UKC

Hi,

We have a 5 month old black lab puppy and are off to Skye in 2.5 weeks. We are wondering what we can do regarding tick prevention. I’m guessing the nymphs are going to be very hard to spot with her thick black coat. We are a little reticent to use those drops / collars that will systemically distribute an insecticide throughout her body although maybe that’s better than the risk of Lymes?

Does your vet have them on a flea and tick treatment already?

Avoidance of heavy tick locations and not going through flora; but imposible if you want to go climbing or walking on Skyee. Constant checks; but again, almost impossible on a black dog.

We have a yellow lab and have traveled Europe with her and NW Scotland is one of the worst places. Luckily, we recognise them on her coat almost instantly, even nymphs. We try to avoid any long grasses etc and check her very often. Perhaps you could use some kind of magnifyer with a light. We also lay her down on a light coloured tarp at the crag.

She also has the colar at the moment, as it covers sandflies in the Mediterranean. It does seem to stop them ever biting. Needs to come off when she swims and can't go near cats.

Excuse my typing/spelling. 

Hi,

No she is not on a flea and tick treatement already. We won't be climbing but will be walking. Would using a fine comb regularly help?

Which collar do you use?

Are they on any parasite protection currently?

A comb may work. They like to climb up and take a while to bite. The problem is, if they have lached on then you may pull them out with the comb, which would be bad. 

Scalibor is the name of the collar.

Bravecto. It works. Dog had some on Dartmoor a short while back, found them dead. Get a tick removal tool too, for you!

Don't underestimate the number of ticks she'll likely pick up....they go right into the fur and you will struggle to remove them all. Also higher risk to you of catching lymes if there's lots of live ones your dog is bringing into the house/tent/van....parasite treatment will kill them when they bite and then you can just pull the dead ones off.

An oral treatment (e.g bravecto/simparica) will shed less into the environment than a spot on esp in terms of swimming if she's a typical lab and likes to do that - it will also work better as it won't be washed off by either that or any baths she may need!

Having had to go on doxycycline myself before, personally I'd take an oral treatment if I could!

This!

This!

Bravecto, every three months. Don’t know why it’s not available for people…it does work.
It also means you’re not rubbing your hand in chemical insecticide every time you stroke them, which is what happens if using the drops at the back of their neck.

My Border Collie is on Brave to and it works well. No ticks since starting on it and no known adverse side effects. A friend of mines dog was on the clinical trail of this medicine. I'm confident about it's use. 

Bravecto it is then thanks.

Strange that your vet doesn't have them on it, or one of the alternatives, already. I'm pretty sure it does not cover all parasites though, possibly lung worm. Usually its one tablet onece every 3 months and then another every 6 months. That gives them full coverage, + plus yearly vaccines. Most vets offer a pet plan which inclues all of the above, but you have to do the calculations to ensure its worth it. Another option is to request a private prescription, for a fee, and then buy them online. 

if you can find a genuinely dependent vet, rather than the 60% that are now corporately owned even if still trading under their previous ‘family-owned’ names, then I would suggest buying from them. They need encouragement not to sell out to the hedge funds etc. The Competition Authority is currently investigating the vet industry…

Best, David