First Tick Hysteria

I found the first ever tick in our cats in the middle of the night. I was stroking Teppo and there it was in his hindquarters, yech! I woke up assistance (not so gently), and we somewhat successfully removed the engorged %&*%$#. I think it's a deer tick and I am of course freaked out.

Teppo is indoor cat but we are aware we live in tick zone and lately have noticed we carry those things everywhere. We must have carried it in on our clothes. I do not know how long he has had the tick on him. I have been brushing him daily because he has flaky spring skin and we pet our boys a lot, so it's hard for me to fathom I have missed it!

My freak out deepened when Teppo vomited in the afternoon. He's the cat that never vomits - maybe once while he's been with us for real bad hairball. Anyway, I called the vet just to ask do they do anything as a preventative measure for Lyme disease here. Naturally, my freak out is about that. They just told me to come in to change from Revolution to Advantix or Frontline.

Has anyone ever had anything done as a treatment for Lyme before it was confirmed? Or tested for it? Antibiotics? I read somewhere you would want to treat early. I would rather expose Teppo to one unnecessary course of antibiotics than wait whether he gets joint pains etc.

Ticks carry more bacteria than Lyme, so you may want to discuss it further with the vet and get your cat checked out. But to put your mind a little at rest, it's tick nymphs that primarily transmit Lyme's and not the adult ticks.

Did they actually suggest Advantix for your cat?! I hope that was the receptionist making a goof, if it was the vet I personally would be looking for another vet. (Advantix is for dogs, it will kill a cat)

There's another current thread on flea and tick preventatives.

How does your yard look? Have you been keeping the grass nice and short? No over grown brush? -no traipsing through over grown brush? Do you have neighbors with dogs?

Since you bringing it in is the only possible way it could have gotten in, I suggest you look up tick information for humans. Look at the CDC's website. Take preventative measures to keep them off of you - because you don't want to be getting bitten either.
In humans they suggest you get treatment as soon as possible if a tick born infection is highly suspected.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Did they actually suggest Advantix for your cat?! I hope that was the receptionist making a goof, if it was the vet I personally would be looking for another vet. (Advantix is for dogs, it will kill a cat)

How does your yard look? Have you been keeping the grass nice and short? No over grown brush? -no traipsing through over grown brush?

Do you have neighbors with dogs?

Since you bringing it in is the only possible way it could have gotten in, I suggest you look up tick information for humans.

Click to expand...

It was just the non-vet person that picks up the phone, and I don't think she was at that point yet 'listening' that I had said CAT. I actually did not even remember Advantix was only for dogs myself as I have never used it (good thing!) It's possible she said Advantage anyway, and I mixed up.

I really need to prime myself for the appointment because I hate it when they just shove another product 'to go'. I wonder why they have not pushed for Frontline if it is better before since we do live in extreme tick area. I think Revolution was pushed for the heartworm part which I found a bit odd if it is not such a concern for indoor cats. I know I worried about it originally because it was something one could not treat. I don't like overloading my boys with chemicals anyway, let alone swapping because that's also a risky time to find out about sensitivity.

Our yard backs into wilderness, and neighbours have dogs. I am not so worried about myself because I know to check when I have rumbled in the brush (and avoid doing it certain times and in skimpy clothing). It just freaks me out that my boys can't tell me something is a different kind of itch. Also, I wondered would the dang things come through screens which I had not thought off. They are so tiny at first. Of course boys like to sit and watch out of windows.

It's possible they could find their way into the home. You could look into quick drying barrier sprays that you put around the exterior foundation of your home and around the windows. You only need to repeat application 2-3 times a year if you get a decent brand.

Unfortunately you need to be more careful. As I said, it's the tick nymphs and not the adults that are responsible for Lyme's. The nymphs are ridiculously tiny and you could have one on you without ever knowing.

Clean up your yard as best as possible, considering. And if you're on good speaking terms with your neighbors, suggest a proper flea and tick treatment for their dogs - since" you've found deer ticks in the area that could be very dangerous". Word it so it sounds like you're more concerned about them and their pets getting sick than you are their dogs being tick hosts that make the tick population in the area higher.
Also watch out for mice and rats since they can bring the nymphs (that's where they get the lyme's) and adult ticks in on them.

Treating your cats with a preventative could help. But like you I worry about using too many chemicals. Better to treat the area and work on other preventive measures so that no one gets bitten.