Keeping ticks off my dog

July 1, 2008 8:13 PM

I am having a problem keeping ticks off my dog. He is on Advantix, which the vet said to give him every 3 weeks, but I am STILL finding ticks on him. He is kept indoors for the most part, but he does like to explore the backyard, and we go on a long walk each day. I don't want to keep him cooped up, I want to let him be a dog, but I don't want to have to keep taking ticks off him...so gross. Any advice on things to try other than Advantix? Thanks!

We've also tried Advantage and Frontline, but those didn't even keep fleas off him. He has also had a Lyme Disease vaccine...not that that keeps ticks off, but he is protected from that.

posted by kathleenl to pets & animals (10 comments total)

We use Revolution, with good results.
posted by Mr. Gunn at 9:19 PM on July 1

Seconding Revolution. Our dog participates in field trials which sends him through tick-infested fields and he's still tick-free.
posted by jamaro at 10:43 PM on July 1

Revolution, bonus...it's also good against heartworm.
posted by iamabot at 11:09 PM on July 1

Caveat, you will still find ticks, they just won't dig in, they will crawl on the skin/fur.
posted by iamabot at 11:10 PM on July 1

Our vet told usto apply fortnightly for ticks. And Iamabot is also a correctbot.
posted by taff at 2:46 AM on July 2

Biospot worked a lot better for us than the pricey prescription meds.
posted by Slap*Happy at 2:53 AM on July 2

In the thick hardwood forests of southern west virginia, my dogs were on revolution (it's my fave but gosh is it expensive!) and still were getting ticks. At the suggestion of a dog-store owner, I tried a collar called "tick arrest", which helps against nothing but ticks. Collar on, 2 days later no ticks anywhere.

This is in a place where I would routinely pick 100 or more ticks off neighbor dogs...daily. Disgusting and sad.
posted by TomMelee at 5:43 AM on July 2

Make sure you mow your lawn regularly as well, its a pain in the ass, but ticks love long grass.
posted by BobbyDigital at 10:18 AM on July 2

When you apply the Advantix don't just put it in one spot, try putting it in 2-3 spots down his back. Just make sure its not too low where he can lick it.
posted by meeshell at 10:44 AM on July 2

Are they attached? They have to get on him to be killed by the Advantix, so you should see them stumbling around, but not actually biting. If they are biting, then it's not working.
posted by oneirodynia at 1:13 PM on July 2