Ticks Again. Frontline For An Old Dog?

[sbk]

Our old dog Scruffy has a terrible tick infestation. He will not allow me to remove them all (and frankly, its too many at this point to do by hand). We've used Frontline on him in the past but he seems to have a bit of a reaction to it (lethargy --well, given that he is about 15 years old, more lethargy than normal) so we have hesitated to give it to him.

Is there anything else that might work to kill all the ticks without making Scruffy feel ill?

[mitmig]

Have you tried Detick? You can get it at the petstore. It comes in small brown glass bottles, almost like an ampule. Works very well and is less expensive then Frontline.

Hope you find something that works for poor little Scruffy. I hate ticks ...

[Nienke]

When Frontline gives a reaction, then most probably your dog has become more sensitve to the chemical (toxins). Therefore, I would be very carefull with the detick stuff, which is probably amitraz or bayticol.

If it Scruffy who has much more problems with the ticks than the other dogs (assuming you have more dogs) it is a sign that his immune system is getting worse which is no suprise with his age. It is even more a reason to not use chemicals/toxins on him.

Although also not the most wonderful option, concerning toxins, is spraying (by pest control) your vicinity or the place where Scruffy lives an option?

Nienke

[sbk]

No, the other dogs have ticks but minimal compared to Scruffy.

And our dogs roam fairly free -- ie we have a large area and they stay within that area, but is about 3 rai, so spraying wouldn't be an option. Although Scruffy obviously doesn't go far from the house.

I am guessing that an ivermec injection would not be a good idea then.

[Nienke]

IME when the immunity of a dog isn't very strong then they are much more prone to ticks (etc).

And when there are many ticks in the area then frontline, ivermectin, powders and even stuff like Amitraz and Bayticol do not help anymore. The dog is reinfested in no-time.

I would spray the area where Scruffy mostly is, and treat the other dogs and check them daily, so the chances that they bring in ticks in 'Scruffy's area' is much smaller.

[sbk]

OK, thanks neinke, will give that a try and hope it works. Poor old guy, as if age, arthritis, bad eyesight and bad hearing aren't enough, he's got this to deal with too. Fortunately enough, he is still a good tempered dog (unlike most people who get very grumpy when they get old and ill )

[Jose]

For weeks our 2yo dog (Simba) had been lethargic and quite sick at times, with high fever bouts up to 105.5F (106F is quite dangerous). We had tried all kinds of injections to combat the fever and unknown disease, but nothing seemed to work. We though Heartworm may have been a possibility.

Thankfully Dr Pong recently opened her new veterinary clinic nearby in Bantai Koh Pha-Ngan, and she suggested a blood test. Simba's blood sample was sent to Dr Somsak at Samui Animal Clinic, and the results came back that same day: Canine Ehrlichiosis. Apparently this tick-based red-blood parasite is quite common in dogs, but it seems to hit some harder than others. This alone would be one very good reason to keep ticks at bay.

We've tried Frontline (both spray and back of the neck type), but it only seems to work for about three days. I don't know much about monthly Ivermec injections, but this is our next choice - hopefully it will keep the tick problem down.

More on Canine Ehrlichiosis.

[sbk]

Jose, we stopped in there today (Scruffy has had tick fever once before) and they did not recommend the ivermec injections, esp for an old dog like Scruffy --said it can cause liver damage.

I always wondered if I was getting an old batch of frontline or something and thats why it never worked more than 3 days. They recommended a dip and use the leftover water around the area to kill the ticks. I will also be spraying the heck out of our house as Scruffy likes to sleep in the house alot. Ok, he just sleeps alot, but he prefers the house

[Jose]

Yes, it's a bit of a dilemma, SBK.

For our younger dogs, monthly Ivermec injections (and the resultant load on the liver) may be more preferable than the E. canine parasite. Apparently it is not effective against fleas & ticks, so I don't know...

Anyone know if Revolution for dogs is available in Thailand?

More on pet drugs here.

[sbk]

I think I saw Revolution in the Vets Jose. They had Frontline and something that started with an R, I wasn't really paying attention, but its behind the front counter. I think it was Revolution.

