Tick Preventives - Page 1

Wanted some opinions on what tick preventive to use; we're currently using FRONTLINE SPOT ON as well as the FRONTLINE SPRAY but wanted to see if anyone recommends using a further preventive for extra protection? Such as tick-baths or a tick collar?

Though I am reluctant to use those as I have heard they can be harmful to the dog if used often? I would still like to hear peoples opinion as ticks are a real problem for us.

Are there any 'natural' tick preventives that we can use along with FRONTLINE? I've heard garlic and apple cider vinegar being mentioned as good at repelling ticks? Has anyone used these methods?

And lastly, other than keeping the grass trimmed and the garden clean, is there anything we can do / use in the garden to kills ticks? Obviously nothing that will affect the dogs though.

So, please share your advice and experience.

THANKS!

Henry,
Too much and you will kill your poor dog.
Read the labels and follow instructions, don't mix different products.
Forget all the crap you have heard.

If you have ticks in a garden then you also have rabbits and squirrels, other dogs, cats and deer in your garden, thats how they travel.   

I got tired of the chemicals and stopped using them all together, there's no way you have as many ticks as I do.
I pick the gorged females off and kill them so they cannot reproduce (lay eggs).  

I've used both the Frontline plus and kennel dips, but not together.   Both can be dangerous to animals, including humans and not limited to just dogs.   Thats why it's called poison.

Pick one product and stick with it, there is no magic bullet.   Or live with the ticks.
I choose to live with the ticks for a while and see how things go, I will test in the fall for any disease.
The odds are in my favor.

You will find all kinds of cures and remedies it's up to you,  I believe some of these remedies are more harm than good.
A tick is nothing to freak out over no matter what you hear.

Moons.

What part of the country are you in? If you have woods on your property you want to create a mulch boarder between it and your yard. Ticks don't like crossing it. Anything you can do to prevent deer and white footed mice, the two main vectors, is a plus.

You have to decide how bad the problem is and try to use the least amount of product that will do the job. In otherwords, keep the chemicals, which are poisons to a minimum. I would vaccinate my dog for lymes, too. I choose to remain vigilant and check for ticks often in the course of daily grooming.

Oh and don't forget the Mosquitoes, I do still use heartworm preventative.

As for us humans we were just warned about West Nile virus being found in several places.

It's always something isn't it.

Moons.