Ticks and Frontline Plus

Greetings!

I have a question for everybody. What, in your opinion, is the absolute best product to treat your dogs from getting ticks. Or is there such a thing. I have read and was told that Frontline Plus is really good.

We have a one year old german shepherd that wandered onto our property. After trying to find the previous owner and couldn't, decided to keep her.

We have about 8 acres of land, and towards the back of our property, there is a creek. Our land is not fenced, but Shadow manages to stay close to the house. But given then chance, she will go back to the creek.

Anyway, whenever there is a thunderstorm, or threatening weather, we get her inside our house. On good weather days, she sleeps on our deck with a big dog pillow.

We used Frontline Plus on her for fleas and ticks. But I have noticed that whenever she comes in our house, even after putting the treatment on her, she manages to bring the ticks inside. I don't know if they die after biting her or not, but I am constantly finding them on the carpet and on a loveseat that she occupies while inside.

We have 4 little dogs that are mainly indoor only and I do not want them getting bit by whatever she might bring in.

So, my question is, again, what is the absolute best product out there for ticks? It is almost impossible to keep Shadow from going down to the creek. Assuming that is where she is picking these things up from.

 

Some questions for you...

How often do you apply the Frontline Plus?

Is she swimming alot?

When you apply it, how long before she goes to the pond and gets wet?

Are you bathing her before putting it on? If so, how long after the bath are you waiting to apply it? Where are you applying it?

Are your inside dogs protected as well?

 

Frontline Plus for ticks

We are planning on applying it monthly. We haven't had her that long and it hasn't been that long for the next dose.

We apply it just as the directions say and as our vet advised. Starting at the back of the neck, spreading the hair so the skin shows and so we get it on the skin and not the hair. And random places down the back, again, parting the hair to get the skin instead. And only going down to about the middle of the back. Our vet said not to go down all the way, or she will be able to lick it off.

And, we have not bathed her. In fact, we didn't let her off of our deck for about 2 days (only to go to the bathroom) because we didn't want her getting wet after the treatment. And then when we did let her off to go to the bathroom, she was on a leash.

Our other little dogs are treated for the ticks and fleas as well. The ticks seem to show up, only when we let Shadow inside. I don't notice them from the little dogs.

Is Frontline Plus suppose to repel ticks or just kill them once they get on your dog?

 

Well you are putting it on correctly =) I think it only kills them once they are on your animal..not repel them from getting on in the first place. Perhaps the ones you are finding in your house are falling off and dying because they have been on your dog.
I was thinking you weren't putting it on correctly...alot of people put it on immediately after a bath before the dog is even dry or they let their dog swim too soon after putting it on. This time of year I put it on my dogs about every 3- 3.5 weeks, they also have access to two ponds and regualarly swim. I have never found a tick on any of them even though we trail ride in the woods and hike with them. I live in Oregon and I know we have ticks...but maybe not to the extent you do where you are at.
I am not thrilled about putting chemical on them and in the winter months ty not to, of course if I see a flea, it goes on.

 

You must be correct. The ticks I find inside, must be falling off of Shadow, due to the Frontline. I have not found any on her that have been swelled up. And those that I find inside, the same thing, they are not big and swollen. I am not real sure they are dead, I try to just get them up in a paper towel and flush them down the toilet.

So far, haven't seen any fleas either.

 

what is happening is frontline is not a repellant but kills the ticks, so the ticks bite, get the poision then fall off. So you shouldnt have anything to worry about

honeybear

 

I just have to say it...

I prefer to feed my dogs garlic as a natural flea and tick repellant rather than put poison on their skin every month. Because they are raw fed a species-appropriate diet and I limit toxins (such as vaccinations, medications, poisons) as much as possible, they are more likely to be able to fight off anything they come in contact with due to having healthy immune systems.

Naturally, everyone must decide for themselves what they feel is best for their animals.

 

Down here ticks and fleas are HORRIBLE!!!! no matter what we do, we have ticks and fleas. Mya unt got lymes disease from pulling an engorged tick off their bull.....ick...

Anyhow, the best advise I can give you is bathe your dog with a flea AND tick shampoo. Alot of shampoo's are for fleas only... leave it on for the 5 minutes, then rinse thouroughly. Three days later apply the Frontline. Do not let them get wet or give baths for at least a week. The frontline and advantage work with the oils on the dogs skin.

I on the other hand agree with Jamiya. I only use the Frontline during June - August, when they are at the worst (and it still doesn't help much, but some and during those months we're despirate) During the rest of the year I suppliment the dogs with doggie safe garlic. You can get it at Dr Foster and Smiths.

I do regular grooming on my animals. And the brushing and stuff really helps to deter the ticks and knocks off any that are on them.

People get the assumption that ticks stick their WHOLE head in to suck the blood. Thats a complete MYTH. Ticks like mosquiteos' and other blood sucking insects have a provoscus (long sharp tubular mouth) that they insert like a needle to suck the blood and use saliva that is like a glue substance that glues themto the body to preven them from falling off or being scratched off during their feeding.

If you see a tick on your animal. Use a pair of tweezers to pluck the tick off. Becareful not to get the blood on your skin or let the tick bite you. Use alcohol to wipe the bite area on the dog.