so would have noticed.

Vet pulled it out but all summer George and Fred are total magnets for ticks and a tick in Feb really worries me.

I know how to take them out but can I prevent them attaching in the first place?

Last year pulled 17 (!!!)m out from around George's ears in one day...

Person_one

I thought most of the 'spot on' flea products also prevented ticks? I've never found one on any of mine and that's all I do to prevent them.

OllysMum_2

Person_one wrote: »

I thought most of the 'spot on' flea products also prevented ticks? I've never found one on any of mine and that's all I do to prevent them.

Apparently not. My OES is a tick magnet. Vet's tried different topical and ingestive treatments but he still manages to pick them up. Some dogs are just more attractive to beasties!

Never had them this early, but we're still in minus temperatures here.

Sally_A

...and if ticks can't get a bite on the pooch due to the flea products, they are more than happy to jump on a human.

They look like a mis shapen money spider before they get their teeth in, suck your blood and swell the body

Worst case scenario = Limes disease.

Person_one

I know about them, but in nearly 20 years of dog ownership I've never seen one, maybe I've just been lucky!

Is there something you can do diet wise maybe? In the way humans can drink tonic water to prevent mosquito bites?

gettingready

Ermm George and Fred are cats, both total tick magnets.

Had a few on Zara (dog) too. She ended up with a nasty infection 2 years ago I think from one on her nose kind of.

Do not remember one on Teddy or Macius (both cats) to be honest - weird as all 4 cats "hang out" in the same communal garden.

I really would love to find something preventing those horrid things attaching or dying at the moment they attach.

If anyone knows of something pls post here.

There is something in Poland that can be used against ticks, may need to look into that option too as last summer was horrible.

But in february??>?>

shahedo

Sooo sad 17 IN ONE EAR?!?

gettingready

Both ears, on the edges so easy to spot but very tiny they were so difficult to pick off...

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Person_one wrote: »

I know about them, but in nearly 20 years of dog ownership I've never seen one, maybe I've just been lucky!

Is there something you can do diet wise maybe? In the way humans can drink tonic water to prevent mosquito bites?

Huh? You sure it wasn't the fact tonic water contained Quinine, so helped protect against malaria in the days before the mozzies became resistant?



Starting to itch now.......

jumpedtheshark

gettingready wrote: »

... I know how to take them out but can I prevent them attaching in the first place?

Last year pulled 17 (!!!)m out from around George's ears in one day...

I've read that garlic can help, but never tried it. Raw garlic is supposed to be better than garlic tablets, etc.

Person_one

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Huh? You sure it wasn't the fact tonic water contained Quinine, so helped protect against malaria in the days before the mozzies became resistant?



Starting to itch now.......

Something like that! Can't remember the details!