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I used to reside in western Washington with my canine the place ticks are uncommon (though the encounters are rising) however now we reside japanese Washington the place ticks are prevalent.
I’ve actually needed to improve my data about ticks and learn to stop ticks on canine.
Learn: Why and The place You Have to Shield Your Canine From Ticks in Washington State
I’ve tried a number of merchandise, and combos of merchandise, and located the 5 finest methods to guard my canine from ticks.
On this article, I share my tick security protocol with you.
Disclosure: A few of the hyperlinks on this article are affiliate hyperlinks (Amazon Affiliate). As an affiliate, I earn a small fee from qualifying purchases.
How I Forestall Ticks on My Canine – My Core Tick Safety Technique
The first methods I assist stop ticks from biting my canine are all the time the identical.
Utilizing these three totally different strategies for stopping and detecting ticks on my canine offers me confidence as a result of:
- The strategies complement one another
- There may be overlap and redundancy
- If one technique fails (normally as a result of I overlook to do it), there are nonetheless two different methods my canine are shielded from ticks
Beneath are the three major issues I do for tick safety.
1) Apply topical flea and tick preventative
I select to make use of a topical flea and tick preventative that not solely kills ticks after they chunk my canine however that additionally repels them.
I would like one which works on contact so if ticks do get on my canine, they’ll die earlier than they chunk.
I do nonetheless need the therapy to kill a tick if it bites although in case the primary two strains of protection fail.
As well as, I need to use a therapy that’s efficient in opposition to a number of various kinds of ticks, not only one like lots of them are.
The three topical flea and tick therapies that meet my standards, and that I exploit usually, are:
My most well-liked model of month-to-month flea and tick therapy is Vectra 3D (learn my Vectra 3D assessment to see why).
Vectra 3D must be bought at a Veterinarian’s workplace or on-line although.
Prior to now, if I didn’t plan forward of time and wanted the topical flea and tick therapy immediately, I might cease at PetSmart and get K9 Advantix II.
I not too long ago found TevraPet Activate II for Canine, which comprises the identical elements as K9 Advantix II.
Though TevraPet Activate II must be ordered on-line (I’ve by no means seen it in a pet retailer close to me anyway), it’s inexpensive than K9 Advantix II or Vectra 3D.
These therapies are offered in doses for canine based mostly on weight.
My small canine, Summit and Gretel are 10.5 lbs so that they fall proper in between the smallest dose (4-10 lbs) and the following one up (11-20 lbs).
I exploit the bigger dose if I do know we can be mountain climbing in an space the place ticks are very unhealthy that month (the first distinction is the quantity of liquid within the tube/vial).
Whichever topical month-to-month flea and tick therapy I exploit, I don’t use all of it yr spherical.
I apply it to my canine spring by fall after I know we can be mountain climbing in locations with ticks.
I’ll be aware that we reside the place it snows and the bottom is frozen most of the time within the winter so the flea and tick danger could be very low throughout the coldest months.
Should you reside someplace that is still heat all yr spherical, you in all probability need to use a flea and tick therapy all yr spherical.
2) Carry out common tick checks
There isn’t any substitute for usually checking your canine for ticks.
No tick repellant or therapy is 100% foolproof, particularly if ticks are notably dense and it’s towards the tip of the topical 30 day therapy interval.
Additionally, though the topicals I exploit are offered as repellants, in my expertise, my canine can nonetheless decide up ticks (simply presumably not as many as they’d have with out the topical therapy).
These ticks will die earlier than they’ll transmit Lyme Illness as a result of the month-to-month therapies I exploit kill the ticks that chunk inside 6 hours and ticks should be connected for over 24 hours to transmit it.
However, there are a lot of different diseases and ailments ticks can transmit throughout the 6 hours earlier than they die so I need to take away them earlier than they’ve an opportunity to chunk.
I additionally don’t need them to fall off my canine within the automotive or home and roam round solely to chunk me or my canine later.
I all the time test my canine for ticks:
- After a hike earlier than they get within the automotive
- After we get dwelling
- Once more within the morning
The place I search for ticks on my canine:
- In and across the ears
- Across the eyelids
- Beneath the collar
- Within the arm pits of the back and front legs
- Between the toes and paw pads
- Across the tail
- Gums (within the mouth)
- Across the genitals
3) Feed garlic tablets made for canine
Some take into account it to be an previous wives story that the scent of garlic emanating from the physique repels ticks and mosquitoes.
However, tales like these probably get perpetuated as a result of they labored for sufficient individuals, in sufficient conditions, to develop into a typical suggestion.
I exploit the brewer’s yeast & garlic tablets from Solely Pure Pet.
I can’t say with 100% certainty that garlic retains ticks away from my canine.
Nevertheless, we went for a hike as soon as the place my canine had a topical tick therapy on, I had sprayed them down with a pure flea and tick repellent, they usually have been sporting an insect repellent canine bandana.
