camping and ticks

jsabina

Hi everybody,
I am going camping with my dogs this weekend.
The camping is on a farm and there are animals (sheeps and so on) around (I guess not directly where the tents are ).

Now.. I am quite paranoid about ticks.
I put every month advocate spot on.
They had it the 20th of last month.

I guess this helps for prevention, but I know it's not 100%.
Anything else I can do?

Should I put it again before going? Or is it dangerous? I guess they have it already in their bloodstream..

any suggestion to ease my mind (other than not going at all ) is appreciated!

***

Actually I have just read that Advocate does nothing for ticks but only fleas etc..
Going up to the vet tonight and see if I can pick up a frontline or similar and asking if safe to put it

Springwell

Go for the Bravecto tablet - it's the only one that ills tics before they have a chance to regurgitate any blood back into their host so prevents tick borne diseases.

Unfortunately we are seeing more resistance to Frontline (Fipronil) now so I wouldn't be relying on it

jsabina

THanks!
Are they easily available at vets usually?

muddypaws

Buy a tick remover, the green ones that come in a pack of two are great.

tk123

Read up on Bravecto before you do it - even type it into Google and see what it suggests you add to the search i.e. deaths

muddypaws

tk123 wrote: »

Read up on Bravecto before you do it - even type it into Google and see what it suggests you add to the search i.e. deaths

I'm surprised at you :eek: :P

I use it, have read up on it, and apart from the Facebook scare groups, can't find anything scientific to worry about.

tk123

Any amount of dead dogs would be enough evidence for me not to use it. I don't have a need for wormers etc and I've heard of it.

jsabina

I remember I have read a lot of things against any flea and wormer thing.
And also vaccinations ! (human and dogs)
I guess there is always a risk with any medication and also that scientifically correlation doesn't mean causation.

But yes, I am worried of course of negative consequences.

But also worried by ticks, which carry bad diseases..
Will anyway go to the vet and see what they recommend.

Thanks!

Ms Doubtfire1

jsabina wrote: »

I remember I have read a lot of things against any flea and wormer thing.
And also vaccinations ! (human and dogs)
I guess there is always a risk with any medication and also that scientifically correlation doesn't mean causation.

But yes, I am worried of course of negative consequences.

But also worried by ticks, which carry bad diseases..
Will anyway go to the vet and see what they recommend.

Thanks!

I would tke vet recommandations with a pinch of salt when it comes to those items - they are being paid to push the sales for certain treatments, just like pharmacies. I always say where there's smoke , there's fire. Second to that, i think your dogs have already plenty of poison in their bloodstream..try a  natrural way

[font=DroidSansRegular, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Because [/font][font=DroidSansRegular, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]ticks carry dangerous bacteria[/font][font=DroidSansRegular, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif], repelling them is a priority. One of the natural repellents that a lot of people have success with is rose geranium oil, which can be applied to your dog's collar. [/font]

jsabina

yeah I am absolutely horrified by ticks and lyme disease myself.. don't really want to have anything to do with them..

I am actually planning to change camping still not super safe but at least not in a field with the animals :P

I am worried that the natural things wouldn't be enough.. will do some research anyway!

Ms Doubtfire1

I've had quite some success with them..oddly enough it works better on my sheppie and my lab.( I spray it on their fur - lightlly)Not so well on the Mal or the husky shep cross.The lurcher never gets any ( i guess he's just too fast lol) and the old collie doesn't go out in the field anymore. The younger collie and the lab cross never had any but not sure why that is except both are in the river every chance they get...

muddypaws

tk123 wrote: »

Any amount of dead dogs would be enough evidence for me not to use it. I don't have a need for wormers etc and I've heard of it.

Dogs die for all sorts of reasons though. I've heard coconut oil has killed a fair few.

muddypaws

jsabina wrote: »

yeah I am absolutely horrified by ticks and lyme disease myself.. don't really want to have anything to do with them..

I am actually planning to change camping still not super safe but at least not in a field with the animals :P

I am worried that the natural things wouldn't be enough.. will do some research anyway!

