Author Topic: TICKS!!!! (Read 4443 times)

otto · « **on:** August 10, 2012, 02:45:00 pm »

Hi all,
I have never had a problem before, but this morning when my 5 GOS got up from their arc for their breakfast I noticed that they were riddled with ticks crawling all over them and trying to get a bite. Fortunately it apperared that they couldn't break through their touch skins, but some had. Those few that did manage had not swollen, so perhaps they couldn't penetrate into the blood supply.
I plan to move the arc tomorrow morning and burn the bedding. Do I need to worry?...is this normal? Should/can I use dog "spot on" remedies?
All advice from the sages on this forum, as always, most welcome!
Otto from Suffolk....

supplies for smallholders · « **Reply #1 on:** August 10, 2012, 02:59:40 pm »

Hi,

Clean out and move the arks - burn the bedding

There are several parasite powders on the market for lice / ticks etc - generally applied to the bedding, so default ends up on the animal.

No - Dont use a product that is not licenced or approved for the animal you are treating - especially if they are due to go to the freezer. I know that some people recommend the use of several unlicenced (for species) products but you must use one that is approved.

Thanks

HappyHippy · « **Reply #2 on:** August 10, 2012, 04:12:17 pm »

I'd normally say inject them with a wormer/parasite control straight away - but these have a 4 week withdrawal time normally, so could scupper your slaughter plans (if you've made any)
If they're not due to go off anytime soon, get them jabbed or ask your vet about licenced external treatments that could be used on them - sooner rather than later

I'd say same as SfS - get the bedding out, away and burned, wash your arc out and disinfect and move it to a new site asap

Sylvia · « **Reply #3 on:** August 10, 2012, 04:19:48 pm »

If you can get some Guinea Fowl on your land, they love to eat ticks.

oaklandspigs · « **Reply #4 on:** August 10, 2012, 06:28:29 pm »

Dog "spot on" is the wrong formulation and dose, so no don't use that.

I'd take the hit on waiting the 4 week withdrawl and jab them, will clear it up staright away, so'll they'll not get knocked back.

otto · « **Reply #5 on:** August 10, 2012, 08:54:26 pm »

I was amazed this evening when I came home........they had laid thousands of eggs on the poor blighters! I took off as many as possible with a nit comb just to give them some respite. I have moved the arc, burned the bedding and put in a new bale of straw. I will get some injections from the vet first thing as I have 6 weeks till slaughter. I guess I should burn that bedding once they are inoculated and move the arc once more.

Has anyone else seen such sudden infestations?

Thank God for the Internet and thank God for this forum. It is wonderfully reassuring to be able to acces so much experience so easily. Thank you all so much for the advice!

Berkshire Boy · « **Reply #6 on:** August 10, 2012, 09:48:56 pm »

Yes otto burn the bedding once they have been jabbed. Have never had ticks before, sounds like you have been unlucky.

colliewoman · « **Reply #7 on:** August 11, 2012, 01:33:04 pm »

Are they definitley ticks? Tick don't lay eggs on the beasts I didn't think?

Lice and other crawlies do though but I don't know if it will be all the same medication?

oaklandspigs · « **Reply #8 on:** August 11, 2012, 04:57:02 pm »

Quote from: colliewoman on August 11, 2012, 01:33:04 pm

Are they definitley ticks? Tick don't lay eggs on the beasts I didn't think?

Lice and other crawlies do though but I don't know if it will be all the same medication?

Suspect they're actually lice, Lice and mites hve the same mediacation. Don't think ticks bite pigs as they can't get though to a good blood source - thick skin and fat later.

otto · « **Reply #9 on:** August 13, 2012, 09:37:12 am »

Yep, you are all right... they were lice and boy there were a lot of them! As some of you said, the treatment was the same so all is now well after a jab on Saturday morning. This was much easier than the last time I injected pigs. The vet recommeded a sub cutanious injection in the softer tissue behind the ears rather than the intra muscular shot in the nape which I used last time. They hardly flinched! If I had know how easy and effective this was, I wouldn't have bothered spending ages on Friday night with a nit comb!!!