Which flea/tick preventative? - Page 1

So, we never really use flea/tick preventatives from November through March just because we have never had fleas or ticks (typically don't even have them in October or April either) then. Actually we never have fleas regardless for some reason, just ticks.........But considering this year ticks are already starting to show up here (one of my family members had one on her just a couple of days ago when outside for a while), I was wandering what do you guys use that is effective for fleas/ticks. Preferably something that would be effective against ticks since fleas for some reason never are in our yard.  We've used Comfortis in the past, but it doesn't really prevent the ticks from getting on and biting the dogs.  

I use Frontline Plus as needed (when I see ticks and am tracking rurally).

Being in Michigan...I had to get used to NOT using Flea/Tick Preventatives 12 months of the year...or HeartWorm Preventatives...The vets up here say to use something from July to November...


I began using Frontline Plus ONCE a year...and then only 1/2 of the dosage that was recommended...It worked for me...but...

...last year I began using "DE"...Giving the Human/Food Grade Internally everyday in their food...I didn't have a Flea or Tick problem and last year was a bad year for Ticks...It's just something that's worth trying...If it works for you...then great...If not then you haven't lost too much...a 20 lbs bag of Food Grade "DE" at TSC is only about $13.00...And you can still use it around the hosue...barn or kennel...

"DE" is more natural and a great alternative to the other more harmful preventatives...I'm not one that likes putting more and more chemicals on my dogs...

~Bob~

I'm afraid to say that the only way for tick products to work is for the tick to get on the dog. There is nothing yet that repels ticks. Amatraz prevents ticks for feeding and kills them. But you see them walking around on the dog. My mom has a horriable tick problem in the islands and i send her the Tick Arrest collars, last for 3 months and they really work. She even takes the extra piece that she cuts off the big dog collars and swes them onto the little dog's collar. Even a little 2" piece works.
I personally don't believe in garlic as a tick repellent. As i had two clumber spaniels infest the kennel i worked at during X-mass time. They were covered in ticks and soon as the owner left we discovered the extent of the problem. Even with dips, collars, and spraying the kennels daily we had ticks crawling all over the place. She claimed that she gave the dogs a peg of raw garlic each daily for tick control. (Total Fail!)
Promeris also works very well, but ticks are not a problem in my area.
On the other hand Tampa is where they come to test flea products because we have them so damn bad.

So maybe I should get a regular preventative for my dogs (to be safe in case we did have fleas this year) and treat the yard?  The fields are going to be the culprit of ticks soon when the grass grows up as high as it does.  I'm so surprised that fleas just.....don't come around this area.   VKGSDs some people around this area have said frontline never worked for their dogs anymore, that's why I've always just avoided it. 

dragonfry I talked to someone who tried garlic as well. She did it every month, but........never worked.  Actually her dogs were being eaten with fleas.   I don't know if she ever switched to a good preventative or what.   What is Promeris? Or who sells it?

I don't know if Frontline really works or not.  I've pulled a few dog ticks off my dog.  Honestly I've never had a flea problem and since I live in the city we don't have ticks.  I just check my dog over after we track rurally.  He did wear a Preventic collar for a while.

K9 Advantix has a repellent in it as well.  I read a huge write up on Promeris and many dogs became ill from it.. My vet changed from carrying frontline to a newer repellent with Promeris in it that supposedly had great reviews she pulled it off her shelves because some of her clients dogs got sick.  A friend of mine used it and her dogs got sick.  I had purchased it but hadn't used it so I returned it.  I have used Advantix and saw no adverse reactions from my dogs.  I still hate the stuff, but I pulled 2 ticks off my girl yesterday time to treat....
 
  Lyn  

Looks like Promeris has been discontinued, but any product with Amitraz kills ticks. Preventic collar work great. Last for 3 months. Fleas are my biggest problem around here. I only see ticks if i have coons in the yard.

Promeris is dangerous stuff. I'd not use it after reading reviews. 

I've been using DE around the yard and have also used lime pellets. On top of that, I've started using the spot on Sentry Natural Defense and it seems to work well for about 3 weeks (not 4 as advertised). So far, so good. 

PROMERIS .. brought to you by FORT DODGE who also brought you a whole bunch of very cheap and very dangerous vaccines.  FORT DODGE has a habit of testing their products on dogs and pets without regard for the health consequences they should have known before it was sold in dogs.  Please recall the moxidectin injectable they sold for six month long heartworm control that killed and screwed up a whole bunch of dogs before they pulled it.  They pulled it before it was forced into recall as they still sell the injectable in sheep.  That's right they were selling a cheap as hell sheep product that sickened your dog and they got $60+ for a $2 product they sold in sheep.  Veterinarians signed on because it was prescription in dogs and they had control of who could get it unless you were a sheep farmer where it is not prescription.  I never use any product with the FORT DODGE name on it and any veterinarian that uses their vaccines or any other products will never have my business for anything.