ticks and birds?

[rebeccaturpeinen]

We seem to have a very high population of ticks this summer, my dogs get several every time we are out. So my question is, can some of these ticks jump over to Jo, is this something I should be concerned about?

I check my dogs every time we come in and remove several ticks but there always seem to be more...

Normally I give my dogs some kind of drips that keep the ticks (and flees and mosquitos) away or kill them BUT these are very strong chemicals... it would kill a cat, thats how strong it is so naturally I am VERY hesitant to use these chemicals around Jo. These drips go into the blood of the dogs and continues to the fur and my dogs ofcourse shed hair.

Next question, if Jo would ever get a tick, then what?? My first thought would be to go to the vet and have it removed, not remove it myself as you have to pull pretty hard to get them off and its very important you get the hole head... and ofcourse birds bleed easier.

Any thoughts??

[Chris&Akilah]

Well, ticks can't jump or fly, they are pretty much reliant on their host brushing by them so they can grab on. So if your bird doesn't have contact with the dog or the dogs areas, or goes outside in tall grass, I think the chances of it getting a tick are slim. Even if it does, a bird would be able to remove the tick itself unlike cats and dogs. It takes awhile for a tick to bury itself in and start feeding, I think a healthy bird would notice and remove it promptly. Unless it was on the head or neck, I suppose. Defnitely keep any and all insect-control products well away from your bird!!

[rebeccaturpeinen]

well the dogs dont have access to the bird, I was more thinking that they would walk by the cage and brush a tick off that way maybe leaving it in the cage and Jo does spend some time on the bottom of her cage playing.

But thats a good point; that she would remove it herself.
I shouldnt be that worried
But I am not giving the drips to my dogs anyway, too big of a risk. Than its better if the dogs just get the ticks and I will just have to remove them.

But thanks for you answer!!

[TheNzJessie]

depends where your bird it from, in africa they sit on the backs of mammals and eat them

[birdvet]

Dab some frontline onto the ticks using a cotton bud if they end up on your bird, that is usually enough to kill them. A spray of frontline is safe for birds in general so this a good way of medicating them against external parasites.

There are lots of drugs out there that you can give your dogs as well, I'd recommend going to your local vet and seeing what products are on the market (I have noooo idea about what is for sale in Denmark) and ask for something that is effective against ticks.

In the mean time, as long as the dogs and bird don't hang out and you've made sure you're not carrying any ticks on you in your clothes etc. I think the risk is minimal.

[liz]

I don't know what a drip is but you could use a spot on cats and dogs. On a cat - don't put it in white fur. If your bird gets a tick (they crawl) smear it real good with vasaline. It won't be able to breath and will drop off. I have done that with dog and cat ears until I get to the store to buy spots.

Ticks are really bad at this time of year but the season does slow down for summer.

There is a spot that even repells mosquitos. Then you don't need heart worm medacine. You also have to stop the fleas because they carry tapeworm eggs.

[rebeccaturpeinen]

I don't know what a drip is but you could use a spot on cats and dogs. On a cat - don't put it in white fur. If your bird gets a tick (they crawl) smear it real good with vasaline. It won't be able to breath and will drop off. I have done that with dog and cat ears until I get to the store to buy spots.

Ticks are really bad at this time of year but the season does slow down for summer.

There is a spot that even repells mosquitos. Then you don't need heart worm medacine. You also have to stop the fleas because they carry tapeworm eggs.

I think what you call a spot is what I call drips. Its some kind of chemicals that goes into the bloodstream of the dog and out the fur. Its very effective against ticks and other bugs, I was just talking with my dogtraining about this product and she started explaining how strong the stuff actually is and that made me worried to put it on the dogs because they shed hair and they brush by the birdcage several times a day.

Birdvet: we have frontline here in Denmark but last year I switched to Bayvantic wich is a lot stronger than Frontline but it also keeps the mosquitos away.

I dont think there is a very big risk for Jo to get a tick, but its good to be prepared

[TheNzJessie]

Dab some frontline onto the ticks using a cotton bud if they end up on your bird, that is usually enough to kill them. A spray of frontline is safe for birds in general so this a good way of medicating them against external parasites.

There are lots of drugs out there that you can give your dogs as well, I'd recommend going to your local vet and seeing what products are on the market (I have noooo idea about what is for sale in Denmark) and ask for something that is effective against ticks.

In the mean time, as long as the dogs and bird don't hang out and you've made sure you're not carrying any ticks on you in your clothes etc. I think the risk is minimal.

birdvet do we actually have ticks in new zealand? iv never come across them

[birdvet]

birdvet do we actually have ticks in new zealand? iv never come across them

Yip, mainly up north past Auckland but anywhere where it is warm you'll find them. We don't have many though which is lucky. Last year I health checked 30 kiwi that were translocated from Little Barrier Island and they were all riddled with ticks...I ended up using frontline on myself because I swear I could feel the critters crawling all over me...ugh! I was ridiculed because I sprayed it on the back of my neck and one of my colleagues just shook her head and reminded me that it doesn't work better if sprayed on the back of your neck, it just prevents the animal licking the drug off their fur...

Seabirds tend to carry heaps of ticks around as well.

Interesting fact, the kiwi tick is in fact endangered...weird!

[TheNzJessie]

birdvet do we actually have ticks in new zealand? iv never come across them

Yip, mainly up north past Auckland but anywhere where it is warm you'll find them. We don't have many though which is lucky. Last year I health checked 30 kiwi that were translocated from Little Barrier Island and they were all riddled with ticks...I ended up using frontline on myself because I swear I could feel the critters crawling all over me...ugh! I was ridiculed because I sprayed it on the back of my neck and one of my colleagues just shook her head and reminded me that it doesn't work better if sprayed on the back of your neck, it just prevents the animal licking the drug off their fur...

Seabirds tend to carry heaps of ticks around as well.

Interesting fact, the kiwi tick is in fact endangered...weird!

ahhh, yes because when ever i watch animal cops on animal planet dogs come in covered in them like fleas here but when i was volunteering at the spca i didn't come across ticks at all. weird. i also remember when possums were endangered in new zealand and there was a ban on killing them. imagine new zealand without possums, the trees would look so different! (in a good way)