*Tick*ed off male

[wolfy dog]

WD was licking his testicles too much so I checked what was going on. A puncture wound in his scrotum and the area twice as large, so off to the Emergency Clinic.
I was prepared for the worse; an e-neuter. To my huge surprise it was a tick that had bitten through the thin skin and started an infection. The antibiotics worked right away he is going to be OK and remain whole.
So check the parts of your male dogs on a regular bases to prevent trouble like this.

[1sttimeforgsd]

Glad to hear that WD is going to be ok, thanks for sharing the story with us.

[wolfy dog]

The lesion is healing slowly. Question: what is the best tick deterrent on a standard coat, and the least invasive, yet still protective against ticks? I am not worried about fleas and heart worm. I hate to stuff his healthy body with chemicals but these ticks are everywhere even in the winter so I think I don't have a choice but to treat him.
Thanks for input and while I am at it: have a Happy Healthy and Enjoyable New Year with these gorgeous, amazing dogs.

[Scarlettsmom]

We use Vectra and have used Frontline in the past. I think we all hate using chemicals, but the prospect of tick borne illness is worse. Depending on the area, some chemicals work better than others. If just checking daily were sufficient, I could probably manage that, but ticks are a year round issue where we live too. I also treat my yard every four months.

I grew up in a time when flea and tick prevention was not available. I would not want to go back to that time again.