I have 3 dogs. Over the past couple of months, I have found 2 ticks (at different times) on 1 of the 3. I don't know a thing about them except they burrow into the skin and suck blood (I think). I know there are a ton of sites where I can research but I'm hoping to hear from Leerburg folks.

How is it that I've had dogs over the past 17 years and suddenly I'm finding them?

I live in the county of Los Angeles. Anyone know if they are prevalent here?

Are they like fleas and I should spray the yard, bedding, etc....?

Does Diatomaceous Earth kill them? (I do administer Frontline but was late with the application)

Do I need to check the dogs everyday for them?

Does checking the dogs simply consist of rubbing down to the skin to feel for them?

Or, does none of this apply if I'm applying Frontline at the 30-day interval as recommended?

Thanks for your help.

I don't know much about ticks, but I'm in Orange County and have never even seen one in real life. Just about a month ago my friend found a tick on one of his three dogs. They hadn't been anywhere woodsy, just suburban OC and Huntington Beach. I had no idea we had ticks around here, especially if they came from the beach. He shaved her to see if he could find more but didn't and did some searching on the other two with nothing. Since we take Conan to lots of parks and also hiking (where I knew there could be some) I was fairly worried about him having some. So far there's none. I'm most worried about Lyme disease since we didn't have him get that vaccination. I guess I don't have many answers but will be following this thread!

 Quote: Katie Finlay

I had no idea we had ticks around here, especially if they came from the beach.

I didn't know either. I've always associated any thoughts of ticks with wooded areas which we are nowhere near and do not travel to.

 Quote: Cathi Kemp

How is it that I've had dogs over the past 17 years and suddenly I'm finding them?

I live in the county of Los Angeles. Anyone know if they are prevalent here?

Are they like fleas and I should spray the yard, bedding, etc....?

Does Diatomaceous Earth kill them? (I do administer Frontline but was late with the application)

Do I need to check the dogs everyday for them?

Does checking the dogs simply consist of rubbing down to the skin to feel for them?

Or, does none of this apply if I'm applying Frontline at the 30-day interval as recommended?

Thanks for your help.

I don't know anything about your location as far as ticks go. But, my guess is there are ticks in all 50 states, in areas that have the right conditions for them. If there are deer, there are going to be ticks. I believe it's white footed mice that are also major tick vectors. Birds drop them (a good reason not to feed birds.) They don't tend to be in cities that much. They do like tall grassy areas.

But, if you've found ticks on your dogs, then you have them around

DE doesn't kill ticks. Frontline does, within 24 hours of attachment. However, if you're not applying it consistently, you can't count on it to work.

Even if you're using Frontline, it's a good idea to check for ticks during tick season (if you're finding them), which is spring and fall. I much prefer to catch them before they attach to my dog (their diseases only pass into the dog, or human, if they're attached). BTW, the safetst way to dispose of them is to put them into a jar with some rubbing alcohol in it. Alternatively, you can place each tick in its own little snack baggie with a little alcohol on a piece of cotton or papertowel (which will kill the tick), label the bag, and keep it for testing in the event your dog comes down with something. I've never gone that route, but some people do.

Checking the dog...depends on your dog and it's coat. With my GSD, I'd comb her with a flea comb (which I refer to as a tick comb), as well as brush her fur backwards to check the skin and the fur from another direction. Also, visual checks of legs and feet and neck/face area while hiking (I carry tick combs with me when we're out, so you can easily puck them off when you see them). Also, feeling the skin for any little bumps. The big problem is in the spring when you're dealing with the nymphs, which can be as small as the period in a sentence on this page. They're much harder to find.

It is a good idea to check daily, during tick seasons. I like to check during and after hikes, like I said, and catch them before they attach.

Pay attention to where you and your dogs are when you find the ticks...are they picking them up in your own yard, or when you're out in the world? I wouldn't spray my yard for ticks, but that's because I don't like the toxic stuff in my yard/environment. Unless you're in a highly infested area, they don't tend to be as prevalent in yards with short grass and a lot of traffic. Stay on the trails when you're out hiking, and stay out of tall grasses and foliage.

leih

We don't even have grass at our house (town home) and we always stay on trail hiking, especially since our closest hiking trails are in mountain lion country. Would'nt want to get lost out there Even on trail you have to be careful.

We use Comfortis on Conan, which does not protect against ticks. While we do check him when we get home, is there anything we can use to protect him otherwise?

I called my vet to ask if they could tell me if this is normal in our area. The receptionist said it's not normal but they have had a couple of clients bring dogs in for ticks. One of the clients was from my city.

She said they sent the ticks out to be analyzed and the results came back as carrying diseases that may be harmful to me and my pets.

So, my plan is to watch my dog and look for symptoms but not run straight to the vet based on the information I received.

Is that dumb or do you agree? (This question goes out to anyone with tick experience)

Thanks for that info Cathi. I'm sure if there are bad ticks in LA the same ones are in OC. We haven't been hiking in a few months because it's been so hot. I really worry about Conan since Corgis are so low to the ground. He picks up a lot of fleas hiking but the Comfortis works really well. I think as long as you don't hang around in the higher risk areas (the tall grass and whatnot) you should be okay. I think that's my plan too.

Well the thing is that we are never near tall grass, wooded areas, foliage, etc......

I will be more diligent about the timing of the Frontline application.

I'm still hoping some tick expert from the Southern Calif. area will pipe in and help us understand why we're suddenly seeing them.

 Quote: Cathi Kemp

So, my plan is to watch my dog and look for symptoms but not run straight to the vet based on the information I received.

Is that dumb or do you agree? (This question goes out to anyone with tick experience)

It's good you checked with your vet.

I still don't know squat about southern CA, but I can tell you that it takes hours of attachment for a tick to transmit disease. So, your best plan is to be religious about checking for ticks, catching them if you can before they're attached, taking them off if they do get attached.

You may want to keep track of when you or your dog was bitten, on a calendar, so that if you do come up with some symptoms, you have a record of when the bites happened.

Tick seasons vary in intensity, I don't know why. I'd guess it has a lot to do with climactic variations and such.

There are some natural products that are based on essential oils you can try as topical treatments if you want. Just go to any good natural foods/products store and you'll find tick preventatives.

And, try not to freak out so much When I lived in CT, I'd come home from hiking every day and take up to 20 ticks off my dog and myself. The trick is to do a thourough check as soon as soon as possible. Doesn't hurt to do another before bedtime (on yourself as well as your dog(s)).

leih

 Quote: leih merigian

And, try not to freak out so much

Haha, I always try to keep telling myself that. I think they scare me so much because I don't know anything about them and I have never even seen one in real life before, only photos. I do know though that there are only a few ticks that actually carry deadly disease (at least I think).

Thanks for your help