In the latest article on The Labrador Site, we take a look at what to do if your Labrador has a tick. Including how to safely remove it, and what tick disease symptoms you need to look out for: Ticks On Dogs: Bites, Removal & Diseases
Hideous things. We've used Seresto collars in the past with great effect although they have to come off when swimming in order not to impact aquatic life, they prevent bites. We're using Bravecto this year even though it doesn't prevent the initial bite as I've found ticks whenever we've used spot ons.
We've used Nexguard, which is a tablet like the Bravecto, though it's only good for 1 month (not 3 months like Bravecto). One important thing is not to scratch at the tick, squeeze it, or try to scrape it off - that really annoys them!
Hate, hate, HATE ticks! I see far too many of the blasted things. I've luckily never seen one as engorged as that one in the article, though. Ewwwww...
Big fan of Bravecto here , we walk in deer forests most days , ticks are rife , I like the fact that I can relax for three months .
So I just called Obi's vet to get Bravecto for him and he said he didn't stock it or recommend it due to concern over some of the stories around the possible side effects (including death). He felt there are suitable alternatives which he has more confidence in. Riley's vet on the other hand (yes they're at two different vets) is happy to prescribe it. I'm really torn as I know plenty of people that use it with no bother but I'm worried if Obi is one of the dogs that reacts badly I'll be gutted.
I saw this report before deciding to go over to it: http://yourpetsneedthis.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Bravecto-fluralaner-ADE-report.pdf In a two and a half year period, 27 deaths by euthanasia of dogs where fluralaner and afoxolaner were mentioned were in the CVM's Adverse Drug Event database. Bravecto only contains fluralaner, (NexGard is afoxolaner). There is no guarantee that the deaths were caused by either one of these drugs, as it could have been any other drug that the dog was taking at the time - or something else. On the other hand, I know that not all cases where adverse reactions occurred will be reported in the database. But, for me, those numbers were low enough to be inconsequential. It would be interesting to hear of any studies Obi's vet has to make him consider it unsafe
Yes I will be popping in tomorrow to speak with him and ask him exactly that. He's quite old school so it may be that he's going with anecdotal and doesn't think the risk is worth it as he's happy with the alternatives. He said he would order it if I definitely wanted it but he's not choosing to stock or recommend it at the moment. Snopes said it couldn't find evidence that the suggestion Bravecto caused death in some dogs was true. Will let you know what, if anything, I find out.
My vet also doesn't stock it, or prescribe it. He says only because he hasn't had time to look into it all properly. Charlie currently has a large lump on top of his head where OH took a tick of him. OH didn't know about tick tools. He does now. The vet said to just keep an eye on it, if it gets sore looking to take him back in for ABs. I'm just about to give Charlie a dose of Advantix, for the last two years one dose has lasted him through tick season.
I guess it's still relatively new as treatments go. I've just taken a massive tick off Obi (with a tick tool ) Riley had a Bravecto tablet not long ago. I may well try Advantix, that's certainly what Obi's vet would like me to use it's just I hate the topical stuff with Lizzie around but if I do it on a Tuesday night she'll have three days at childcare/pre-school and won't come into contact with the dogs too much.
I was very happy with how well Advantix worked for everyday stuff, and I'd still be using it if it wasn't for the sheer number of ticks at the Spanish property. The thing I prefer about the topical stuff is that it's a deterrent as well as killing the bugs, so they don't tend to get bitten in the first place (at least, nowhere near as much as with just the Bravecto). It's all very well killing critters once they've bitten, but it doesn't stop the site getting red and itchy. Poor Willow was really uncomfortable from bites on her tummy after our trip to the house two weekends ago, when she was only covered by the Bravecto. I suppose it all really depends on how prevalent bugs are in the areas you're going to have your dogs.
The first tick I found on Homer I rushed him up to the emergency vet! It was a Sunday late afternoon and I couldn't, or wouldn't pull it off. She was lovely and gave us one of those tick hooks.
Maybe a stupid question.....why are the topical preparations repellants and not the Bravecto? The topical stuff can't migrate all over the dog's fur to act as a barrier. I would assume the topicals also work by absorption and become systemic. So why does a Bravecto dog need a bite to work, but a Frontline/Advantix dog not? (I am sure you guys have read all about this - I am being lazy here perhaps......)
I didn't think that the fact Advantix repels ticks (and fleas, mossies etc) was to do with it being topical, I thought it was to do with the ingredients. Frontline is topical and doesn't have a repellent effect.
So i went to the vet today to sort out tivk treatment for Obi. The vet wasnt available but the receptionist/vet assistant was well briefed. Theyd obviously discussed it since my call. We started again from the beginning.....The only two options that repel ticks are advantix spot on or seresto collar. All other options whether tablet or spot on have the same ingredient that kills ticks. Spot ons do go into the dogs system just via the skin rather than the stomach. Obi's vet is much more keen on repelling ticks rather than killing them as he views this as lower risk. He has also read an article in a vet magazine very recently that said Bravecto had caused deaths. I haven't seen the article so I'm unsure of the proof for that statement. On that basis until he knows more he is not recommending it's use. He's happy to order it for a dog like Riley who's previously taken it with no ill effects and if I insisted he would order it for Obi but he'd rather we used something he has full confidence in. So Obi is going on to advantix and we'll see how we go
Well, I suppose one of the reasons we get this stuff from a vet is because they do look carefully at what they prescribe. So, I guess with a new product we have to wait for our vets to look into it. It's fair enough, really - not sure we'd expect anything else. In a way, it's good.
Yup I'm happy he errs on the side of caution I'm just lazy and selfish and a 3 month tablet suits me much better than monthly spot ons. I have to keep the dogs apart while it drys and keep lizzie off the dogs. Ho hum definitely not the end of the world
I don't use advantix monthly, or advocate. I used to, but then had Charlie tested for parasites, inc internal parasites, and switched to 6/7 weekly, then the vet told me to only reapply advantix when I saw another tick - and I never did!
Yes I may well take a similar approach. Dose him once and then the next time I see a tick dose him again. If we fall below monthly due to swimming or similar I shall think again....
