Tick repellent

[mdkel]

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Hey everyone,

does anyone here use "natural" products to prevent ticks and fleas??? I have used Bravecto before, but just found out a facebook page that says bravecto kills dogs, and/or gives them serious illness, any thoughts onthis??

 

[arealhuman]

I have used Bravecto before, but just found out a facebook page that says bravecto kills dogs, and/or gives them serious illness, any thoughts onthis??

Are there any reliable sources for this? This is what our vet recommends and he's due another dosage this week

 

[JudyN]

I use Seresto collars and they work brilliantly. They're not natural, but I'm convinced they're safe and I doubt any natural remedy would work reliably.

There are FB pages saying that all sorts of things are lethal - it's really not a reliable source so I wouldn't ditch the Bravecto without clear evidence. It's better to run the theoretical risk that it could be harmful rather than the very real risk of your dog reacting badly to a tick bite.

 

[JoanneF]

This thread might have something helpful in the link?

Is this a tick

 

[mdkel]

Are there any reliable sources for this? This is what our vet recommends and he's due another dosage this week

Log into Facebook | Facebook

you can read on this facebook group (dos bravecto kill dogs). and apparently there was a 40000 people wnating to ban it from holland due to dogsdeaths. Are this reliable? I dont know, but if you google bravecto kills dogs, you will find a lot of people saying that theyre dog died from it, or it become suddenly very ill after taking the pill

 

[mdkel]

I use Seresto collars and they work brilliantly. They're not natural, but I'm convinced they're safe and I doubt any natural remedy would work reliably.

There are FB pages saying that all sorts of things are lethal - it's really not a reliable source so I wouldn't ditch the Bravecto without clear evidence. It's better to run the theoretical risk that it could be harmful rather than the very real risk of your dog reacting badly to a tick bite.

Seresto works with your doggie? I'll give it a try if they are selled here, zappa's so similar to your own dog, I think it will work with him too

 

[JudyN]

Yup - I was removing a few ticks every day which he got a bit grumpy about. Not that I can blame him, they did keep attaching themselves to his boy bits Once the collar had been on, he had about two ticks attach themselves over the rest of the summer.

In the UK they need a vet prescription, and it works out cheaper if you pay the vet to do a prescription, then buy them online, rather than buy them yourself. It could be different where you are though.

 

[Josie]

I use advocate and it's always worked well. Is it natural though? wouldn't have thought so.

 

[Mad Murphy]

Not sure this helps but its a bit of a myth buster to some of the rumours
Bravecto® Facts
The European Medial Agency tested Bravecto and found nothing wrong with it.

If in any doubt consult your vet or ask to change brands.. I have used advantix to good effect.

 

[Violet Turner]

lavender, lemon, citronella, sage/clary sage, bergamot, cedar-wood, lemon eucalyptus, lemongrass, peppermint, geranium, sweet orange, and rosemary oils.

 

[JudyN]

lavender, lemon, citronella, sage/clary sage, bergamot, cedar-wood, lemon eucalyptus, lemongrass, peppermint, geranium, sweet orange, and rosemary oils.

It could be quite dangerous and unpleasant to apply these directly to a dog's skin - in general they MUST be diluted. I don't know the correct ratios of oil to carrier, how often to use, and so on, so do your research. Citronella, for starters, is used as an aversive to prevent barking so your dog would just love being spritzed in that....

 

[arealhuman]

Thanks for the updates all and the link @Mad Murphy (although it's the manufacturer's site so they would have positive details on there). Fake news as a certain Donald might say?

 

[Mad Murphy]

There have been loads of claims on dutch social media about bravecto but I cannot find any reliable source to back up the horror stories.

 

[JudyN]

I read something the other day that said that fake news travels faster than the truth. Of course, that in itself could have been fake news!

 

[Caro Perry]

Pick almost any drug you can think of (human or animal) and you'll find scare stories all over the internet. Harri had Bravecto a few weeks ago as our usual Nexgard Spectrum is unavailable.

I'd prefer to use natural methods but ticks are rife around here and Harri is the sort of pup that goes rooting where he shouldn't. I use Advocate on the cat but the back of the neck drops are difficult with Harri (double coated and needs lots of mud removal!) and they are still a systemic but absorbed cutaneously rather than orally.

