Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with ticks

you make me tick tick tick tick tick tick tick

banannafish — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:53:22 -0800

How can I safely get rid of ticks in a backyard with as few chemicals as possible, preferably no chemicals? My parents have a very large yard, including multiple fruit trees and an expansive garden, however they also have my two nieces, my nephew and a huge, nay, massive infestation of ticks. I was there this past weekend and in the two hours I spent outside I somehow got seven ticks on me. It is ridiculous and pretty much every night my parents spend about an hour looking for ticks on themselves and the kids.

Since my nieces and nephew live with them and spend a huge portion of their time playing, gardening, and just generally spending time outside and in the garden, they are looking for an organic and chemical free way to rid themselves of the ticks that does not involve chickens or guniea hens. Chickens are not an option, but they are willing to try pretty much anything else.

If it helps, they are located in the Ohio River Valley area where WV/KY/OH meet.

Keeping ticks off my dog

kathleenl — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:13:19 -0800

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.

No Pets, Lots of Ticks.

IronLizard — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:39:01 -0800

My backyard (all concrete) has become infested with ticks and whatever the exterminator is using is worthless. I haven't had a dog or any pets back there in months. The landlord finally called out the pest control service they use (been here twice so far) but their spray has only made a small dent in the population and it's rebounded with a vengeance.
I think the big problem here is the fact that new siding was put on three months ago and it gave them all a nice new home inside of my walls. They're now starting to make it inside en masse. The poison spray I'm using inside ( methoprene .01% permethrin .28%) did a great job at first, but as it warms up outside they seem to either become more immune or just live longer through it. How do I get rid of these bastards for good inside and out (or at least until my lease is up) ? I don't have pets anymore and no kids here this week, so I'm willing to use anything short of nuclear waste or torching the place.

Did I just acquire fleas?

Locative — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 02:24:17 -0800

Did I just acquire a infestation of mites and fleas and god-knows-what-else from a wild kitten? I picked up a feral kitten and petted it for awhile before realizing it was teeming with fleas and maybe other bugs. Once I saw the disgusting bugfest on the poor thing's tummy, I put it back with its siblings. The kitten is part of a litter I've been getting together resources to trap and spay, but they are only about four or five weeks old and still nursing (their eyes only just opened), so I can't do anything yet.

The litter lives under my porch, so it is protected, but within reach, which is how my stupid self came to pick it up and foolishly bring it in my apartment for about a minute.

My worry now is that I just caught myself a case of the same bugs that are afflicting the kitten and his siblings. I checked my body repeatedly and found a flea on my calf which I quickly killed, and now I'm all freaked out that I might have caught any and all of the following: fleas, mites, ticks, or lice.

I washed the clothes I was wearing in hot water and took a long shower, shaving my legs and armpits. I haven't seen any other bugs since the flea I killed (pre-shower) and I'm wondering about the following:

Could the bugs I saw on the kitten be living on me, bugs not visible to my eyes? What can I do?

Best way to keep ticks off of a cat?

anaelith — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:52:00 -0800

What's the best way to keep ticks off of an active, outdoorsy cat (brand recommendations welcome)? Also, is there anything we can spray around her perch to keep any ticks that do hitch a ride from jumping off in the house? (Am already experienced in removing them once we find them, but she seems to pick up the really tiny sort.)

my cat can't handle his insecticide

Mayor Curley — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:37:08 -0800

My cat's flea medication makes him ill. I need some alternatives to it to discuss at my next vet appointment. My cat has a terrible day after every dose of Frontline (the veterinary medicine, not the award-winning documentary show with the dashing and witty web developer.) Last night we gave him an application of Frontline Plus, following the directions to the letter (nape of his neck so he absolutely couldn't lick it, etc.) This morning, my wife found him very listless in the basement next to a pile of barf. His had similar (but less extreme) reactions to the previous few applications. He had perked up by 11 AM, but it's 6:30 now and he's not quite recovered.

He's getting a routine checkup in a couple of days, and I want to discuss altenatives with the vet. But I want to be able to have an actual discussion about it. The Internet suggests that most people are giving their cats Frontline-style flea meds, and Frontline seems more highly regarded than Advantage (Frontline works beautifully for our other cat.)

But I'm hoping there are effective treatments that don't involve dosing the cat with liquid chemicals because he doesn't seem to have the constitution for it. What are they?

I hate ticks!

eas98 — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 07:59:20 -0800

Houston, we have a tick problem... I recently got a new dog from the humane society after my last dog of 15 years died... Unfortunately, she has brought with her some friends -- ticks! At first, I thought it was a small problem, so had her professionally groomed, etc. However, the situation has escalated.. She is covered in ticks now, and I believe they are in the yard and possibly house now.

I have heard mixed things about collars, shampoos, and even Frontline.

Anybody ever survive an infestation? What can I do to get this under control? Help!