Hi there! I'm new here and I have a real problem! I have a 7 month husky and his name is Lycus. Every once in a while I don't have time to take him to the dog park so I just let him go outside into the yard and play with his toys. The thing is, he always comes back in with ticks on him! I put the Frontline on him and it kills them, but it doesn't keep repelling so after about a week or 2 he picks some up again! Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to get rid of them and keep repelling them? I only let him outside for about an hour a day maybe like 2 times a week and he still picks them up.
Thanks for any help guys!

Try putting a drop of rose geranium oil on his collar once or twice per week. You can get it at most natural food/health stores or from amazon.com. It's all natural and won't harm him like some of the chemicals can. Keep it away from cats though, they can't metabolize essential oils and it can kill them.

Hi!
My pup was on Vectra.. from the vet.. he got a couple also..the vet gave us a Scalibor flea and tick collar.. it's a little expensive.. $60 for a six month collar..but it works

prtlad999 wrote:

Hi!
My pup was on Vectra.. from the vet.. he got a couple also..the vet gave us a Scalibor flea and tick collar.. it's a little expensive.. $60 for a six month collar..but it works

That's a pretty strong pesticide (Vectra is too.) I've read a lot about it, but I'll just post the link to the amazon review: http://www.amazon.com/Scalibor-Protector-Band-Dogs-Protection/product-reviews/B00474Q0SQ

After success with oils, we steer clear or chemicals on the dogs. +1 for Merediths suggestion

He only wears the scalibor if we go to a long walking path where there are alot off trees and grass..or to the dog beach.. other than that .it stays in the fridge. He got his first tick at Sandy hook dog beach in Jersey..he is my first dog and I was creeped out!!! Didn't try oils cause I have cats and he has allergies and has sneezin fits at the slightest scent... but maybe I will try the rose geranium oil to see his reaction..

Rose Geranium oil for ticks, I've yet to see a chemical product match its effectiveness and you won't be poisoning your dog in the process.

I wouldn't recommend Vectra, lots of horror stories associated with the product. I'd recommend doing some research on it before deciding to use it so you go in with eyes wide open.

Thanks Val! Noah is my first dog(I am a cat person)..so.. I'm still learning..

I read up on Vectra a little... yes bad stories.. but Noah hasn't had these reactions..only a little bit of
scratching...he has been on it for 2 months.. maybe we will take him off..just to be safe.. I also looked up the Scalibor... Noah has none of the reactions that other dogs have.. but..he doesn't wear that every day.. so we will wait on that.. But, when the Vet tells you something is good.. you trust them, you know1 they are the "Experts".

Wow! Thanks so much guys! I will definitely try the oils first and see what happens!
Thanks again!

Huskyluv wrote:

Rose Geranium oil for ticks, I've yet to see a chemical product match its effectiveness and you won't be poisoning your dog in the process.

I wouldn't recommend Vectra, lots of horror stories associated with the product. I'd recommend doing some research on it before deciding to use it so you go in with eyes wide open.

Would it be as effective if I put rose geranium oil on G&S's collars when we go hiking?

Claudia, that's what we do! I apply it right onto their collars when we go out on long walks/to the dog park/hiking. I even apply it to myself. Works like a charm for the mosquitoes too.

We use them anyway, but we always apply right before an outside venture, just to be safe.

Thanks Megan!
I didn't see why it wouldn't be, but I had to ask anyway.
At home, they don't have collars on, and going to the dog park or walks around the neighborhood would be a tick issue ither - it would just be hiking in the woods...

I guess I'm ordering rose geranium oil!! I just need to have hubby put it on their collars and stay away for a few minutes - essential oils will set off my vertigo!

Honestly, just put it on once you are outside so it wont bother you. It will still work effectively.

If you are taking the dogs hiking in an area known to have a lot of ticks, you can always apply (or re-apply if you already use it weekly) it to their collar and/or harness for added protection, that's what I do when we go hiking in the woods.

I'll be putting drops on their collar and packs/harness! Even on the straps that go around their girth!

cmanding wrote:

I'll be putting drops on their collar and packs/harness! Even on the straps that go around their girth!