 

[leashedForLife]

I read something the other day that said that fake news travels faster than the truth.
Of course, that in itself could have been fake news!

.

a classic aphorism from Mark Twain / Sam Clemens -
"A lie is halfway around the world before the truth has its boots on."

.

 

[Violet Turner]

It could be quite dangerous and unpleasant to apply these directly to a dog's skin - in general they MUST be diluted. I don't know the correct ratios of oil to carrier, how often to use, and so on, so do your research. Citronella, for starters, is used as an aversive to prevent barking so your dog would just love being spritzed in that....

Okay, i have edited it, I knew about the diluting but i didn't think about telling you.

 

[leashedForLife]

.

some reputable sources -

FLURALANER TOXICITY, POISONING, INTOXICATION, ANTIDOTE ...
parasitipedia.net › Home › SAFETY OF ANTIPARASITIC DRUGS
Dec 18, 2017 -
FLURALANER: Safety Summary for Use on Dogs and Cats. WHO Acute Hazard classification of pesticides: Not listed. Mechanism of action of Fluralaner. Fluralaner (the active ingredient of BRAVECTO) and other isoxazolines with insecticidal and tickicidal efficacy are non-competitive GABA ...


Safety of fluralaner chewable tablets (BravectoTM), a novel systemic ...
Safety of fluralaner chewable tablets (BravectoTM), a novel systemic antiparasitic drug, in dogs after oral administration
by FM Walther - ‎2014 - ‎Cited by 46 - ‎Related articles
Mar 7, 2014 -
Conclusions
Oral administration of fluralaner at the highest recommended treatment dose (56 mg/kg) at 8-week intervals is well tolerated and has a safety margin of more than five in healthydogs eight weeks of age or older and weighing at least 2 kg. Keywords: Fluralaner, Dog, Safety,Bravecto™. Go to: ...
‎Abstract · ‎Background · ‎Methods · ‎Results and discussion


Bravecto for Dogs: What You Need to Know - Veterinary Place
Veterinary Place | The Dog Health Hub › Dog Medicine
"Bravecto is a relatively new product, released in 2014, which can provide three months of protection from fleas and ticks (black-legged tick, American dog tick, brown dog tick).
Fluralaner, the active ingredient, takes effect quickly and begins killing fleas (adult and juvenile) within 2 hours, and ticks within 12 hours. It ... remains effective for 12 weeks. It can also kill black-legged, brown dog, & American dog ticks for 12 weeks, but loses its effectiveness against Lone Star ticks after 8 weeks (about 2 months).
Fluralaner is approved by the FDA for use in dogs. It should only be given to dogs who are both 6 months of age or older and 4.4 lbs or heavier.
In trials, it was given with anthelmintics (a group of anti-parisitic drugs, including Panacur), antibiotics, steroids, & vaccines, without causing any adverse reactions. It is considered safe for pregnant and nursing animals.

Considering the reports written by owners about bad reactions, it is wise to practice caution, & speak about any concerns with your vet. If you notice your dog losing appetite, throwing up food, becoming lethargic, or developing symptoms which mimic a urinary tract infection (e-g, urinary retention or incontinence, & cloudy urine), we recommend you speak to your vet, & possibly test kidney and liver values just to be safe.
In cases of overdose, always seek veterinary attention, as dogs who receive an overdose can experience blood in stools, seizures (particularly if they are predisposed to seizure activity), & severe vomiting."

_______________ end quote _______________________



All in all, I'd only use it if ticks were a serious problem in my area - the aforementioned black-legged tick is the species that transmits Lyme disease, which is a big problem in Mass. & across much of the eastern-US.
When i was caring for my Lexington client, i was the only person in the house who did NOT test positive for Lyme disease - so i literally never walked off a paved surface, in almost 18-mos, & i avoided brushing against greenery or walking under shrubs.
[Ticks will perch on the tips of plants, such as grasses or herbs, & snag passing warm-bodied animals, or on twigs & leaves of shrubs, overhead, to fall onto a host passing below. Thank Goddess, they don't climb trees... yet. Generally, most are within 2-ft of the ground.] Like mosquitoes, ticks are attracted by CO2.

