Beach Runner said:
You mean Frontline isn't enough to prevent fleas in Florida?
I'm pretty picky about where I let our dog go potty when we're on the road with her. We don't stop at gas stations or fast food places or rest stops because that's where everyone else stops. We stop at churches (not the chicken place - LOL - but places of worship) because we figure that most people wouldn't go to the trouble to do this.
I've had a lot of ticks on me because there are about 4000 acres behind my house in GA full of deer (owned BTW by the family of a SoWaller who is a really nice guy, as is his wife). The deer ticks are really hard to spot because they're so small, as opposed to dog ticks. I always keep an antibiotics around in case I find one on me.
BTW my hair colorist got cat scratch fever from her cat. Then she got bacterial endocarditis (a heart infection) as a result and was hospitalized for a long time. She was out of work for months and had to deal with a lot of secondary issues from the disease.
So, Mango, take care!
BR- I am not sure if Frontline is insufficient in Florida. My neighbor told me that whatever they were doing in Ga. was not suffficent in Fl. They spoke to 3 vets after their dog got fleas. I'll find out exactly what they are doing and repost. But I believe that they had to treat interior, and give him several flea baths.
As far as ticks in Ga., doctors there will tell people there is no Lyme disease in Ga.
My brother in law ( who lives in Newnan and against woods) got a bulls eye rash, and the doctor gave him 10 days worth of antibiotics even though he claimed it was not Lyme disease, but a skin reaction
10 days is insufficient. 10 days is what the CDC will says is sufficient. In NY, they treat a bulls eye rash for 30 days minimum which is the full life cycle of the spirochete. Laws were enacted a few of years ago that allow doctors in NY to treat a patient as they see fit, regardless of what CDC or stated medical guidelines state. Hence, a large influx of people nationwide are flocking here to Lyme literate doctors.
I would also like to add that up to 50% of people actually do not get a bulls eye rash. Perhaps I should start a separate thread. Although the prevalence of ticks carrying the disease is less than NE states, it still exists, and can get worse. This disease is carried by migratory birds as well, and here in the NE, the ticks are carrying multiple infections including Bartonella. Matter of fact, they claim that Bartonella is in 60% of the ticks here in the NE. Coupled with Lyme disease, it is a much worse disease than just getting Bartonella.
In people with healthy immune systems, it is usally just self limiting, and the body can fight off themselves.
I am not saying that I got it in Florida from fleas, but I am taking all precautions. Although some immunity is developed, you can be re-infected by Bartonella and there are 2 strains. The tests are worthless for it and is based on observation by an MD.
I would be careful that if you decide to self administer antibiotics that you use the proper dosage, and for the correct length of time. There have been some studies that 300 mg of Doxycycline if taken phrophylatically quickly upon being bitten that it could kill the organism, 100 mg. 3X a day. However, I am making a large disclaimer here, that I am not a Physician and you should consult your doctor or Lyme literate doctor, and I make no claims here.
I would also like to add that the disease is spreading in Florida. A young football playier in Tallahassee became extremely debiltated with it.
They have also started a Lyme disease support group in South Florida recently.
I don't want to sound extreme about this, but knowledge is power and I hope if anyone is reading this, that even if it helps one person, I have prevented someone from going through what I have gone through.
I don't know, I may have gotten Bartonella from one of my cats, although they have never had fleas. One could have been a carrier. Cats do not exhibit symptoms. They are being treated for it, but I heard that they they can get bit by another flea and get it again. One is old and stays in frequently, and the other is more active, but stays close to home and sleeps most of the day anyway. One has accidentally scratched me, so like I say, I am not sure where this occurred. I could have been re-infected by another tick or the cat.
The best thing to do if hiking or after doing yard work is:
1) Use Deet and spray around your feet really well. Ticks work their way up.
2) There are natural repellents as well of which I will re-post, that can be used on children or adults. A bandana can also be dipped in this natural repellents overnight and left to dry to use in addition to frontline.
3) Remove all clothing, put immediately in the washer and dry well. Do this in the garage or bathroom, bag them, and wash immediately.
The take a shower immediately and scrub your head well and body well.
4) Do a head to toe tick check, concentrating on moist areas of the body, ie, behind the legs, armpits, under breasts for woman and behind the back of the neck. Be careful of beauty marks. I almost missed a tick on my hubby because it looked like one.
Don't panic if you see one. Look up the proper removal techniques, and then treat the area with alcohol. Not all ticks carry Lyme or other diseases, and if you find it right away, you limit transmission. It can take up to 12 hrs or more for transmission. Although, I hear that it could take less, and doctors have seen transmission in as little as 2 hrs, this is all still up for debate.
We do all these things now as a matter of lifestyle and its like second nature.
