Warning - Ticks are out

Just thought Id warn everyone that though we had a rough winter it seems the ticks are already out - I have found my first one of the season attached to my arm this past week. Though keep in mind - they LOVE me for some reason, every year I lose track of the number I find on me. Take care!

Thanks for the heads up. I've only found one on me and that was last year.

X

I wish!! They really do adore me... I once went through the woods and must have gone through a nest of nymphs (I think that's right, very tiny ones) - I came out with tiny black dots ALL over both legs... looked like I walked through black spray paint, must have been a hundred or so. Thankfully they were young and couldn't attach as well as the adults - though they seemed to try. I sprayed myself don with some bug spray and took a shower, only found a few after that still attached. But that's an extreme case - usually just one or two every time I am out in the woods or gardening or really anywhere there even might be a tick.. and i seem to find it. Hopefully the rough winter killed off a bunch... I hope :-)

Jenn

They love me too; I can't go in the woods during the summer without a lot of bug spray.
I found two on my rat terrier in the last few days. Yuck.
Barb

Chiggers are in full swing now,too! Got 3 Wednesday, and 2 more today. I HATE these%$&@& silent sneaky critters!

oh boy, not those too... thankfully they dont seem to like me as much as ticks, now that I have said that I'll probably find a nest of them this summer.

wishing everyone the best! hope the bugs stay away from you but enrich your gardens :-) hehehe

Yes, they are definitely here. I thought the cold winter would decrease their numbers, but in the past week I've found two on myself and three on pets. Do I dare hold out hope that at least the fleas might have been negatively affected by the cold? (Please?)

nope, sorry - already heard of problems...

edited to add - my vet office is having problems as well as my mom with fleas already, yikes!

This message was edited Apr 9, 2010 4:43 PM

it's the no seeums I can't handle. but I think I have some chiggers back of my knee. And the dog has come home with about six ticks already. Despite Frontline.

I was hoping the harsh winter would help us out... like yote, but it does not sound like a good start :-(

Frontline has not worked on our dog for several years. Vet says the fleas have built up an immunity to it.
K9 Advantix is still effective. Advantage works but for fleas only, and there is a new once a month pill, I can't remember the name, that is the new favorite around here but my dog can't take it because of other health issues.

I actually have not seen any ticks yet but the no see ums are out in droves around here.

We had to switch from Frontline to Advantage for similar reasons, ardesia. We have ticks galore here, but rarely find one "attached" to the dogs. One or two last year, and we have three of the canine critters, and lots of woods. And two old cats. No ticks or fleas on them, either... just us humans that seem at risk!

We use the Advantage Multi (for heart worm and fleas) on our rat terrier, who is a real flea magnet. It seems to be working better this year. She still has fleas, but not as many.

What a snuggly little cutie! Although they are expensive and have to be used daily the Capstar pills work well in between applications of the topical stuff.

I have heard that with the frontline - but I cant use Advantix as it is harmful if ingested by a cat.. I have one cat who bathes my dogs so I just cant risk it... so we do a multitude of things to attempt to keep the flea population in check, at least. I use a spray on my floors if I notice any of them seem to be itching more than normal, with this I first vacuum EVERY where, under and over and in between, then I try to follow direction on spray can... being sure that I dump my vacuum outside quickly after completing. I also use a spray on my yard - which I have not yet done this year (bad kid) - for ticks and I believe it also covers fleas... I also switch around frontline and revolution sometimes, I want to say I have also used one or two other products in rotation but I have also resorted to capstar but due to the short active period, I have to really be justified to use it on 8 big dogs.
I just went to look it up - I dont think I have ever tried Advantage... not sure if there was a reason or not though... humm Ill have to remember, hehehe.

Wishing everyone a flea and tick free summer!!

"Wishing everyone a flea and tick free summer!!" Love the thought, but not sure where I could move, to make that happen.....certainly no where in the Carolinas...

Just a good thought... :-) I have now lost count of the number of ticks I have found attached to myself... but, knock on wood, I haven't seen fleas at my house (im sure they are just hiding, waiting for me to say this... )

Here in Granville County we have been seeing ticks since March also. They are obviously a problem, but the chiggers really attack me. If I kneel down to plant or weed, I am assured of itching by the next day - in spite of trying to shower well and soon in hopes of washing them off. Some years they are worse than others - but always a nuisance. Fortunately, they do not cause illness other than a potential infection from scratching (sometimes in most unladylike places!)

I have only had one tick on me since I have moved to NC from MI (2 years ago). It was not attached though! I did find a tick attached on the inside of my Aussie pup's ear. Another tick on my second dog yesterday in his ear too. Time to get aggressive with the tick treatments!!! I do seperate flea and tick treatments. With three dogs all in different weight categories I really cannot afford to buy frontline, advantix, etc. I am trying the Preventic collar with 9% Amitraz for the ticks. Read a ton of great reviews so here is hoping that it works!

i havent seen any ticks yet but these spider type red things not chiggers as part black barely see able but can been biting me to no end. squish them it leaves orange spot. man am i allergic to them. think rather have tick at least i can see it and kill it