Who has a tick problem?

[SasatheRusty]

Lately we seem to have a problem. Who else is dealing with this tick issue? No fleas however. We just bug bombed a room but I think the are picking them up outside. Never had a problem until this last year


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[Patt]

No deer, no ticks so far.

[Alex's Mom]

All the ticks are frozen solid or buried in snow around here :).

[lotsadox]

We had a tick problem for a couple summers here. I used comfortis and didn't have any more problems.

[SasatheRusty]

Can comfortis is be safely used in older dogs? We are currently using Advantix 2. I'm going to call the Vet and ask about the medication. Thanks for the replies.


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[lotsadox]

Two of mine were 12 when I was using comfortis on them and they had no problems with it, but it's best to consult your vet.

There are also sprays you can use in the yard to keep the number of ticks in your yard down which also helps.

[Ivan]

No problems this time of year. Nightly deep-freeze kills 'em dead. Other 3 seasons we do find ticks, and we twist them off the dogs (or me) with either this gadget:
http://www.amazon.com/TICKED-Ticked-Off-Tick-Remover/dp/B000RI1FZY
or this gadget:
http://www.amazon.com/Unknown-Trix-Ticklasso/dp/B001FMGJ8O

I don't take monthly poison to prep myself against ticks, and neither do our dogs.

[lotsadox]

No problems this time of year. Nightly deep-freeze kills 'em dead. Other 3 seasons we do find ticks, and we twist them off the dogs (or me) with either this gadget:
http://www.amazon.com/TICKED-Ticked-Off-Tick-Remover/dp/B000RI1FZY
or this gadget:
http://www.amazon.com/Unknown-Trix-Ticklasso/dp/B001FMGJ8O

I don't take monthly poison to prep myself against ticks, and neither do our dogs.
According to my holistic vet, comfortis is the safest prevention against ticks and tick born diseases and less dangerous that using the removal tools and risking not getting all of the tick out. Once I used it, I never even saw ticks on my dogs and didn't risk them carrying them into the house and then having and infestation inside. I wish you luck with the removal tools.

[Ivan]

Comfortis is an insecticide ( http://www.drugs.com/pro/comfortis.html ) that flows through the bloodstream & milk (ie, is systemic). It does nothing for ticks. It's only for fleas. (per manuf.)

Systemic insecticides do not prevent a bite. They may kill the biter, afterwards. But that's too late for the lyme bacteria which was already transmitted to (you or) the dog by the tick bite. Insecticide does not kill the bacteria. They may kill the messenger. Are we trying to stop ticks? Or stop lyme disease? Curiously, there is a vaccine for lyme disease ( http://www.wbur.org/2012/06/27/lyme-vaccine ). I suspect it's still no silver bullet.

Interesting?: http://www.mercyanimalhospitalri.com/fleasandticks.php

Maybe a topical insecticide might work better, to hopefully kill a tick before it bites?

Please, I'm not trying to be argumentative. Just relaying a bit of what info I've encountered. And I'm cautious about injecting insecticides.

[lotsadox]

Yes, Ivan, you always like to relay what you find on the internet. I prefer to follow the advice of my vet who I've known since 1989. She never steered me wrong. As I said, good luck with the tick removal tool.

[Ivan]

That drug study info is on Comfortis.com (manuf) very own web site.

See "product label" in http://www.comfortis.com/about-comfortis/index.aspx

[lotsadox]

Yes, Ivan. Thank you for the information.

[SasatheRusty]

Interestingly we never really encountered tics until the last year or so. I never hear anyone I know who have dogs admit that they see any tics. So I don't want to even ask for "fear" that they will think we have tic issues. The Vet said that this is the worst year for tics in FL. She never mentioned Comfortis. They did post a disclaimer on their website that said they have never had issues with the product. However, once we were given a tic/flea collar that Sparky had a terrible reaction to. I had to call the mfr. I also had to take him to the Vet for shots and medication. It was awful. I appreciate all the above comments. We check them daily, bathe them as needed and medicate with topical meds. I thought a harsh winter where you all live would kill most of the tics for the year. Again...thank you!


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[lotsadox]

Ticks seems to be strange little creatures. I've lived within 5 miles of the same area since 1987 and we had never had ticks until a couple years ago and suddenly they were everywhere. We sprayed the yard, bathed the dogs used Cloud Nine Spray to try to repel them but nothing worked. We finally started on the Comfortis and had great luck with it. It didn't bother any of the dogs and we had NO ticks at all on them. I don't know why ticks suddenly appeared in this area. The only thing that was different was that we had a drought. Possibly they do like hot dry climates? I don't know.

[Patt]

I use to give Comfortis to my dogs, but after reading bad reviews I stopped giving it to them.

[SasatheRusty]

Patt....did you give comfortis for fleas or tics or both? How old are the dogs and did they have any adverse reactions? Also, how long were they on it? What are you currently using? Thx. Just trying to learn more from those who have had experience with the product.


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[lotsadox]

Patt....did you give comfortis for fleas or tics or both? How old are the dogs and did they have any adverse reactions? Also, how long were they on it? What are you currently using? Thx. Just trying to learn more from those who have had experience with the product.


That's the best way to learn in my opinion.

[Patt]

Patt....did you give comfortis for fleas or tics or both? How old are the dogs and did they have any adverse reactions? Also, how long were they on it? What are you currently using? Thx. Just trying to learn more from those who have had experience with the product.


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Fleas. I wasn't aware it was for ticks. At the time it was for fleas only.
It's been a few years, at that time I believe the dogs were approximately 4y 7y 8y.
Probably on it a year or less. The one Doxie was kind of lethargic, but she also started having problems with other meds.
Also previous years (before Comfortis) I used Advantage and Program. I had a very bad experience with Frontline. So I just stopped all the toxic junk.
Although I do use Sentinel monthly to prevent heartworms.
My cat population is down so is the flea problem. I occasionally use Capstar if needed.

Most of my vets clients that use Comfortis are very happy with the product.

I hope this helps.