Friends Upset Over Tick Situation – Are we really in the wrong?

[Dogowne91]

Hi everyone,
Would really appreciate some honest opinions on something that’s left us a bit stunned.
We just got back from a 2-week holiday and had left our dog with close friends who kindly offered to look after him. They also have two dogs, and they spent loads of time together — running around the house and their big garden, playing, sleeping near each other, out on plenty of walks, the usual.
When we picked up our dog, they told us they’d found 8 ticks in a matter of days — some on our dog and some around the house (sofa, bed, floor) which explained why they had asked if our dog was on tick prevention whilst we were away. We were honest from the beginning: he wasn’t and hasn't been for at least a couple of years. Totally our fault, just hadn’t gotten around to it. We also discovered they have treated him straight away once they discovered he wasn't up to date with it (they spoke with a vet first).
They’re clearly really upset and, honestly, we’re a bit taken aback. We obviously didn’t mean to put anyone at risk and feel bad — but also, we live in the Devon countryside where dogs are running through fields and long grass all the time and if we find ticks, we normally simply remove them from him. Ticks are kind of unavoidable here and the likelihood of Lyme disease is not that bad.
We’re now wondering… did we seriously mess up? Should we have flagged this before leaving him with them? We never thought it would cause this kind of fallout.
Would really appreciate some honest thoughts. Is this as big a deal as they are making it seem?

They didn’t ask you coz they assumed a basic level of care from you that you are lacking. Based on generally accepted science and ways of doing things!

i wouldn’t host a dog in my house that isn’t on anti tick treatment in a tick area let alone no flea or parasite treatment.

do you know how long parasite eggs can live for and how much effort it is to clear your house (depending on the parasite). Plus you can’t know for sure how your body will cope with it. People get long term effects or end up with dodgy stomachs for years after.

your attitude isn’t carefree it’s irresponsible. It’s not for you to decide if Lymes disease is low risk to your friends. The best type of risk aversion is to prevent. Why roll the dice with the risk if you don’t have to? If your friend caught it- are you going to pay their mortgage when they are too sick to work?!

id be furious with you- that I had a dog in my house with ticks, probably worms and maybe even fleas (because you live in country side and how your dog is off lead- loads of opportunity to be in contact with all 3 left from wild animals).

to then try and argue with me that it was from my own dogs? I’d probably phase you out. You clearly have what I would see as irresponsible outlook to health of your animal and more importantly to the humans around you.

Yuck. I’d have assumed you had treated for ticks too, they’re so common these days. You’ll be lucky if they ever speak to you again, love ticks in my house would’ve absolutely given me the ick.

i agree with pp who said it’s like sending your kid to a sleepover with lice - except ticks can be more dangerous.

Does your dog not have regular check ups with the vet? Ive never heard of a pet who isnt on flea, tick, and worm meds, plus their vaccinations. You sound like an extremely irresponsible pet owner

Treating dogs for ticks doesn't stop them picking them up and bringing them into the house. My dog is treated regularly, the buggers are still all over her after a run about in the forest/hills.

I hope you have read this thread and made an appointment with your vet. So many preventable diseases that you are risking for your dog . If you can afford a holiday you can afford to care for your dog properly.

In my experience, temperature (Hot and Cold), aching muscles, like I'd run several marathons. Urine really really dark - like you've not drunk any water for days. Bulls eye rash around the original tick bite. Very tired, feeling exhausted.

I fortunately recognised the problem, rang 111 (as I was away). Dr called back, prescribed the medication that I started that night. The longer you leave to treat it, the higher the chance you will have long term problems.

In my case, I knew I had had a tick bite. If I hadn't realised, I probably wouldn't have got the right medication so quickly and been OK. I probably should have seen a dr when I first found the tick in my arm - but we were going away and figured what was the chances of that tick carrying Lyme disease... Turned out I was wrong!!

I never actually needed to be tested. Medication worked pretty fast - thank goodness. Few days in bed then was OK to join rest of family - albeit at a gentle pace!

If you never flea treat your dog either I suspect they’re riddled. No wonder the poor friends are upset, getting even a few in your house can lead to infestations very quickly.

Your home must be riddled with fleas nevermind the ticks if you've not treated for 3 years+ and take your dog out and about.
If this is true you can get a monthly subscription from pets at home about a tenner that covers flea and tick treatments they post it to you so you don't even have to remember you need it.

