MARCH 2020 ISSUE THE RABBIT HUNTER MAGAZINE

Premier Snowshoe Hare Conservation Group in Pennsylvania.

NOTICE: This article was written before the current pandemic.

THE RABBIT HUNTER March 2020 Volume 34 No. 7

The following article appeared in the March 2020 issue of THE RABBIT HUNTER magazine 

and is presented here for your reading pleasure with the authority of the author.

From the World Headquarters

of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of

the Allegheny.

IT’S MY HOBBY!

PERMETHRIN FOR MY BEAGLES

Written and photographed

By

Joe Ewing

High HareMan

Of the

Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny

My life centers around beagles. I’ve owned multiple beagles from time to time but only seven inhabit my kennel at the present. Before I can do anything, I must consider those seven lives out in the kennel. I cannot plan a vacation or a trip to the grocery store without contemplating my schedule. Do I need to contact my kennel boy or will I make it back? The beagles depend on me for everything for their health and wellbeing. I do what I believe in my heart is best for their welfare. The beagles are a great part of my life, always have been and God willing always will be. 

The other day while motoring home from a beagle training session I accidently tuned the dog-truck radio to a station I normally avoid. I was in the act of hitting the off button when the words, “ticks” and “permethrin” caught my attention. The commentator was discussing the merits of permethrin (pronounced pərˈmēTHrin) and its ability to kill ticks. I use permethrin on my dogs and on my clothes. I’ve always thought of permethrin as an insect repellant.

My dad always preached, “ignorance can be corrected, but stupid is forever.” The sound of his voice still rings in my ears to this day. My dad obtained his great wisdom, I imagine, from an ancient Greek comedian by the name of Aristophanes (446 – 386 BC) who once said, “Youth ages, immaturity is outgrown, ignorance can be educated, and drunkenness sobered, but stupid lasts forever.” I’ve since decided to do something about my ignorance but as recorded there is little I can do about the other problem. I’ve seen a few things so I know a few things and fortunately, I almost went to college.

Lyme disease is the most common insect or tick-borne disease in the United States today. Ticks carry up to twelve different serious diseases which can cause incapacitating and even life-threatening diseases in humans and dogs. Lyme has been found in all 50 states. Pennsylvania leads the nation in the number of annual Lyme disease cases. This horrendous disease has been wreaking mayhem across all 67 counties of Pennsylvania which includes the counties on the Allegheny High Plateau.

Blacklegged tick.

Lyme disease is transmitted to dogs and humans through the bite of bacteria infected blacklegged ticks sometimes called deer ticks, although infected ticks do not have to come anywhere near a whitetail deer to spread these diseases. Immature ticks are called nymphs, and they are about the size of a pinhead. Ticks have four lifestyle stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Ticks can reproduce in your dog’s fur or hair, causing further infestations.

Asian longhorned ticks.

A recent report from health.com says,

"The Asian longhorned tick is an invasive tick species that has recently spread to eight states across the United States and threatens to transmit several serious diseases to people, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warned in a new report.

The tick is "an important vector of human and animal disease agents," states the CDC report. Native to China, Japan, Korea, and the Russian Far East, the Asian longhorned tick had never previously been detected in the U.S. before. That changed in August 2017, when a a sheep in New Jersey was found to be infested with them.

Since then, 53 reports of the tick have been confirmed in seven more states through September 2018: Virginia, West Virginia, New York, Connecticut, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Arkansas. The Asian longhorned tick has been found on both people and animals, according to the CDC report."

Whitetail deer on the Allegheny.

Nymphs are so small they are almost impossible to see. These nymphs pick up bacteria when they feed on small rodents, such as mice. Many people with Lyme disease never see or feel a tick on their body, however, most people who are bitten by a tick do not get Lyme disease. Not all species of ticks carry these bacteria.

Nymph stage of the blacklegged tick

Closeup of the previous picture.

It’s not possible to venture to the field without contemplating ticks and considering preventive measures. If I don’t treat my hounds beforehand, and keep them treated, they will carry home hundreds of ticks and these ticks are very difficult to kill. The current warming trend on the Allegheny means I will find ticks during any month of the year. When the air temperature goes much above 32 degrees the ticks will be active.

A blood engorged blacklegged tick removed from my beagle in January. 

Keeping ticks off my hunting dogs is one of my most important and most difficult tasks I encounter. I’ve been using the insecticide permethrin on my beagles in my war against fleas, ticks and Lyme disease forever. I want to change that last statement; I’ve been using Permethrin in my dogs. There are many different and apparently effective flea and tick products on the market today. I’m looking for what works for me and is the most cost effective.

What is permethrin? Permethrin is a synthetic insecticide copied from an organic compound which is produced by flowers in the Chrysanthemum family. Permethrin constitutes the majority of commercial household insecticides today. In the concentrations used in those products, they may also have insect repellent properties and are generally harmless to humans. Permethrin repels and kills mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, mites, and over 55 other kinds of insects. So, permethrin is man-made, it’s both a repellent and an insecticide. But is permethrin safe for my dogs?