We hiked for 3 hours and once we received again to the automotive, I discovered 5 ticks on my canine. And they’re very small so there isn’t a lot floor space!
Since I started feeding my canine the garlic tablets, I haven’t discovered any ticks on them.
It may very well be coincidence – perhaps we haven’t hiked in an space with a excessive tick density within the final 3 years or maybe we’ve simply been fortunate – however I really feel just like the garlic tablets actually do work to repel ticks.
In case you might be questioning, I can’t scent the garlic. My canine’ breath doesn’t scent prefer it and I don’t scent it coming from their physique.
What I Do Once I My Canine Want Further Safety from Ticks
The core prevention measures are the one methods I shield my canine from ticks 90% of the time.
Nevertheless, there are some conditions the place I might want much more safety.
In these instances, I do one or each of those two issues.
4) Apply bug repellent spray
Typically we hike by quite a lot of brush the place ticks cling and might be “scraped” off onto my canine’s stomach.
On this scenario, I need to add additional safety particularly to my canine’s underside.
For this, I exploit a picaridin-based (20%) insect repellent.
Picaridin is an artificial model of pepper extract and its efficacy is taken into account akin to DEET for mosquitoes and ticks (DEET ought to by no means be used on canine although).
I ought to level out that picaridin has not been accredited to be used on canine and one can find conflicting opinions on whether or not it’s secure for pets.
Nevertheless, I discovered data that I feel signifies that picaridin is probably going secure for canine.
For instance, this article written by a veterinarian says, “… [picaridin] seems to have a large margin of security when used on canine…”
Based on the picaridin technical truth sheet by the Nationwide Pesticide Info Heart, “Researchers positioned technical grade picaridin at doses of fifty, 100, or 200 mg/kg on the backs of beagle canine each weekday for one yr. The canine demonstrated no antagonistic results at any dose.”
Most “don’t use” suggestions I discovered seem like made out of warning for legal responsibility because it’s not 100% examined to be secure on canine.
Personally, I’m snug utilizing picaridin on my canine due to this.
However, please, don’t take my opinion as an announcement that it’s secure to your canine. Make your individual resolution.
I both use Natrapel wipes and apply it on to my canine’s pores and skin or I exploit the Natrapel spray.
If I exploit the spray, I apply it to my arms after which rub rub on their stomach (I spray it on my hand first so that they don’t inhale the mist).
If you need to strive an insect repellent spray that’s extra pure, I counsel making an attempt Wondercide with cedar oil or Murphy’s Naturals Insect Repellent with lemon eucalyptus oil.
I’ve tried each of these on myself and my canine and I didn’t discover them as efficient as picaridin however they did make a distinction within the amount of bugs.
Utilizing an insect spray is an efficient choice in case you solely need to use a flea and tick therapy at particular occasions as a substitute of utilizing a therapy that lasts for a month since you’re not snug with that.
5) Put insect repellent clothes on my canine
It’s normally not cool sufficient once we hike to place garments on my canine however it is a helpful choice when sitting round camp on cool evenings.
I deal with my canine’s jackets with the Sawyer permethrin material therapy spray (and my very own garments).
Warning: Permethrin is poisonous to cats!
Typically, I additionally deal with their canine mattress and blankets with permethrin.
I exploit the identical technique to deal with my canine’s garments and tenting gear as I do after I make my very own insect repellent canine bandanas.
When permethrin is utilized to material, it molecularly bonds to it.
Notice: Such a Permethrin ought to by no means be utilized on to your canine’s pores and skin
You don’t must deal with your canine’s stuff your self although.
There are merchandise you should buy which can be pre-treated with permethrin comparable to:
The benefit of the commercially handled gadgets is that the permethrin stays bonded to the fabric longer. Particularly, the declare is that it stays on the material by 70 washes.
The benefit of treating material myself is that I can use my canine’s common jackets, shirts, bandanas, beds, blankets, and so on. Stuff I do know my canine already know and love.
Treating the canine clothes myself at dwelling with permethrin does imply I’ve to reapply it each 5 washes however for many gadgets that may final a pair months.
What To Do If You Discover a Tick Connected To Your Canine
Should you uncover your canine has been bit by a tick, don’t panic.
Take away the tick utilizing a pair of tweezers just like the TickEase Twin-Tipped Tick Remover Tweezers.
DO NOT burn, twist, or smother the tick.
Doing these issues could cause the tick to spit extra saliva into your canine, which carries any ailments a tick could have.
Watch this video for the correct technique to take away a tick.
Wipe the tick chunk location and round it with an alcohol swap to sterilize it.
Hold the tick in a sealed container whilst you preserve an eye fixed out for a bullseye rash or different indicators and signs of lyme illness.
Additionally take note of how your canine is appearing and name your vet instantly in case you see indicators that your canine may not be feeling nicely.
Conserving the tick:
Do not forget that prevention is one of the best ways to pretect your canine from ticks.
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