Ticks, little bloodsucking devils

[Whippet]

I guess Pennsylvania is famous for having an abundance of ticks. I wish I knew to what extent people were talking about because this is crazy.

I found five ticks today, six including yesterday. Two of them were on one of the dogs, two were crawling on them and 2 were on the floor. There was one last week but before that, nothin'.

Also raises the question if Frontline really works. I put Frontline on them a week ago after that one tick incident (good reminder that they were a few days overdue for their Frontline) but isn't a week long enough for it to be distributed all over their bodies, especially in Whippets since they're short coated and all?

I think I'm going to go crazy. The massive freak-of-nature beetles that we found in the toilets and in the yard in Arizona seem like nothing compared to these ticks. We've only lived here since December. Anyone have any advice?

[Aurezalia]

I'd suggest DE. Not only can you give it to the dogs, but you can spread it around your yard, etc, so the bugs don't get in the house.
Good luck! (And you're right, AZ does have massive freak-of-nature bugs!)

[Dauxside]

We keep the yard & dogs dusted with DE (plus what they eat to keep worms away) with no problems. Yes I'm sure the birds do bring ticks/fleas in the yard but with bi-weekly treatments we're not seeing bugs at all.

Anytime they're going new places (park/training/visiting) I dust their feet, between pads and legs really well with the DE, extra heavy. Then they get a brush out and dusted again when they get home.

I can't stand using the poisons, as bugs do build up a resistance, I've seen a lot of posts about Frontline and the others not working as well for fleas and ticks. Wondering if that may be the situation.

[bdrcol22]

I use Frontline, and I have had no problems.. But it does not kill them right away. Ticks are a hard shell bug, therefore it can take more than 48 hours for the Frontline to kill it. So if the tick is walking and still alive it has not been on the dog long enough. Typically you will find them dead on the dog, either not attached, which means the product is working. Or even attached, but not engourged, which also means that the product is working. A tick must be attached for I think it is like 24-36 hours before it can spread disease (like all the tick borne diseases). So, even if it is attached and dead and not engourged, it was not able to speard disease or suck any blood.

[alimel]

Are you using Frontline Plus or just Frontline? I made that mistake once

[Obedog]

What is DE??? Will it work for earwigs??? We are LOADED with them!! And obviously, it IS safe for the dogs???

[AtomicSkies]

Originally Posted by Obedog

What is DE??? Will it work for earwigs??? We are LOADED with them!! And obviously, it IS safe for the dogs???

diatomaceous earth you just have to be sure that it is food grade NOT pool grade...it is the ground up skellingtons of diatoms which cuts up the pests and dehydrates them...it is a very very fine powder...im sure it would work on earwigs...which are horrible by the way

[agilitydog]

I had a tick hitchhike into my house on my hip last night ICK!!

This DE I am seeing being used for more and more stuff. Will have to look into it.

[Aurezalia]

Originally Posted by Obedog

What is DE??? Will it work for earwigs??? We are LOADED with them!! And obviously, it IS safe for the dogs???

Atomic already answered most of this... but yes, it is very safe for the dogs - safer, in fact, then the topical poisons!

[AtomicSkies]

Originally Posted by Aurezalia

Atomic already answered most of this... but yes, it is very safe for the dogs - safer, in fact, then the topical poisons!

yes safe indeed as long as its FOOD grade....i use it on my girls and they are all parasite free...people use it on litters of puppies with great success as well...its also safe for cats, birds, horses, rabbits and all that as well