Oh please don't change your plans, if thats where you want to go. I had a tick on my back for a few days a few months ago, I couldn't see it where it is, I knew I'd been bitten, but as I react badly anyway, I thought the thing I could feel was gunge coming out of the bite. Showers etc didn't dislodge it. I still have the tick, frozen in a bottle, as lyme disease takes time to show up, but spoke with my GP yesterday about it, she wasn't concerned, as it was here in Ireland that I had been bitten. My dogs often get them, I just take them off and dispose of them. Never had a bad reaction yet, and mine aren't routinely treated with anything.

Ms Doubtfire1

muddypaws wrote: »

tk123 wrote: »

Any amount of dead dogs would be enough evidence for me not to use it.  I don't have a need for wormers etc and I've heard of it.

Dogs die for all sorts of reasons though. I've heard coconut oil has killed a fair few.

coconut oil?? did they do  a Keano on it? :D

jsabina

muddypaws wrote: »

Oh please don't change your plans, if thats where you want to go. I had a tick on my back for a few days a few months ago, I couldn't see it where it is, I knew I'd been bitten, but as I react badly anyway, I thought the thing I could feel was gunge coming out of the bite. Showers etc didn't dislodge it. I still have the tick, frozen in a bottle, as lyme disease takes time to show up, but spoke with my GP yesterday about it, she wasn't concerned, as it was here in Ireland that I had been bitten. My dogs often get them, I just take them off and dispose of them. Never had a bad reaction yet, and mine aren't routinely treated with anything.

Thank you!
I am dog owner for quite long, but being from a big city in Italy we never had any exposure to ticks!
(we have other sort of very annoying fleas etc though!!!)

Since I am in Ireland and reading all the websites about ticks I got scared by them!
But yeah, I guess a bit exaggerating because I am really not used and never saw one before :eek:

will try to have a reasonable half way between being concerned but reasonable

pawrick

Aside from the original question I've heard there can be issues with sheep pellets from recently medicated sheep, so if you are in an area with lots of sheep just make sure your dog doesn't eat too much of the droppings if it's so inclined.
I never experienced any bad reaction with my dog and we are surrounded by sheep farms but it's just something I watch out for myself when walking my dog or when the sheep invade my garden to be extra safe.

DBB

muddypaws wrote: »

but spoke with my GP yesterday about it, she wasn't concerned, as it was here in Ireland that I had been bitten.

How come there's no concern about being bitten by an Irish tick? Lyme disease is in Ireland... I know a couple of people who have contracted it.

Alun

DBB wrote: »

How come there's no concern about being bitten by an Irish tick? Lyme disease is in Ireland... I know a couple of people who have contracted it.

Exactly. The ignorance of some GP's here about the disease is staggering.

Bells21

Neem oil is a great natural way to prevent fleas and ticks. Just a small bit on your hands and rub it through your dog's coat etc or else you can buy neem based sprays specifically to repel fleas and ticks. There's definitely a risk of Lyme disease in Ireland I know of someone who was suffering for a year or more before it was diagnosed.

Choc Chip

I don't want to come across as flippant, but I grew up somewhere where lyme disease is fairly prevalent and still visit a good bit. Only been bitten a few times and never any ill effects. I honestly wouldn't change your plans - there's lots of people/dogs live in these areas.

As far as I remember, you're unlikely to catch lyme disease unless the tick has been feeding for a good while (over 24 hours or so, though I've seen people say that it might be more like 12 hours in dogs). If you're out where you might pick up a tick, have a shower, or at the very least check yourself carefully every evening. Between your toes, soles of your feets, etc. etc. Back.... how on earth did you get a tick on your back muddypaws?! Go over the dogs too, and they'll be tougher as they're hairy. Remember that ticks can be tiny - can be easier to feel them than see them on a dark skinned dog.

Obviously if you do get bitten and then see a rash or feel fluey, go to your doctor. Same - if the dog gets bitten and seems off (temperature, lameness), go to the vet. It's a serious illness, but it's relatively rare and somewhat preventable.

The major lesson I remember my mum drilling into me was: if you're out walking in tall grass, wear long trousers and tuck your trousers into your socks. Stylish.

