Before I came to live in France I knew nothing about Ticks. I'd once seen a dog in Normandy with the inside of his ears looking like bunches of white grapes, but, back in the UK, our own dog, Hamlet, had never suffered.
Then back in about 1975, poor old Hamlet caught Tick Fever here in France. He was pissing coffee-coloured piss, and was obviously un-well. Luckily it didn't take much to cure him, and after a couple of days he was fine.
Since Hamlet died, back in about 1980, we didn't have a dog until Monty arrived just over two years ago. And now Ticks are once again a daily problem.
Monty's fur is pale honey coloured, and when returning from walks any ticks can usually be spotted and removed quite easily. Bok, being black, the Ticks stand out as dark red in colour, and again can be quite easily removed.
But there are always others that hide under their fur, and eventually dig-in and fatten themselves on their blood, so we are obliged to keep a constant look-out for the little beasts by running our hands over them several times a day.
This year Ticks seem to be everywhere; in fact I don't think I've ever known a year as bad. We're taking extra-special care with their Tick treatment, and checking them over almost constantly. When the hay is cut things might improve, but for the moment it's a bloody nightmare.
We had a problem on "the farm" up north. Not only did they get on the cats but on my legs as well. Yuk!!!!!!! Hadn't heard of tick fever though.
ReplyDeleteIf it is not too cold there, maybe you can get your dogs to take daily baths in some sort of toxic water. We have a thing called 'dettol' here. You might want to keep them from ingesting it.
ReplyDeleteThey do have a very expensive monthly Tick treatment, but like so many things, it's only about 60% effective.
DeleteNasty things - never had a problem with them here though thank goodness
ReplyDeleteDon't you need to check yourself too? If you walk in the woods round here you have to give yourself the once over to ensure you haven't acquired some little unwanted friends of your own.
ReplyDeleteWe're always cautious, but they seem to prefer hairy grass-level creatures; thank goodness.
DeleteI picked up a tick once, on my back, from walking through woods inhabited by deer. I went to the doctors to have it removed, which caused great curiosity amongst the staff, they hadn't seen one before. I insisted on a course of anti biotics, Lymes disease is horrible. Look for a red circular rash.
ReplyDeleteThe young son of a near neighbour recently had Lymes. Usually one can feel a Tick climbing up your leg, back, or neck, and take them off before any damage is done.
DeleteBoth my son and my husband had very serious conditions as a result of Lyme disease. My son had Be's palsy and my husband serious arthritic symptoms. In both cases massive doses of antibiotics were required but were successful. Be careful to check your self carefully, Cro, especially in ar easier than ever of long grass and woodland.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting, I never realised they were so small. I have only ever seen them all bloated with blood on some poor animals skin.
ReplyDeleteThey must have a strange life too. They sit around on some blade of grass, just waiting for an animal to pass by. Presumably if nothing does pass by, they starve to death.
Deleteoh...look after those lovely fellows Cro!!
ReplyDeleteI just found one yesterday on the cover of my outside furniture where one of the outside cats had just been sitting. We thought we had protected them by putting flea and tick preventive medicine on them. It only lasts a month, so I guess they are in need of a new dose.
ReplyDeleteThe little black ones are easier to spot than the deer ticks that give you Lyme disease.
They're higher than grass blades here; they drop down from bushes. Two of my granddaughters must be inspected when they come in from play and often have a tic in the part of their hair. They've taken to wearing bandannas. You might want to watch out for your little pirates when they come in.
ReplyDeleteHorrible creatures. We have Boris on a monthly treatment too (F****line) which in our climate where we aren't faced with many of them, seems to work fine. I do recall having to loosen one on him with vaseline when we lived in France.
ReplyDeleteWe use the same stuff.
DeleteSounds awful - and awfully worrying. Never having had a dog I hadn't realised ticks could be quite this much of a problem.
ReplyDeleteDisgusting little buggers
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly!
DeleteHere in south USA , we have tons of those nasty things. Frontline is my line of defense, and it works quite well. I saw you use one too, and they will not (usually) attach themselves if the med is working. I hate those things. Last year was bad for us, but we have not even started a treatment yet this season, but will the first of June.
ReplyDeleteWe have two types of tick in Oz - cattle ticks which are relatively harmless and nasty paralysis ticks which can kill a dog quite quickly by paralysing them. First the legs go then the breathing. Very costly to treat but survival rates are good if you can catch it early. Vigilance and anti-tick treatments are required . The ticks seem to get hungry and go looking for a host after rain so I have to agree with you "Bloody ticks "
ReplyDeleteBloody bugs! Our dogs would have got many where we lived before and Fro..ne would't work any more at some point so we had something different. Over here now, about 6 km as the crow flies away from the old place - 2 or 3 in total, in summer just before the gras was cut. I am SO happy about this because I am not happy with the chemicals.
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