Ticks

[Taro]

Lately I've been finding ticks everywhere. I have a big garden so I'm not surpised, but still. I found a few feasting on my dogs last week. Used Frontline on both of them and now it seems they're not carrying any more ticks. At least I can't find any right now, though today I found one walking on my neck! Should I be worrying about Lyme disease or other stuff (both for my dogs and myself) or is this just the tick variety that annoys the hel_l out of you but won't make you sick?

[hanno]

I am no Doctor, but I did ask one as I do a fair bit of bird-watching and get clobbered by ticks at times. To the best of my knowledge there is no Lyme disease in Thailand; there is apparently Rickettsia present along the border. Not sure about dogs but I would not be surprised if there are a number of tick-borne diseases that could be potentially dangerous to dogs; maybe a visit to a Vet is in order?

[Taro]

Thanks, hanno. I'll stop by the vet again today and ask what to look for. I got Frontline from the vet, actually, who recommended it after I found the first tick on one of my dogs. I think this time I'll go in with more specific questions than just "how do I kill ticks?" and see what they say. The dogs are fine right now, but I'll keep an eye on them in case symptoms develop.

[tim armstrong]

Thanks, hanno. I'll stop by the vet again today and ask what to look for. I got Frontline from the vet, actually, who recommended it after I found the first tick on one of my dogs. I think this time I'll go in with more specific questions than just "how do I kill ticks?" and see what they say. The dogs are fine right now, but I'll keep an eye on them in case symptoms develop.

I think the ones you need to watch out for are paralysis ticks- the gray ones that do kill dogs very quickly and make people quite sick. But as far as I know none in Thailand. Old farmers remedy - collect a few from the dog and encourage them to eat them. Supposedly it establishes immunity

The mosquito remedy on another thread works too ie. 50% olive oil and 50% dettol mixed together used sparingly.

[geriatrickid]

I am no Doctor, but I did ask one as I do a fair bit of bird-watching and get clobbered by ticks at times. To the best of my knowledge there is no Lyme disease in Thailand; there is apparently Rickettsia present along the border. Not sure about dogs but I would not be surprised if there are a number of tick-borne diseases that could be potentially dangerous to dogs; maybe a visit to a Vet is in order?

Hanno, you know your stuff. Rickettsia thailandii. We can thank the U.S. Army medical Corps research team for identifying the strain. Interesting enough, several cases of human infections were identified in the Chiang Mai area. What's really fascinating is that ticks collected from rats in Nahkon Ratchasima were found to be carrying a Thai typhus strain, Rickettsia honei.

Between the ticks and my fear of the bed bug epidemic coming to Thailand I will never be able to sleep again.

[Briggsy]

Just came back from Nam Nao and found one tick feeding at the side of my waist. I first thought it was where my belt had been rubbing.

I pulled it off with with tweezers which was quite tricky. It was well fastened on. It's left a sore red area. This may take a while to heal according to the online blurb.

[steelepulse]

There seems to be a plethora of them in Phuket right now also. Every day I have to pull a bunch off my dog.

[bina]

a plethora of tick info in the vet/pet section as weve all been discussing ticks in thailand and elsewhere....

u could get the dogs blood check for the tick fevers (a couple different types) but the basic medication is a long run of doxicillin ; also, here in israel we DO NOT ADVISE allowing dogs to eat ticks as there is one type of disease that tey can get also from ingesting ticks (babezzia, not sure of spelling), also a type of tick fever: BABESIA CANIS... actually a parasite transferred from the tick.. not sure if there is in thailand...and of course: Ehrlichiosis

blood counts are not always conclusive as there are sub clinical periods whent the platelet count is ok (with echrilich.. the platelet level falls) ;

as far as humans, i dont know about thailand but i do empathize as we've had zillions of ticks int he house until a week ago when the weather finally got cold...

in our tick thread we've listed various anti ticks methods , usually a combination strategy is the best, one a physical one: checking the dogs daily between toes, ears , stomach, all along the body-- clipping a heavily furred dog back helps. the other is a chemical one: frontline and also a shot of ivermectin and also a tick collar. if frontline doesnt work, and it doeasnt in some areas of some countries, then absorbine horse and dog tick dip or spray has done wonders for us. this is for outdoor dogs that are in a high exposure area. a small house dog might not need all methods but the search and sear (pull tick off, and burn with match) is highly effective and down right relxing to owner and dog.

bina

israel