Quote: Originally posted by miss baritone on 24/4/2023
I have a tick removal kit that I got at Aldi a couple of years ago. I refuse to use the serestro collars after one of my collies got a bad chemical burn from them. I use a homemade spray as a flea/tick preventative mainly as we do a lot of dog agility in farmer’s fields and walk in rural heavily wooded areas. So far in 8 years we have only had 3 ticks so I don’t know if the spray works or if my dogs are naturally immune but I’ll keep using it
Hi Miss Baritone
I know you posted this a short while ago, but would be really interested in knowing what you use in your homemade spray, as we hate using unnatural products on our dogs too.
Hope you can help
Many thanks
They hide in the long grass waiting for you to pass and hop onto you then climb up your legs to your crotch where they hide and suck your blood.
If you pull them away with your fingers they leave their mouth parts behind which will cause you to become infected.
Buy a tick removal kit and add it to your activity first aid kit ready for when you meet the critters.
Since they get into those hard to reach places you may need a "friend" to remove them for you.
If you are on your own and wild camping, use your phone to take pics of the bits you can't see...
Avoid pitches where livestock and deer congregate. Also avoid the places where grit has been put down for grouse. The difficult ones are the nymphs. They are tiny, like poppy seeds.
The main thing is to always give yourself and your tent a good check.
Just be aware that DEET is a very good solvent and can dissolve watch straps, watch crystals and other plastic and man made materials.
Permethrin can be used to impregnate clothes and used on bare skin and kills ticks on contact. It doesn't attack plastics.
Quote: Originally posted by Pterodactyl on 13/5/2023
Quote: Originally posted by miss baritone on 24/4/2023
I have a tick removal kit that I got at Aldi a couple of years ago. I refuse to use the serestro collars after one of my collies got a bad chemical burn from them. I use a homemade spray as a flea/tick preventative mainly as we do a lot of dog agility in farmer’s fields and walk in rural heavily wooded areas. So far in 8 years we have only had 3 ticks so I don’t know if the spray works or if my dogs are naturally immune but I’ll keep using it
Hi Miss Baritone
I know you posted this a short while ago, but would be really interested in knowing what you use in your homemade spray, as we hate using unnatural products on our dogs too.
Hope you can help
Many thanks
I double the quantity and put it in a large spray bottle. I add a small amount of water and vodka just to allow the oils to mix when you shake it. The vinegar needs to have the mother. I get mine from Holland & Barrett. The rest I buy from Amazon
------------- Good cakes aren't cheap. Cheap cakes aren't good
"I double the quantity and put it in a large spray bottle. I add a small amount of water and vodka just to allow the oils to mix when you shake it. The vinegar needs to have the mother. I get mine from Holland & Barrett. The rest I buy from Amazon"
Many thanks for this information, we much prefer to use natural products for our dogs. We already have the ACV with the mother, as they have a daily teaspoon or two on their meals.
Looks like an Amazon shop coming up!
Thanks again, much appreciated.
Natural defence: An old boy we know gives his dog (a long haired collie) the tip of a knife of crushed garlic (the ready to use that you buy in a jar) every day on his dinner. He says the dog has never had a tick. However, our spaniels of various varieties have all been tick magnets, despite our trying them on garlic. They have very different fur to a long haired collie though.
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 17/5/2023
Natural defence: An old boy we know gives his dog (a long haired collie) the tip of a knife of crushed garlic (the ready to use that you buy in a jar) every day on his dinner. He says the dog has never had a tick. However, our spaniels of various varieties have all been tick magnets, despite our trying them on garlic. They have very different fur to a long haired collie though.
I've known a few from the Collie rescue charity I volunteer for who advocated Garlic (Some 'experts' consider it toxic to dogs - so worth looking into before adopting!), and other 'natural' remedies as an effective treatment, UNTIL we had a camping rally and many of the dogs on the much hyped 'natural' remedies all succumbed to infestation! The only dogs not infested were the ones using commercial products!
It's easy to judge something a success when based on a lack of risk (if there are no ticks around, you won't be picking them up!), but when exposed to a real risk (there were obviously lots where we were) I'm afraid the 'natural' remedies that had been employed all failed. All those once champions of natural remedies are now avid users of commercial 'chemical' products, the Seresto collar being by far the most popular.
I can only speak as I find, I've seen a number of versions of natural remedies fail before my very eyes, and my own dog wears a Seresto collar and has done for years and we've not had a problem, nor have the the converts to it. I would MUCH prefer a natural preventative to a chemical one, but I'll stick with what I know works and avoid what I know fails.
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 17/5/2023
Natural defence: An old boy we know gives his dog (a long haired collie) the tip of a knife of crushed garlic (the ready to use that you buy in a jar) every day on his dinner. He says the dog has never had a tick. However, our spaniels of various varieties have all been tick magnets, despite our trying them on garlic. They have very different fur to a long haired collie though.
I've known a few from the Collie rescue charity I volunteer for who advocated Garlic (Some 'experts' consider it toxic to dogs - so worth looking into before adopting!), and other 'natural' remedies as an effective treatment, UNTIL we had a camping rally and many of the dogs on the much hyped 'natural' remedies all succumbed to infestation! The only dogs not infested were the ones using commercial products!
It's easy to judge something a success when based on a lack of risk (if there are no ticks around, you won't be picking them up!), but when exposed to a real risk (there were obviously lots where we were) I'm afraid the 'natural' remedies that had been employed all failed. All those once champions of natural remedies are now avid users of commercial 'chemical' products, the Seresto collar being by far the most popular.
I can only speak as I find, I've seen a number of versions of natural remedies fail before my very eyes, and my own dog wears a Seresto collar and has done for years and we've not had a problem, nor have the the converts to it. I would MUCH prefer a natural preventative to a chemical one, but I'll stick with what I know works and avoid what I know fails.
If you read my reply I tried the serestro collar. My dog got a chemical burn from it which is why I no longer use them. I did also say I don’t know if my remedy is actually working or if I’ve just been lucky but certainly other dogs on the fields where we camp have picked up ticks. Mine haven’t. I like to think I’m fairly open minded but I’m not going to use something that has injured my dog. At the same time if I got a flea/ tick infestation I would seek veterinary advice. I don’t automatically rule something out because it is chemical. But at the same time I don’t depend on them
------------- Good cakes aren't cheap. Cheap cakes aren't good
I certainly wouldn't expect you to use a product that injured your dog, I CERTAINLY wouldn't.
I did a fair bit of research into the Seresto collar on both efficacy and risks before I used it on my dog, it was fairly new to the market back then and I didn't know anyone who had used it, also Border Collies often have a genetic abnormality that makes them react very badly to some pest control drugs, so caution is wise. My vet was encouraging use as safe for Collies and it was a POM product then.
My research was a bit deeper than 'googling', my partner worked in the Pharma industry with a background in product development so well accustomed to this kind of research and with access to industry data that's not always in the public domain.
As to bad skin reactions, that is often a reaction to the plastic used to construct the collar rather than the active ingredients and happens with other products of similar material. Still a cause to avoid if not compatible though. It's similar to people not being able to wear rubber gloves.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Ticks 2023
via mobile 13/5/2023 at 8:10am