Knine

I just use the little green tick removers. I have never needed them yet for my own dogs but did use them on a friends. I only treat for fleas etc if I find them on the dog which thankfully has never been needed despite my hobby. I don't treat my kids with flea treatments if they don't actually have any and it is the same for my dogs.

tk123

Knine wrote: »

I just use the little green tick removers. I have never needed them yet for my own dogs but did use them on a friends. I only treat for fleas etc if I find them on the dog which thankfully has never been needed despite my hobby. I don't treat my kids with flea treatments if they don't actually have any and it is the same for my dogs.

Come to think of it we have one as well and I don't even know here it came from - It's green so maybe zooplus lol?! No ticks/fleas/worms to treat here either for the city slickers. A neighbor had Lyme disease this summer after being in Kerry I think.

Springwell

Bravecto and Nexgard are the only two which kill ticks within 12 hours of attachment preventing diseases like Lymes and Canine Babesia (like Redwater in cattle).

Yes, there is scare mongering about Bravecto - there is no scientific basis for it and the adverse reactions reported don't tally with the hysteria, if you push people you'll usually find it's a friend of a friend hear say type thing. I've seen hundreds if not thousands of dogs treated with Bravecto now and know of 2 with reactions; one was "off colour/off food" for a day and one vomited immediately after being fed the tablet. Both were fine when given the tablet after a meal on subsequent treatments

tk123

Springwell wrote: »

Bravecto and Nexgard are the only two which kill ticks within 12 hours of attachment preventing diseases like Lymes and Canine Babesia (like Redwater in cattle).

Yes, there is scare mongering about Bravecto - there is no scientific basis for it and the adverse reactions reported don't tally with the hysteria, if you push people you'll usually find it's a friend of a friend hear say type thing. I've seen hundreds if not thousands of dogs treated with Bravecto now and know of 2 with reactions; one was "off colour/off food" for a day and one vomited immediately after being fed the tablet. Both were fine when given the tablet after a meal on subsequent treatments

Maybe the list of possible reactions on their homepage is helping with the scaremongering

Bravecto has not been shown to be effective for 12-weeks' duration in puppies or kittens less than 6 months of age. Bravecto Chew: The most common adverse reactions recorded in clinical trials were vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, polydipsia, and flatulence. Bravecto is not effective against lone star ticks beyond 8 weeks of dosing. Bravecto Topical for Dogs: The most common adverse reactions recorded in clinical trials were vomiting, hair loss, diarrhea, lethargy, decreased appetite, and moist dermatitis/rash. Bravecto is not effective against lone star ticks beyond 8 weeks of dosing. For topical use only. Avoid oral ingestion. Use caution in dogs with a history of seizures. Seizures have been reported in dogs receiving fluralaner, even in dogs without a history of seizures. Bravecto Topical Solution for Cats: The most common adverse reactions recorded in clinical trials were vomiting, itching, diarrhea, hair loss, decreased appetite, lethargy, and scabs/ulcerated lesions. Bravecto is not effective against American dog ticks beyond 8 weeks of dosing. For topical use only. Avoid oral ingestion. The safety of Bravecto has not been established in breeding, pregnant and lactating cats. Use with caution in cats with a history of neurologic abnormalities. Neurologic abnormalities have been reported in cats receiving Bravecto, even in cats without a history of neurologic abnormalities.

muddypaws

Choc Chip wrote: »

Back.... how on earth did you get a tick on your back muddypaws?! .

)

I have absolutely no idea. The only thing I can think of is that some of my washing was blown off the line and was in long grass, I was in a rush to go out and just put one of the sports bras on, so maybe it was on that, as it bit me under the bra back.

A friend then had one on her stomach!

muddypaws

DBB wrote: »

How come there's no concern about being bitten by an Irish tick? Lyme disease is in Ireland... I know a couple of people who have contracted it.

Maybe I picked her up wrong, she asked was it around here, maybe she meant there is no risk locally, is it geographical?

tk123

muddypaws wrote: »

A friend then had one on her stomach!

My friend had a boob tick lol! LOL OP have you a tick remover for yourself?

