BajaNomad

Ticks - are they as bad in Mexico as they are in the Northeast U.S.?

pauldavidmena - 5-25-2015 at 11:27 AM

Presumably a side effect of record snowfall this Winter (followed by a deficit of rainfall this Spring), we've seen an unusual number of ticks here in New England. Not woodsy types, we've nonetheless found several of them crawling on dog and human alike. Are they as commonplace in Baja as they are NOB?

ticks (pulga's)

captkw - 5-25-2015 at 11:39 AM

I don't know your area about ticks..that said I have seen tick's and flea's SO bad in BCS the buzzards stayed up in the cactis. kidding aside, they can get thick in baja

RnR - 5-25-2015 at 11:52 AM

The tick density seems to vary by the year (and whatever environmental condition is favorable for them.)

We have been in the La Ventana area for twenty years.

Two of those twenty years, the dogs couldn't set foot outside without coming back in with a half dozen ticks.

Most years, there might be a few around in the early season, Oct - Dec.

And, now that you mention it, I haven't seen a single tick in the last three or four years.

Also, the local spanish name for ticks is "garrapata". "Pulgas" are fleas.

AKgringo - 5-25-2015 at 12:04 PM

Have made four trips to Baja with my old dog, from three to eight weeks at a time with no problems. Having said that, I have encountered local dogs down there that had both ticks and fleas.
It seems to be at its worst right after it rains! I think any of the common treatments would be effective for your dog's protection.
We don.t have ticks, flea or heartworm problems in Ak, but when I spend time in Northern California, I give here preventive meds for those prob.ems. I believe that is also a requirement for re-entering the US as well.

pauldavidmena - 5-25-2015 at 12:17 PM

Thanks for the responses so far. Our dog is on a preventative ("FrontLine") and as a result we'll find them in his fur but they are rarely attached. I, on the other hand, had to dig one out from the back of my knee over the weekend. I have no idea how it got there, but as is the case with so many other things, I blame the dog. :biggrin:

bajabuddha - 5-25-2015 at 12:27 PM

Rule of thumb is anywhere you have livestock grazing, you'll have ticks. Also buzzard-roosts around fish cleaning areas and fish camps... buzzards feed on carrion, and carry all kinds of nasty critters. When I was a dog owner I made sure the pet was well protected, both from critters and proper vaccinations. Too many stray, sick dawgs roaming loose or semi-loose.

chippy - 5-25-2015 at 02:43 PM

Ticks are called garrrapatas not pulgas. Pulgas are fleas. My dog gets them (garrapatas y pulgas)everywhere in Mexico.

[Edited on 5-25-2015 by chippy]

ticks

Smellslikefish - 5-25-2015 at 05:03 PM

I found 3 in 4 days at our place last week. I've never seen one there before in 20 years!

BajaKeela - 5-25-2015 at 07:13 PM

We spent last winter in Mazatlan on Isla de la Piedra..our dog got about 10 ticks in a six week period. The ticks carried Ehrlichiosis and our dog got it. The cure was a three week regimen of meds every 12 hrs.
This disease is very treatable if caught early but deadly if left too late.
We were lucky because I had a blood test done before leaving the area.. Our dog( Bandy) was on Revolution at the time (which didn't work) Both vets in Mazatlan do not recommend this product but do say that Frontline is more effective.
If your dog gets ticks and there are any incidents of this disease in your area ..I strongly suggest a blood test after 3 weeks.. which is the only way to detect it early.

willyAirstream - 5-25-2015 at 08:34 PM

3 years ago my dogs were getting 50 plus ticks per day for a 3 week period. They were everywhere. Since then, nada in 3 years.

4Cata - 5-25-2015 at 08:37 PM

My question is are they deer ticks and do they carry Lyme disease like they do here near Yosemite?

bajabuddha - 5-25-2015 at 09:26 PM

Neither, 4Cata. Wood ticks carry Rocky Mtn. Fever in the West, Lyme disease comes from the north-east U.S. ...

Doesn't matter; ticks are nasty little critters, cover most of the globe, and the answer is a) prevention, and b) intervention. Keep your pets protected, and when it, and you, are in tick infested areas, do like we did as little kiddies: stop, drop, and look; check yourself for 'tick spots', and your pets as well. We know where those spots are. Tweezers on the head and removal are best; forget the 'hot pin' technique or drowning them, or alcohol... that's best used internally after the removal. Oh, maybe a little disinfectant on the site. And, a little more internally...... since discovering Corralejo I haven't had a single tick encounter.

{edit}........ other than the one in my left cheek......
bb.

[Edited on 5-26-2015 by bajabuddha]

ticks=critters

captkw - 5-25-2015 at 09:52 PM

After years of using topical poisen I did some studying and found a pill that totally stops fleas and helps a lot with ticks.(cant remember name) .I have tryed many tick removel tricks and found isopropyl alcohol bottle mouth over the tick for a few minutes and pulling the skin away from the tick and repeating off and on for awhile..the tick dies and sometimes fall out quik and sometimes takes over night...my sister has a dog hotel (fancy kennel) and is a trainer and healer and laughed when I told here this..now shes says I should patent it...works good for us....K&T :cool:

Jack Swords - 5-26-2015 at 08:58 AM

Ticks carrying Lyme disease are found in California. They are the western black legged tick. See: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/discond/Pages/LymeDisease....

Most of the ticks we see are common dog ticks.

We usually have quite an infestation of ticks on our property (possums, raccoons, etc.) and hiking here on the central coast. This year (drought?) have only seen two on the dog. We use a special tool that is like a small bent fork that gets under the head of the tick and enables complete removal without squeezing the tick. It is plastic and costs about a dollar.

We have been warned hiking around La Paz of the ticks that carry Ehrlichiosis and groom our dog after each hike. Dog really likes the rubbing and petting as we search for ticks.

Jack Swords - 5-26-2015 at 09:03 AM

http://reviews.petco.com/3554/102855/procollar-tick-twister-...