Tick Species | IdentifyUS

Fully half of all U-S counties are now home to black-legged AKA deer ticks - but Lyme infection risk varies, depending upon where U live / visit.
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/01/lyme-disease-carrying-ticks-are-now-half-all-us-counties

QUOTE,
"Parasitologist Isis Arsnoe (from MSU in East Lansing) & her colleagues found that populations of blacklegged ticks behave differently in the north & south of the United States. Nymphs of the blacklegged tick in the north are bolder & more-active in seeking out hosts, a behavior known as questing.
Arsnoe and her team found that that tick nymphs originating from Wisconsin & Rhode Island were 20 times more likely to emerge from leaf litter, putting them in the path of passing humans, vs nymphs from Tennessee & Florida. 'Questing behavior is a key factor affecting the risk of tick bites,' Arsnoe explains. 'Ticks that stay buried in the leaves are unlikely to have an opportunity to bite passing humans - & unless they bite, they cannot transmit disease.' Arsnoe is concerned that northern ticks may expand into southern states, taking their questing behavior with them.

But despite the wide distribution of vectors, a tick’s chances of contacting a human are still relatively low. Avoiding areas of thick vegetation, using a strong repellent, & bathing after hiking are usually enough to avoid contact, CDC says.
Eisen says that the most important thing now will be to carefully monitor the spread of the blacklegged tick, so that that people can educate themselves about the potential disease vectors in their area, & take steps to protect themselves."
___________________________


I really wish they still had a vaccine for Lyme - it's very hard to Dx, let alone treat, & can cause severe problems when misdiagnosed or when Dx is delayed, including joint & brain damage, & heart problems. Lyme can lurk as a chronic infection, & surge into crises or lapse into remission. // The human vaccine was taken off the market due to side-effects, but the disease is sufficiently worrying that i'd take the risk of side-FX to be better-protected from Lyme.

- terry

.

 

[Violet Turner]

.

some reputable sources -

FLURALANER TOXICITY, POISONING, INTOXICATION, ANTIDOTE ...
parasitipedia.net › Home › SAFETY OF ANTIPARASITIC DRUGS
Dec 18, 2017 -
FLURALANER: Safety Summary for Use on Dogs and Cats. WHO Acute Hazard classification of pesticides: Not listed. Mechanism of action of Fluralaner. Fluralaner (the active ingredient of BRAVECTO) and other isoxazolines with insecticidal and tickicidal efficacy are non-competitive GABA ...


Safety of fluralaner chewable tablets (BravectoTM), a novel systemic ...
Safety of fluralaner chewable tablets (BravectoTM), a novel systemic antiparasitic drug, in dogs after oral administration
by FM Walther - ‎2014 - ‎Cited by 46 - ‎Related articles
Mar 7, 2014 -
Conclusions
Oral administration of fluralaner at the highest recommended treatment dose (56 mg/kg) at 8-week intervals is well tolerated and has a safety margin of more than five in healthydogs eight weeks of age or older and weighing at least 2 kg. Keywords: Fluralaner, Dog, Safety,Bravecto™. Go to: ...
‎Abstract · ‎Background · ‎Methods · ‎Results and discussion


Bravecto for Dogs: What You Need to Know - Veterinary Place
Veterinary Place | The Dog Health Hub › Dog Medicine
"Bravecto is a relatively new product, released in 2014, which can provide three months of protection from fleas and ticks (black-legged tick, American dog tick, brown dog tick).
Fluralaner, the active ingredient, takes effect quickly and begins killing fleas (adult and juvenile) within 2 hours, and ticks within 12 hours. It ... remains effective for 12 weeks. It can also kill black-legged, brown dog, & American dog ticks for 12 weeks, but loses its effectiveness against Lone Star ticks after 8 weeks (about 2 months).
Fluralaner is approved by the FDA for use in dogs. It should only be given to dogs who are both 6 months of age or older and 4.4 lbs or heavier.
In trials, it was given with anthelmintics (a group of anti-parisitic drugs, including Panacur), antibiotics, steroids, & vaccines, without causing any adverse reactions. It is considered safe for pregnant and nursing animals.