When we do warm weather hikes in high tick areas I always put a bit of the oil on the underside of their harnesses as well. And my pack has never picked up a tick with the oils present.

Reviving old thread - we have major tick problems out here in the boonies and will be going to northeastern MA later in the month for new grandchild. Again, major tick problems (son got the bull's eye rash and needed tx for doxy for lyme. So, it's that time of year I need to think about what to do for ticks. He has revolution for heartworm and other things but the tick control is only listed for dog tick, not deer tick which is my major concern - and it looks like efficacy against ticks is only a week or so from application. When we first got him, I used a topical flea and tick and still removed at least 4 ticks in 1 month (actually, not me, blech! hubby removed them with tweezers - he thought using his tick twister on the dog and then in the ED was probably a little unethical  )

So, I found this from Bethesda ag research station: http://www.ntis.gov/search/product.aspx?ABBR=ADA581105

I am also considering Seresto collar, Preventics Collar.

What are people's experience with any of the above?

I've actually used, and I'm currently using, the Preventics Collar. I think it works pretty well when it comes to keeping off ticks and removing some already on the dogs. We have a major tick problem here as well. I personally recommend the Preventics Collar

Amy, we used to have a tick problem with my dogs which is when I did a ton of research and switched over to essential oils.  Since I started using rose geranium oil almost 4 years ago none of my dogs have picked up a single tick and we live with woods behind our house which is loaded with the little buggers. My hubby got a tick bite last summer that resulted in the bulls eye rash and almost a year later, after heavy antibiotics, he's still got a red bump at the bite location...yet the dogs have picked up nothing and they're in the yard far more than us.  I have also gotten several tick bites as well.  I strongly believe in the efficacy of rose geranium oil.

Now since we are in a rental for 6 months while our new house is built, my mom has been keeping my sibe with her at her house for me since I cannot have him in the rental.  She didn't want to deal with essential oils and I didn't want to put topical flea products like Advantix on my dog while he's with her. So I opted for the Bayer Seresto flea/tick collar which is supposed to last 8 months (exactly how long my dog is staying with her) and reasonably water proof assuming you don't bathe your dog too frequently.  My sibe has been wearing his Seresto collar since mid-October, so almost 5 months, and has been completely flea and tick free so it's definitely working.  She lives in Florida where fleas and ticks are a problem all year long so I know that it's working and not that the season is a factor. So I'm pleased with the effectiveness and performance of Seresto. FWIW, my sibe has had 1 bath since he's been wearing the Seresto collar.

So it looks like all 3 options are effective? How do you use the rose geranium oil? How often does it need to be applies? I'm a little leary of using the collars while at my son's - 2 walking grandchildren and a new baby. The amitraz is an MAO inhibitor which can be nasty in certain circumstances. Not that the kids will actually have that much direct contact with Ami - they are too little and he's too...puppy at 60 pounds  And loves everybody, so I have to keep a tight hold of him around the kids. At least until he's calmer and they are bigger.

I normally apply a drop of oil to the collar and harness (on the side facing away from the fur/skin) once a week. If you don't use a harness, just the collar is still fine.  If I will be hiking in the woods or something then sometimes I might apply an extra drop before we head out on our hike.

The Seresto collar my sibe wears is so buried in all his fur that no hands will ever come in direct contact with it unless someone is purposely digging for it.  My sibe is around kids regularly, my 7 yr old and 4 yr old nieces as well as my kids who are 23 months old and 3 months old.  The kids are always playing with him and hugging and petting him and it's never been an issue.

Hey Val, I was wondering if there is a certain brand of Rose Geranium oil that you recommend?

I was looking at this one

Rose Geranium Oil

Brand is not important as long as it's 100% oil and not a blend.

Stupid question but is there a difference between Rose Geranium and Geranium? Also do you think adding a few drops to some water to turn it into a spray would be effective as well? I know people that do this to create a perfume but wasn't sure if using it on the dog would be a good idea as well.

I haven't run into any ticks yet but we have been walking on a local nature trail and I want to make sure I don't have any problems with them in the near future.

You can use either rose geranium or geranium oil. You can also make a spray mixture. I have seen different formulas shared that people use on their dogs. I have never bothered to make a spray since applying a drop directly works just fine and doesn't require any additional steps.