Frontline for ticks?

[Alysoun]

I posted a question about Frontline in the “tick control that works” sub-thread, and kept getting answers about permethrin which is not used in Frontline and which I do not use because I have read extensively about toxicity to humans, cats, and wildlife. So let me try a new thread:

I have two rescue horses. One is a 17-year-old gelding thoroughbred who raced for 5 years as “Rootbeer Float” and won $100,000 and then was left to starve until he was rescued by PETA and then transported to my place in Middleburg VA. Henry (I renamed him after Henry Bergh, who founded the ASPCA in the 19th century, which was then primarily concerned about horse welfare) can be very sweet, but can also quickly revert to defensive behavior if he perceives a threat. This evening I found a tick attached to his flank and tried to remove it, to which he responded with a swift and powerful kick. I’m looking for a plan B that will help him and not risk my well-being. I sprayed a squirt of fipronil-based Frontline near the spot on his flank, and am wondering if that will kill the tick.

I should note that he is also on a Lyme vaccine regimen with our current vet, though I’m not completely confident of the effectiveness (he received a full Lyme vaccine series with the previous vet, but then tested positive for Lyme a couple months later).

[mswillie]

[QUOTE=Alysoun;8143491]
This evening I found a tick attached to his flank and tried to remove it, to which he responded with a swift and powerful kick. I’m looking for a plan B that will help him and not risk my well-being. I sprayed a squirt of fipronil-based Frontline near the spot on his flank, and am wondering if that will kill the tick.[/QUOTE]

I’d be surprised if that tick is still there tomorrow.

[beowulf]

equispot works best, IMHO, but permethrin. hope you are ok after the kick.

[siegi_b]

Most horses in this area will test positive for Lyme, but that doesn’t mean that they have symptoms. So, if your horse has been vaccinated I wouldn’t worry about it.

[SMF11]

I have also read extensively regarding permethrin and toxicity, and have come to the opposite conclusion you did. However, no big deal, of course you can use Frontline, I found the spray on kind to be very effective, if expensive, in keeping ticks off the horses here. In my experience it worked much better than equispot, which did not work for me.

[merrygoround]

I use a top end fly spray that is 50% Pyrethrin and 10%Permethrin. I use it daily all though they say it isn’t necessary.

Have had good results.

[sophie]

I use a fly spray that is also very effective against ticks, Bite Free.
0.15% cypermethrin, 0.20% pyrethrins and 1.60% piperonyl butoxide.
I’ve tried many sprays over the years and this one is my favorite. It is supposed to last 14 days but I spray her every week or so during bug season, and spray her legs before riding if we’re going in high grass / brush.