Considering the reports written by owners about bad reactions, it is wise to practice caution, & speak about any concerns with your vet. If you notice your dog losing appetite, throwing up food, becoming lethargic, or developing symptoms which mimic a urinary tract infection (e-g, urinary retention or incontinence, & cloudy urine), we recommend you speak to your vet, & possibly test kidney and liver values just to be safe.
In cases of overdose, always seek veterinary attention, as dogs who receive an overdose can experience blood in stools, seizures (particularly if they are predisposed to seizure activity), & severe vomiting."

_______________ end quote _______________________



All in all, I'd only use it if ticks were a serious problem in my area - the aforementioned black-legged tick is the species that transmits Lyme disease, which is a big problem in Mass. & across much of the eastern-US.
When i was caring for my Lexington client, i was the only person in the house who did NOT test positive for Lyme disease - so i literally never walked off a paved surface, in almost 18-mos, & i avoided brushing against greenery or walking under shrubs.
[Ticks will perch on the tips of plants, such as grasses or herbs, & snag passing warm-bodied animals, or on twigs & leaves of shrubs, overhead, to fall onto a host passing below. Thank Goddess, they don't climb trees... yet. Generally, most are within 2-ft of the ground.] Like mosquitoes, ticks are attracted by CO2.

Tick Species | IdentifyUS

Fully half of all U-S counties are now home to black-legged AKA deer ticks - but Lyme infection risk varies, depending upon where U live / visit.
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/01/lyme-disease-carrying-ticks-are-now-half-all-us-counties

QUOTE,
"Parasitologist Isis Arsnoe (from MSU in East Lansing) & her colleagues found that populations of blacklegged ticks behave differently in the north & south of the United States. Nymphs of the blacklegged tick in the north are bolder & more-active in seeking out hosts, a behavior known as questing.
Arsnoe and her team found that that tick nymphs originating from Wisconsin & Rhode Island were 20 times more likely to emerge from leaf litter, putting them in the path of passing humans, vs nymphs from Tennessee & Florida. 'Questing behavior is a key factor affecting the risk of tick bites,' Arsnoe explains. 'Ticks that stay buried in the leaves are unlikely to have an opportunity to bite passing humans - & unless they bite, they cannot transmit disease.' Arsnoe is concerned that northern ticks may expand into southern states, taking their questing behavior with them.

But despite the wide distribution of vectors, a tick’s chances of contacting a human are still relatively low. Avoiding areas of thick vegetation, using a strong repellent, & bathing after hiking are usually enough to avoid contact, CDC says.
Eisen says that the most important thing now will be to carefully monitor the spread of the blacklegged tick, so that that people can educate themselves about the potential disease vectors in their area, & take steps to protect themselves."
___________________________


I really wish they still had a vaccine for Lyme - it's very hard to Dx, let alone treat, & can cause severe problems when misdiagnosed or when Dx is delayed, including joint & brain damage, & heart problems. Lyme can lurk as a chronic infection, & surge into crises or lapse into remission. // The human vaccine was taken off the market due to side-effects, but the disease is sufficiently worrying that i'd take the risk of side-FX to be better-protected from Lyme.

- terry

.

The vets do have a vaccine for Lyme

 

[leashedForLife]

The vets do have a vaccine [against] Lyme.

.

Violet, that's for DOGS - i was talking about vax for humans. The original human-vaccine was pulled due to side-FX; a second human-version was discontinued in 2002 b/c not enuf ppl got vaccinated - consumer demand drives production; if it won't be purchased in sufficient numbers, companies won't make it.


Why Your Dog Can Get Vaccinated Against Lyme Disease And You ...
Why Your Dog Can Get Vaccinated Against Lyme Disease And You Can’t
Jun 27, 2012 -
Modern science has given us a vaccine against Lyme disease. But we don't use it.

__________________________________________________________



A new vaccine-formula for humans is currently in development:

Lyme Disease Vaccine on Fast Track for FDA Approval - Newsweek
Anti-vaxxers stopped the last Lyme disease vaccine. The FDA has just fast-tracked a new one
Jul 25, 2017 -
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week announced plans to expedite approval of a vaccine for Lyme disease. Valneva, the maker of the vaccine candidate, known as VLA15, recently completed an initial evaluation in a small, early stage clinical trial. Now the company has been given a ...


... but it's not approved, yet -
Lyme disease vaccine | Lyme Disease | CDC

- terry

.