Problem with ticks on dog

[Toast]

Well I suppose it's not really a huge problem... but I've found 4 ticks on Java's ears so far this year(note that I live in Saskatchewan so we've only been without snow for a couple weeks so far). I'm not sure where they're coming from, but I'm also confused as to why they appear to only be on her ears. (She has lab ears, if that matters(She's a lab cross)). She sometimes runs through trees at a dog park we go to, but I've gone through it with her and I never get them on me. Also, my other dog never got ticks. I figure there isn't much I can do except search her for ticks occasionally. I'm kind of grossed out by it because she sometimes sleeps in my bed... So yeah, does anyone have an explanation for the apparent ears only thing(Unless maybe I fail at checking...), advice for removing ticks, or ways to prevent or find the ticks on her? Thanks so much.

[MadPoet]

I think it's normal for ticks to sort of hang out around the dogs ears, or any other area with little to no hair. I'm not positive, but I think ticks tend to like certain places like that on the dogs body. I wouldn't say them being simply near his ears is anything to worry about, I think that's normal. As for getting the ticks to go away, could you possibly at least call your vet, and ask him what he recommends. Maybe ask him if there's any kind of tick prevention type thing that you can buy that will also get rid of the ticks? I know that there's a lot of things out there you can buy to prevent your dog from getting them again. I'd suggest calling and talking to the vet, as they'll know how to help you out most. Best of luck

[Gemma =]]

The ticks are probably mostly on your dogs ears because when your dog will be sniffing about the ground, his ears will drag through the ground and bushes and stuff where the ticks are likely to be.

No need to go to the vet for ticks
I have to remove them all the time from my dog.

Get a pair of tweezers, grasp on to the tick as close to the skin as you can so you get all of it as possible.
Make sure not to squezze too tight because if the tick bursts then it could go in to your dog's bloodstream but this has never, ever happened to me, I think it's just a precaution.
Once you've got a firm grip on the tick, twist it anti-clockwise and pull at the same time. Make sure you go anti-clockwise because ticks bury in clockwise so this will make it much easier for you to pull it out.
The tick will come off

A family friend of ours gives her dog garlic which apparently repels ticks and fleas and keeps their coats nice and shiny. Her dog's love it too.

I wouldn't worry about them getting on to you, if they do then just do the exact same thing that you would to the dog. As long as you get it fairly soon then there is no lasting damage to either your dog's or your own health.

[SnowKitten]

try flea and tick collars as well as advantix, or some other topical medication, you can get them OTC...

[Melody Pond]

Originally Posted by Gemma =]

The ticks are probably mostly on your dogs ears because when your dog will be sniffing about the ground, his ears will drag through the ground and bushes and stuff where the ticks are likely to be.

No need to go to the vet for ticks
I have to remove them all the time from my dog.

Get a pair of tweezers, grasp on to the tick as close to the skin as you can so you get all of it as possible.
Make sure not to squezze too tight because if the tick bursts then it could go in to your dog's bloodstream but this has never, ever happened to me, I think it's just a precaution.
Once you've got a firm grip on the tick, twist it anti-clockwise and pull at the same time. Make sure you go anti-clockwise because ticks bury in clockwise so this will make it much easier for you to pull it out.
The tick will come off

A family friend of ours gives her dog garlic which apparently repels ticks and fleas and keeps their coats nice and shiny. Her dog's love it too.

I wouldn't worry about them getting on to you, if they do then just do the exact same thing that you would to the dog. As long as you get it fairly soon then there is no lasting damage to either your dog's or your own health.

I basically second all of the above.

I have heard that you can take them out yourself but maybe take her to your vets for the few she has now and just check if everything is OK and check if it is OK for you to remove them yourself in the future. You vet will show you the correct way to do this.

To prevent ticks on my dog I use frontline.
It is cheap and simple. You wash your dog and then squeeze the frontline stuff on the the back off her neck and leave it, it will prevent future ticks or fleas and also kill any existing ones with in 48 hours. Once they are dead they will normally just drop off.

The frontline website contain information about ticks that may also help you deal with them.

[Gemma =]]

Originally Posted by Razzmatazz Rach

To prevent ticks on my dog I use frontline.
It is cheap and simple. You wash your dog and then squeeze the frontline stuff on the the back off her neck and leave it, it will prevent future ticks or fleas and also kill any existing ones with in 48 hours. Once they are dead they will normally just drop off.

The frontline website contain information about ticks that may also help you deal with them.

Ooooh I didn't know frontline protected against ticks too! I thought it was just fleas.
Good to know

[Lozzaa]

It will be her ears which are brushing against something with tics on.

If you want to remove them yourself, smother them with vaseline and leave for half an hour then get tweezers and turn ANTI-CLOCKWISE! DO NOT pull them!. Tics go into your skin like a screw, and if you pull it, it will break the head off and get stuck.

Trust me. I've had four tics. And yes. I'm human.

[TheLittleNinja]

- I agree with all of the above...pretty much anyway -

But 4 ticks so far this year!!! I'm pulling out nearly 4 a week!! But that's just because where we live, and the activities my spaniel does (:

Claire.

[Toast]

Originally Posted by QuackerJackWoop

But 4 ticks so far this year!!! I'm pulling out nearly 4 a week!! But that's just because where we live, and the activities my spaniel does (:

Haha well remember what I said about how I live in Saskatchewan and it finally stopped snowing a few weeks ago. All those ticks were within about a week, actually, but I haven't found any more.