Springwell

tk123 wrote: »

Maybe the list of possible reactions on their homepage is helping with the scaremongering

Bravecto has not been shown to be effective for 12-weeks' duration in puppies or kittens less than 6 months of age. Bravecto Chew: The most common adverse reactions recorded in clinical trials were vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, polydipsia, and flatulence. Bravecto is not effective against lone star ticks beyond 8 weeks of dosing. Bravecto Topical for Dogs: The most common adverse reactions recorded in clinical trials were vomiting, hair loss, diarrhea, lethargy, decreased appetite, and moist dermatitis/rash. Bravecto is not effective against lone star ticks beyond 8 weeks of dosing. For topical use only. Avoid oral ingestion. Use caution in dogs with a history of seizures. Seizures have been reported in dogs receiving fluralaner, even in dogs without a history of seizures. Bravecto Topical Solution for Cats: The most common adverse reactions recorded in clinical trials were vomiting, itching, diarrhea, hair loss, decreased appetite, lethargy, and scabs/ulcerated lesions. Bravecto is not effective against American dog ticks beyond 8 weeks of dosing. For topical use only. Avoid oral ingestion. The safety of Bravecto has not been established in breeding, pregnant and lactating cats. Use with caution in cats with a history of neurologic abnormalities. Neurologic abnormalities have been reported in cats receiving Bravecto, even in cats without a history of neurologic abnormalities.

So most of it is for a topical spot on which was unavailable in Ireland until very recently

Jut for comparison...this is the list of side effects for human Aspirin which is sold over the counter and in most supermarkets etc

Abdominal or stomach pain, cramping, or burning
black, tarry stools
bloody or cloudy urine
change in consciousness
chest pain or discomfort
confusion
constipation
convulsions, severe or continuing
dark urine
decreased frequency or amount of urine
diarrhea
difficult breathing
drowsiness
fainting
fast breathing
feeling that something terrible will happen
fever
general tiredness and weakness
greatly decreased frequency of urination or amount of urine
headache
heartburn
increased thirst
indigestion
irregular heartbeat
light-colored stools
loss of appetite
loss of consciousness
lower back or side pain
muscle cramping and weakness
muscle tremors
nausea or vomiting
nervousness
numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
panic
rapid, deep breathing
restlessness
seizures
skin rash
stomach cramps
swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
upper right abdominal or stomach
vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
weakness or heaviness of the legs
weight gain
yellow eyes and skin

Alun

Ticks, once they've landed on you, crawl to find somewhere nice and warm, hence the kinds of places they end up, ie 'crevices' for want of a better word I had one in an area only men have, if you get my drift :eek:

DBB

Alun wrote: »

Ticks, once they've landed on you, crawl to find somewhere nice and warm, hence the kinds of places they end up, ie 'crevices' for want of a better word I had one in an area only men have, if you get my drift :eek:

Not...
Not.... Your beard? :-o

Knine

DBB wrote: »

Not...
Not.... Your beard? :-o

Some women have beards too

DBB

Knine wrote: »

Some women have beards too

I thought that as I posted... But I didn't like to say

muddypaws

Well this thread has taken a turn that I didn't expect

Alun

DBB wrote: »

Not...
Not.... Your beard? :-o

No

boomerang

Ms Doubtfire1 wrote: »

I would tke vet recommandations with a pinch of salt when it comes to those items - they are being paid to push the sales for certain treatments, just like pharmacies.

Not always true. My vet for example never recommends flea treatment unless the dog has fleas. People can have a very suspicious view of vets and in most cases it's unfounded. They just want what's best for the animal.

boomerang

muddypaws wrote: »

spoke with my GP yesterday about it, she wasn't concerned, as it was here in Ireland that I had been bitten.

Just be mindful muddypaws that it is an emerging disease in Ireland (most prevalent thus far in the west.)

tk123

boomerang wrote: »

Not always true. My vet for example never recommends flea treatment unless the dog has fleas. People can have a very suspicious view of vets and in most cases it's unfounded. They just want what's best for the animal.

Everyone doses their dogs religiously around here per the local vets protocol - they must all be flea bags except our 2 lol

Our neighbour had Lyme disease this summer after being in Kerry