[Jose]

I think I saw Revolution in the Vets Jose. They had Frontline and something that started with an R, I wasn't really paying attention, but its behind the front counter. I think it was Revolution.

Thanks, SBK - I may try that next.

[ataloss]

I have used the various anti-tick remedies available and all work but for only limited time, in my experience. I have always been concerned about the remedies’ associated health issues, particularly as two of my five Rotts are twin sisters and are now 12 years old: what’s that – 86 years old in human terms. I want them to continue to age gracefully, just like me.

I have not given drug or chemical protection for several years but now give my dogs Vitamin B (brewer’s yeast) tablets plus garlic tablets which seem to ward off fleas and ticks, but are also healthy. Try the drug department of Makro which sells large containers for reasonable cost. There is a debate as to whether or not garlic is good for your dogs but I believe garlic tablets to be healthy: Google the issue to decide for yourselves.

If your dogs can co-exist, buy several chickens for your property; they do a superb job of ridding your property of all ticks, fleas and mosquitoes. I would never spray but do keep the grass cropped short, as ticks lay in wait on the tall blades to leap on to passing animals ( a local Thai chap does this routinely for less than you’d imagine). Oh, and I daily check each of my pets for ticks, especially between their toes and within the space between their pads, on their throats and just below their ears: these ticks are cunning and deadly. When I bathe my dogs I add a little vegetable oil to the lather and leave it on for 10 minutes or more to suffocate the ticks and their eggs. Even within a few days ticks can lay a crust of eggs which is dispiriting to our pets. I coat this nest with an extra helping of mineral or vegetable oil before gently combing them free with a thick fine-toothed comb. If you get into a routine, then the problem lessens with time. Hope this proves helpful. Chokdii !

http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogT...tPrevention.php

http://www.myhomeremedies.com/static/fleas-and-ticks.html

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/what_you...ucts/index.html

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sa=...nts&spell=1

[sbk]

Thanks for the vegetable oil tip, hadn't thought of that but when I detick my dogs I drop the ticks into oil, it kills them faster than other stuff and doesn't evaporate as fast as rubbing alcohol, so adding to the shampoo makes alot of sense.

chickens huh? I am not a fan of chickens tbh although those little banty roosters aren't too bad. But, chickens also have ticks, the little tiny round ones, so I probably wouldn't go with chickens.

On different if sort of related note, if you have a serious snail problem borrow some ducks from somebody, my sister-in-law had a few ducks next door for about 6 months (free ranging ducks--mr and mrs duck I called them) and they wiped out what had been a serious snail infestation.

[F1fanatic]

IME when the immunity of a dog isn't very strong then they are much more prone to ticks (etc).

And when there are many ticks in the area then frontline, ivermectin, powders and even stuff like Amitraz and Bayticol do not help anymore. The dog is reinfested in no-time.

I would spray the area where Scruffy mostly is, and treat the other dogs and check them daily, so the chances that they bring in ticks in 'Scruffy's area' is much smaller.

I was v interested to read your comments about a sick dog being more prone to ticks. I've got 3 dogs and 2 of them get v few, but the 3rd!!! He is old and VERY sick, hardly goes out, but still gets 10 times as many as the other 2!

They are all 'frontlined' regularly, but I find the only way to deal with the problem on my old dog is to remove them by hand daily. It's a pain in the neck, but the only solution.

Having read the posts, I'm wondering whether being 'frontlined' is bad for him?

Edited February 4, 2009 by F1fanatic

[elfe]

They are all 'frontlined' regularly, but I find the only way to deal with the problem on my old dog is to remove them by hand daily. It's a pain in the neck, but the only solution.

sorry, but not true! if you continue like that you can also leave the ticks on the dogs as it is makes no difference. you won't see the first stage of the ticks as they are so tiny. one tick already can give the bloodparasite which is even more harmful to old and sick dogs.

you can spray your house, inject ivermec and repeat in 15 days, then ticks should be gone. after walks in tick infested areas search dogs or bathe them or spray/drop on before that or regularly.