Hike with Ami on the Finger Lakes trail - Sat and again today. He was full of seeds and burrs so I was cleaning his fur. Sat. found 4 unattached teeny ticks, today SEVEN! They were all unattached and about the size of the head of a common pin (for those of you that sew - for those that don't, those annoying pins in new men's dress shirts...). Fortunately, they were easy to see in Ami's cream and pale apricot fur. So I guess it's worth it to go over your dog after being in tick territory - they were relatively easy to spot and to remove (he does have the preventic collar on so it's possible they were fleeing the chemical or slowed from it. Don't know.)

Am looking online now for rose geranium oil for his harness.

Also - does anybody know if cedar flakes in his dog house help with ticks? I'm asking 'cause all sources say nothing is 100% with ticks and need a multi-pronged approach to prevention.

Ok - make that 10 ticks tonight on Ami, one on Wayne and one on me. None were attached though I think I found mine as it was attempting to attach - I felt a pin prick itch/stab sensation behind my ear, scratched it and there was a tick on my finger.

I do believe the preventic collar is working - all the ticks I found on Ami were on the surface of his fur, mostly the top of his head or on the stop...like they were crawling away from the collar. Still gonna use the rose geranium oil - see if I can stop them from even hitching a ride!

Yikes! That is a lot of ticks! Hope the oil works as well for you. I don't even know what I'd do if I encountered a tick. Ugh.

Amy and others I found these things around the web to share with you hope one of these things help.

"Create a citrus based repellant. Ticks avoid citrus, which makes it an effective weapon. To make: Boil 2 cups of water, and add two chopped lemons, limes, oranges, or grapefruit—–alone or in combination. Let it boil for a minute or so, then simmer the concoction for an hour. Strain the fruit out, let it cool, pour into the sprayer, and squirt it on you, your kids, your pets, your yard—–anywhere ticks might like to go."

"Creating a path of cedar chips around areas where your pet spends most of their time will stop ticks from getting in that area. Cedar chips are also good for repelling fleas, but they are toxic to pets, so if you use them, monitor your pet to make sure they aren’t eating any chips."

Diatomaceous Earth and Apple Cider Vinegar as well as the oils, are all useful. I understand that D. Earth is excellent but you have to be careful of the dust when you put it down so that you and your dog don't inhale it.

Renee

Ugg our ticks are not as bad, I use the rose geranium and the cedarwood oil on my collars and harnesses. (I also supplement with ACV sometimes) I like this website to get info from www.experience-essential-oils.com I have made my own flea and tick spray for me and the dogs from this site!

Also check out the Diatomaceous Earth for rubbing in fur before the hike! DE for Dogs

Wow 10!! Thats crazy! Ive never seen a tick on koda yet, im hoping if he does ever get one that i will be able to see it. His dark colorful coat would make it hard i think. The fiance a few years ago was has a tick and ended up getting lymes. She was in the hospital for a lil while. She freaks out now if she even hears the name.