Those nasty ticks.

[Tennessee Boy]

There’s this new tick born illness Alpha-gal that won’t kill you but makes you allergic to red meat.  I know two people that got it.   Having to give up barbecue might be worse than death.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha-gal_allergy

 

[roadwarrior]

Man, that's terrible.

[GreenPig]

My wife's been battling Chronic Lyme disease for over 7 years. She's went through two series of antibiotics injected directly to her heart via a PIC line. My FIL and sister got it and were treated successfully. Lyme disease is definitely here in Ga. along with Alpha - Gal, tick paralysis, RMSF, and EHRLICHIOSIS.

[slonezp]

On 4/2/2022 at 10:06 AM, A-Jay said:

When we've lived in places where they live, ticks are part of the deal.

We are outdoor humans, especially when our world is not frozen. 

Getting out & about on the trail with or without the dogs, there's always going to be some infestation.  Pulled Many off the dogs over the years and with double coated northern breeds, the really small ticks can be tough to find/see somethings.   

Our Canines are all on preventatives year round.

Seems our best defense is to COVER UP and check each other over - after ever excursion. 

We use the same 'technique' to remove ticks from us & the dogs. 

Finally for whatever reason, they like my wife a whole lot more than they like me . 

Just means they have good taste I guess. 

 

My dogs asked me to hang this sign out in the back forty ~ 

Stay Safe

A-Jay

 

So you're saying she has bad taste?

Neighbors dog got Lyme disease. 2 years later she was put to sleep because she could no longer walk.

[T-Billy]

22 hours ago, MacJig said:

Smart. I always have spray with me but i figured that March in NY should still be relatively bug free. I just didn't think that I needed spray. I was wrong. 

Those little deer ticks are out and about anytime it's above freezing. When I get home from doing anything in tick habitat, the clothes go straight into a hot wash, and I check myself and take a shower. I find them on me before they attach the vast majority of the time. 

[gim]

The tick thread got me thinking on flea and tick prevention for dogs. I’ve always used the topical stuff like frontline or k9 advantix on my dog with good results. It’s kind of icky for a couple days after application but it’s effective and waterproof. The pills like bravecto or the collar like soresto seem to be popular though too.

 

What do you use on your 4 legged friends?

[Bird]

I'm still using Frontline on my dog simply because it works.

Yes, I keep hearing about the pills but guess I'm old school.......if it ain't broke.....

[A-Jay]

We've used Nexgard for several years now.  It's a once a month chew dosed by weight. Did the topical briefly, didn't dig that deal.

Not the least expensive option, but it has been effective.

A-Jay

 

 

 

[TnRiver46]

7 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

There’s this new tick born illness Alpha-gal that won’t kill you but makes you allergic to red meat.  I know two people that got it.   Having to give up barbecue might be worse than death.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha-gal_allergy

 

I know lots of folks that have gotten that 

[throttleplate]

last year gettin ready for a shower and found 1 in my boxers. Two weeks later found another in my boxers, maybe better of free ballin it?

[K1500]

My dad had alpha gal. It’s no joke and it can kill you through anaphylactic shock if you don’t know you have it. No cure and you can’t eat any mammal meat. 

[TnRiver46]

The best thing about winter: ticks and mosquitos go back to hell where they came from 

[BayouSlide]

All my bird dogs (and my house dogs) have always been on Advantix on a three week schedule (vet recommended) rather than the four week recommended on the package. These dogs have spent years in tick infested brambles here in Louisiana, yard grass with fleas plus the mountains of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming where ticks carrying Rocky Mountain spotted fever are a possibility.

 

Can't remember the last time any of them had a tick, and the few fleas I note on them have a short life, unhappy life ?.

 

Easy application via tube to their backs and absorbed into the skin over a day or two.

[gim]

12 hours ago, A-Jay said:

We've used Nexgard for several years now.

My vet told me that the pill forms like Nexgard and Bravecto are only effective when the tick actually bites the dog.  My dog comes in the house quite a bit.  She could have ticks on her and bring them in the house.  That's part of the reason I still use the topical application.

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, gimruis said:

My vet told me that the pill forms like Nexgard and Bravecto are only effective when the tick actually bites the dog.  My dog comes in the house quite a bit.  She could have ticks on her and bring them in the house.  That's part of the reason I still use the topical application.

Either or I guess.

Both methods have pros and cons.

We live in the woods.

Transporting what lives there inside can happen any number of ways; including what might get on us.

Since the 'biting' is actually the bad part, this product kills any that get the chance.  

A-Jay

[MacJig]

Man I'm kind of sorry I asked! ? We are all going to become paranoid every time we go out. But it is something to be very mindful of. Going forward I'm always going to wear long sleeve shirts, long pants, the tighter fitting underwear, light colored clothing, wear a t-shirt tucked in and douse myself with 30% deep spray. Also thought about closing the bottom of my pants with rubber bands to keep ticks from crawling up my legs. Stuffing them into my socks just isn't practical for me.

[12poundbass]

Here’s what our company gives us out in the field. I’ve never seen one before and don’t know if it works or not but I don’t see why it wouldn’t. 
 

 

[MacJig]

30 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

Here’s what our company gives us out in the field. I’ve never seen one before and don’t know if it works or not but I don’t see why it wouldn’t. 
 

 

Well that looks interesting! Hey, if it doesn't work with ticks it looks like it might take the cap off a beer bottle. ?

[Crappiebasser]

I’ve used nexgard on my lab for a few years now and have no complaints. He is in the woods everyday and I’ve never found a flea or tick on him or in the house. I used frontline for years and it worked as well but as you said it’s nasty for a few days. 

[Tennessee Boy]

[Bird]

Here's another issue that we run into living in tick country.

We keep the dog marinated in front line, he runs around in the woods all day, jumps in the bed at night and ticks are deployed late at night looking for untreated victims.......WIFE AND I. ?

[LonnieP]

I’ve been using Nexgard on my dogs for the past couple of years and have never seen a flea or tick on them. Have had mixed results with topicals like Frontline. 

[TnRiver46]

46 minutes ago, Bird said:

Here's another issue that we run into living in tick country.

We keep the dog marinated in front line, he runs around in the woods all day, jumps in the bed at night and ticks are deployed late at night looking for untreated victims.......WIFE AND I. ?

Same thing happens to me. Luckily I feel them walking on my skin 90% of the time, even if I’m asleep. I’ve woken up and grabbed them many times 

[Bird]

16 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Same thing happens to me. Luckily I feel them walking on my skin 90% of the time, even if I’m asleep. I’ve woken up and grabbed them many times 

Yeah, wanted to make it more dramatic than it was.....I wake up to. Lol

[Bankbeater]

The seed ticks are the worst around here.  You can see and feel a regular size tick, but sometimes those seed ticks blend in, and are so small that you completely miss them.