Thanks and how is your friend doing why has he never been the same again?

Can I jump on here and ask the posters if you think Billy No Mates herbs are ok against ticks from your experience? We’re not in Ticksville touch wood :-) and these herbs seem to do the trick. I used the Seresto / Forresto collar for a couple of years, but then read that your dog shouldn’t sleep in bed with you which was more than I could bear :-). Nexguard appeared quite recently and I read about side effects, but maybe I’ll use it with the next dog. Thank you!

Gosh you won’t want to hear this, but this is such bad form from you guys, on a number of levels.

De-wormer is a must for dogs, you are risking your dog’s life by not providing dewormer etc. Ever heard of lungworm? Not good.

This level of house cleaning is a lot (and necessary! You said they found ticks in their bed?! Gross!) but you don’t sound bothered? I would be mortified if I thought I had caused a friend to have to seriously deep clean her house, particularly if it’s after doing me a favour. You should absolutely offer to pay for a cleaning service, even if it’s just as a gift to compensate them for the time they’ve had to spend cleaning.

You should absolutely repay them for the treatment they provided for your dog.

In other posts you imply it’s their fault for not asking if the dog is receiving treatment. I think this is wrong. I wouldn’t expect someone to ask if a dog is receiving such basic treatment. It’s so basic to provide this for your dog, same with vaccinations. In my view, the onus is on you to let them know you aren’t.

I am afraid UABU…

I know someone who was misdiagnosed with chronic fatigue and it turned out it was Lyme disease. They’ve been near deaths door more than once and only can live a still limited life by going abroad for stem cell treatments.

I’d have not batted an eyelid. 🤷‍♀️

We have 2 dogs and they’re not on any sort of tick medication. Ditto worming or fleas.

I believe treatments should be targeted based on need and routine use contributes to unnecessary chemical exposure and has been proven to contaminate waterways and soil.

That's a different poster!

Well, time to explain that you are incredibly sorry, that you understand that you should have told them (or treated your dog in advance) and buy them an apology hamper with some goodies you know they'll like.

Nothing else you can (or should) do IMO.

@Dogowne91 Yep you have totally cocked up

I would be finding a suitably expensive gift for the hassle you have caused them

I dont routinely flea our dog, but he gets wormed regular ( he's only lead walked ). The cat gets flea treated every six week because he's a hunter and comes home covered in ear mites and fleas if we dont. DH thought he would save a few quid and by pass the vet and bought supermarket rubbish - sure enough. - fleas. Because of him trying to penny pinch he had to spend the weekend moving all our furniture and spraying the house and vacuuming every day for a week. That's a lot of extra work, your friends should never have been put in that position by you. So make the pressie something good - not just a bottle of plonk

I'm really concerned about the effects of these treatments regarding water pollution too.

I found a tick on my foot last week, used a tick remover to pull it out. I've monitored it since and it's all fine. Anyone spending time in the countryside with skin exposed should be doing the same thing.

Read Miranda Hart's recent book about how Lyme disease has affected her. It's just not worth the risk, especially in an area with a high tick population.

I don’t treat my dog for worms and she’s never had them. I send her poo off regularly to the worm count people to check. I’d treat if she had worms.

Not what you asked, but I've had lyme disease and it wasn't nice. I'd do anything I could to prevent it.

I really think that yes you're in the wrong.

I don't do monthly prevention for fleas/ticks/worms with my pets (cats/dogs) as I think it can cause more harm than good putting all these chemicals into our environments. I do treat for parasites before we take our dog away with us or if he's staying with my parents. We're not in a tick prone area and I've never seen one.

However in this case you've said you see ticks a lot on your pet and I think if I was getting someone to take them into their home I would've treated them prior to their stay.

Not good OP, and I think you've lost a dog sitter.

You're stunned they're upset you haven't been giving basic care to your dogs?

How on earth can you say you 'haven't got round' to using flea/worm/tick treatments for YEARS!?!

Because he got Lyme Disease from a tick bite.

They assumed that you were doing the basic care for your dog as recommended by vets. You are the direct cause of a tick infestation in their home. I'd be beyond furious with you. You have to be upfront and honest with people. They had the right to know, and make a decision on helping you out based on correct information.

Sorry but I agree with this. If there were ticks or parasites all over you, you'd just ignore that would you? You do not deserve your dogs.