Creepy crawlies, it is tick season again!
By loujac3
@loujac3 (1188)
United States
April 23, 2007 8:13pm CST
I took my dog for a long walk yesterday and he was in and out of the weeds. I use a tick and flea medication on him but it only works if the tick or flea bites him.
Now you must understand, I let my dog sleep in my bed with me since I live alone. I gave not thought to bugs and I really like snuggling up to my dog.
I was sitting here at my computer typing away when I felt something crawling on my scalp and I went to scratch at it. I pulled a tick out of my hair, it had not attached itself yet. Now I grew up around these when I lived in Oklahoma and they are gross, to say the least. This tick was not a deer tick. Deer ticks are harder to find in the hair. I now have the creepy crawlies since I found that tick. I always wonder why we feel this way even if there isn't another critter on us. Got any great natural remedies or deterrants to ward off our summer time bugs like ticks, fleas and mosquitoes?
Do you have any good stories to throw into this discussion?
3 people like this
4 responses
@filmbuff (2909)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I hate fleas and ticks also, althrough around here flee's seem to be worse than ticks. I use frontline on my dog as it has always seemed to work really well. I found a trick for killing flee's and ticks (and other bugs) in the yard that I thought I'd share. If you add some bleech to water, (like 1/4 bleech) and spray your yard once a month or so it seems to kill most bugs including flee's and ticks.
I hate the creepy crawly sensation you are talking about. I think what happens is that once we realize that we had an insect on us, we get hyper sensitive and start scanning our skin and hair for sensesations that could be bugs. Naturally we now notice the slight difference, that normally we would pay no heed to.
1 person likes this
@loujac3 (1188)
• United States
29 Apr 07
Now that sounds like a wonderful idea! I would have never thought of something as simple as bleach to work in the yard on fleas and ticks. I use it to get moss off the patio bricks. I use frontline on my dog also. A tick just happened to catch a ride on the dog into my bed. The frontline only works if the tick or flea bite the dog.
Thanks for that great idea!
1 person likes this
@filmbuff (2909)
• United States
30 Apr 07
Environmentally I'm not sure if it's a great idea, so just be carefull with how much you use. It really doesn't take much to make a difference though and in retrospect I think 1/4 solution is waaay too much. I'm sure if too much is used it will kill grass and stuff too.
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
29 Apr 07
I put some garlic in my dogs' food, along with some warm water. They love it AND the garlic deters fleas and mosquitoes. I'm not sure if it works on ticks but we've never had one so it might! I'm in Pennsylvania and we're loaded with deer ticks too. But for us, the garlic has worked wonderfully to deter parasites from our dogs.
I have heard that adding a tablespoon of vinegar to their water works but it never worked for me and my dogs didn't seem overly fond of drinking it. Other people say their dog is fine with it but mine didn't like it. I figure since I'm Italian and use garlic constantly anyways, why not simply add it to the dogs food! LOL
@loujac3 (1188)
• United States
30 Apr 07
I agree with the garlic. It is sold in the pet stores in capsules to give to your dog. I make my own dog biscuits and I add things that help like garlic. My dog loves the biscuits and I make them for friends that have dogs. I just made another batch this evening since Tec ate the last batch. He gets so excited when he smells them coming out of the oven.
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
24 Apr 07
I hate those little blood suckers, lol. When we lived in Indiana, my daughter called me from her work. She was frantic and crying. She had a tick in her ear. She wouldn't let her co-worker near her to pull it out. She wanted me to come and do it. So, I drove 25 miles to pull a tick out of my daughters ear at 8:00 at night, so she'd quit freaking out. LOL I hate them too, but at least I can pull them out on my own. Gotta love her though.
1 person likes this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
24 Apr 07
I too found a tick on my puppy a few days ago. I hate those things. I keep tick and flea mediction on him so I just cant imagine how he got it. He too sleeps with me sometimes. So I am a bit uneasy. I need to go purchase some new meds for him and our cats.
Dawn dish detergent is supposed to be good to bath them in. it is said that fleas and ticks dont like it.
@loujac3 (1188)
• United States
24 Apr 07
I was just talking to my sister in Oklahoma and she mentioned Dawn detergent. I was worried that it might dry my dog's skin or irritate his stomach if he happened to lick some of it. He is really sensitive! I will remember it and try it after our next long hike. I must also tell my daughter about it because she takes her dog out every week and he gets covered in ticks from the high weeds. She uses the medication, too, but it only works on the bugs if they bite and suck on the blood. Darn! Now I am starting to get the creepy crawlies again! I took Tec for another long walk this evening and along the same path.
Thank you for that wonderful tip!
