I am looking for opinions about the topical treatments that are available for flea and tick control for dogs.

My Golden Retriever and German Shephard seem to have an excessive number of ticks on them this spring.

I have always used the "Frontline Plus" product on my dogs for control of fleas and ticks, but this spring it just does not seem to be doing the trick for the ticks.

I was at my vet's office yesterday and was advised not to apply the Frontline more than once every 30 days. I also asked about switching to the "Advantix" product and was told that it was less effective for controling ticks but more effective on mosquitos.

Anyone have a preference between the two or know of a better product out there that may help?

Thanks!

Our dogs are fenced off with electric fence which is pulled away front the brushline and we treat that area along with a small portion of the brushline first.

We wait a couple days, return the dogs to the fenced area and treat the remaining property. We live on five acres so it is impossible to treat the entire property so we concentrate on the lawn and woodline.

I still use frontline every 30 days which really does nothing but protect me and my husband...
Stacey

My neighbor is in the bug business and he swears by Talstar.

I have an indoor/outdoor large cat, 23 lbs, and a standard Poodle....never any fleas or ticks on them cause I treat the yard especially the outer edges where they come in from. I do this in the early Spring and then again during July or August.

Works every time, every year.

The reason I was there is because my 3 year old Springer was limping. He tested positive for lyme
So now I have officialy become a "lyme family". My two dogs are like my kids.

I'm not sure how good any of the topical stuff is because the tick still has to bite the dog for it to work. As Stacey said, it probably protects us more than the dog.

The ticks ARE bad this year.

Real electric fence is very inexpensive, easy to install and is not visible unless you are right on top of it.

They sell plastic adaptors you can attach to trees or you can buy the fence posts. We use the green metal fence post which blend in with the trees...

We use the thin rope type with very thin wire running through it and it is much easier to handle than the wire type. This works great for us and also keep any strays out of the yard.

Check your local Farm/feed supplier as they will have the rolls of thin rope, electrical box, poles and adaptors.

Here is some food for thought: No matter what you use on your animals they can still carry ticks inside if the ticks just hitched a ride before entering the house!!! These products to not kill in seconds. Your family is still at risk.

The only way to minimize that risk is to spray your yard. The best way is to have a professional service do it, as the chemicals are very toxic. One must also consider ground water pollution form the spraying.

Hope for dry weather which dries out ticks.

Do NOT be concerned with only the deer...the MAIN vector for spreading Lyme Disease is the mouse, with birds also spreading the ticks along their migratory routes.

Do you know how small the Nymph stage of the deer tick is??? The size of a POPPY seed, and not as dark. Now think how hard it is to see something like this on your carpet, couch or bedding...or body!!!

Indoor is the safest place for your cat. As for dogs, well you know...

Good luck, and here is to a Tick-Free summer for everyone!