Are ticks more prevalent than usual this summer?

cepheus

I've just taken yet another tick off my lab cross who loves to romp in the grass. There seems to be a tick every other day over the last few weeks. However, this is the first full year I've had him. Is it any worse than normal ?

Unfortunately, the Advocate treatment doesn't prevent ticks so I might have to start using one of the collar repellants. However, I don't want to dose him with too many insect repellents.

How long is the tick season, and is there anything suitable which would only last for the tick season?

Katiehound

Several folk have told me that their dogs have had ticks this year- so there may be more or maybe the weather over winter encouraged their breeding!

I had an old boy who was allergic to tick bites. I used to use Advantix. I only needed it for 3 week periods.
Just googled it- part of what I found pasted below:

Quote: "Advantix kills ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus) within 48 hours and has a persistent acaricidal (tick-killing) and repellent (anti-feeding) efficacy against tick infestations for up to 4 weeks. Once dead, ticks will usually drop off the animal. However, any remaining ticks should be removed using the correct method of tick removal."

I seem to think this might be a POM, but haven't bought for 3 years so that condition may have changed

cepheus

Katiehound wrote: »

Several folk have told me that their dogs have had ticks this year- so there may be more or maybe the weather over winter encouraged their breeding!

I had an old boy who was allergic to tick bites. I used to use Advantix. I only needed it for 3 week periods.
Just googled it- part of what I found pasted below:

Quote: "Advantix kills ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus) within 48 hours and has a persistent acaricidal (tick-killing) and repellent (anti-feeding) efficacy against tick infestations for up to 4 weeks. Once dead, ticks will usually drop off the animal. However, any remaining ticks should be removed using the correct method of tick removal."

I seem to think this might be a POM, but haven't bought for 3 years so that condition may have changed

What is it, a spot on treatment? I might use this instead of the Advocate, but it doesn't seem effective against worms, although I'm not sure if this would be a problem.

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/pet-meds-prescription-only-advantix-flea-tick-treatment-c-21_661/advantix-for-extra-large-dogs-4-0-ml-p-1619

sheramber

The mild winter means less grubs killed off.

We see ticks from April to September but our spring and autumn tend to be cooler than other areas of the UK. Warmer areas may have them for longer.

Advantix is good but is still a prescription medicine so you ned to get it from your vet or get a prescription and buy online. It depends on how much your vet charges for a prescription and how long the prescription covers as to whether buying online is cheaper.

Other tick products work after the tick has bitten which I prefer to avoid as infection could still be passed on by one bite.

There is tablet now available- Bravecto- which I don't know a lot about but have read some disturbing reports.

I now use a Scalibor collar which lasts for 6 months and works out much cheaper than monthly treatments.

You can also buy a Seresto collar on prescription which lasts longer.

Before using either collar read the information available and warnings about use.

You can view that information by viewing Noah Compendium and searching for the product under the alphabetical listing. http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/publications

arbrighton

Frontline is licensed for ticks- we swapped from advocate onto that as R was getting the little orange mites (harvest mites) and the odd tick last year.

She's wormed with Millbemax, which covers lungworm

sheramber

arbrighton wrote: »

Frontline is licensed for ticks- we swapped from advocate onto that as R was getting the little orange mites (harvest mites) and the odd tick last year.

She's wormed with Millbemax, which covers lungworm

Frontline works by poisoning the tick after it attaches. This has a risk of the dog being infected with disease., especially if the tick does not die quickly.
From the Frontline website
FRONTLINE® Spot On doesn't stop ticks attaching but will kill them within 48 hours
hat is too long for me.

Advantix repels ticks before they bite so avoiding that risk.

Katiehound

Yes Advantix is a spot on. The reason I used it was the fact it repels ticks trying to avoid another trip to vet on Sunday evening in rural Ireland with dog with very swollen face!(Not to mention out of hours consultation fee and getting badly lost in pouring rain hunting for his house!!)

I've always wormed with tablets. Currently use Cestem which is same drug as Drontal Plus but cheaper(despite vet turning his nose up at them! when I turn up to worm for pet passport!) Made by Ceva rather than Bayer

tesuhoha

My cat rarely goes out but she has had two ticks stuck to her. Each time I put Advantage on the back of her neck and the tick shrivelled up and dropped off. I think if it is applied once a month it remains active throughout that time. It is prescription only for cats.Don't know if its the same stuff for dogs.

cepheus

The problem with Advantix is that it doesn't cover worms, so I would need to add on something else either way. I think it's the permethrin which kills the ticks

https://www.viovet.co.uk/Advantix_Spot_for_Dogs/c375/