I’ve been using a popular “topical” flea and tick product which is supplied in small tubes and applied to the back of the neck of the dog.  The permethrin permeates the fat layer of the skin and spreads throughout the entire animal. This type of product generally lasts for about 30 days.

But what are the side effects of permethrin in my beagles? Those in the know, say my dogs that have permethrin on or in their skin may act strangely, and flick their paws, twitch their skin or ears, or roll on the ground. If my beagles lick treated skin, they may drool or smack their lips. Signs of permethrin toxicity in dogs may include: drooling, lethargy, muscle tremors, vomiting and seizures. My beagles have shown none of these side effects. If I did suspect my beagle of having a severe reaction to permethrin, I would stop using the product and take the dog to my veterinarian immediately.

According to vetinfo.com, “the use of permethrin in eradicating a flea or tick infestation can produce side effects in dogs. Symptoms are usually mild and short term; however, any neurological side effect should be attended to by a veterinarian.” There you have it, the final word but don’t be too sure.

Dr. Dawn Ruben of the Niles Animal Hospital and Bird Medical Center in Niles, IL writing for www.petplace.com says “toxicity related to pyrethrins [permethrin family] is usually associated with applying much more of the product than directed. Overdosing can cause toxic signs in dogs. There is a wide safety margin for permethrins in dogs.” I’ve learned I can underdose also. The best idea here is be certain of the weight of the dog. The bottom line, permethrin is more toxic to insects than it is to dogs.

When I find an embedded tick, I’m extremely cautious how I remove it and how I dispose of it. First and foremost, pulling the engorged tick from the dog with my fingers is not a very safe or effective practice. Squeezing the tick will definitely cause poison to be pushed into the dog. Using a hot match, soap or any chemical is not dependable as it causes the tick to regurgitate (vomit) poison into the dog. I use curved tweezers or a tick removal tool to carefully grab the tick by the head, not its body, and pull gently. I sometimes use peroxide to clean up the site after the tick is removed. In an emergency my Leatherman® tool has been used.

Ticks are very difficult to kill. Flushing the tick down the toilet will not kill the tick. Flushing the tick only gives it an enjoyable swim until it emerges from the sewer system to once again latch onto another animal. Squeezing or squishing the tick is not a good idea either as this releases the poisons to the atmosphere or to my hands. I always carry Purell® or GermX® hand sanitizer containing alcohol. I drown the tick in the Purell® which will kill the tick instantaneously and I thoroughly clean my hands after handling the little [blank].

Tick swimming in Purell®, but not for long.

In an effort to whelp, raise, train and hunt with a pack of hare and rabbit hounds I do everything in my power to keep my costs down. My objective is to never darken the door of my local veterinarian clinic until absolutely necessary. This has been my goal but unfortunately it has not worked out so well. I cannot afford to run to the vet for every little problem which includes fleas and ticks and I can’t afford to buy the vet’s flea and tick products. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts to avoid him, my vet and I are on a first name basis.

Once again, my dad materializes, “you can tell how poor people are by how many dogs they own,” he used to say. I know this is true because I’ve always owned multiple dogs and I’ve been constantly poor or as they say, “financially challenged.”

This article is not an advertisement for any product and I’m not endorsing any products or getting paid to endorse any product. This article is a testimonial for “Sergeant’s Flea and Tick Squeeze-On for Dogs®”. This product contains 45% permethrin and 1.2% S-Methoprene which is a hormone which acts as a growth regulator when used as an insecticide. This product works for my beagles but it may not work in every dog and I cannot verify anyone else’s results.

Pictured above, clockwise, starting with nitrile gloves, package, syringe with needle and the three tubes containing 3.0ml permethrin.

Sergeants F&T comes in different sizes for different size dogs. Although my dogs are under 33 pounds and the prescribed dosage is 1.5ml per dog once a month, I buy the package labeled, “for Dogs ONLY weighing between 33lbs & 66lbs over 12 weeks of age.” The three tubes each contain 3.0ml. I use the syringe to draw out 1.5ml or half of the liquid from each vial. I place the prescribed dose of 1.5ml on each dog. The cost per dose is less than $1 per dog.

Sergeants Flea & Tick and nitrile gloves can be found at most Dollar General® stores. TSC once sold Sergeants F&T but has recently discontinued selling the product. The online store named after the big South American river charges almost three times the going price for the same product. The syringe with needle can be purchased at TSC or at Walmart stores.

The procedure for cutting the 3.0ml dose in half is not without hazard and this is where the nitrile gloves come in. I insert the needle into the vial at the very tip and draw 1.5ml into the syringe. I remove the needle from the syringe before placing the 1.5ml dose on the dog as directed on the package. I then proceed with the tube as directed.

With practice I’ve become proficient at removing half the liquid from the tubes and I don’t get a lot on my hands anymore. Like it says on the package, “HAZARDS TO HUMANS, CAUTION. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling and before eating, drinking, chewing gum, using tobacco or using the toilet. Remove contaminated clothing and wash clothing before reuse.” I always follow label instructions and take steps to avoid exposure to myself. If any real exposures should occur, I’ll be sure to follow the First Aid instructions on the product label.

Most everything I need to know is on the back of the package and the most important words on the package say, “READ ENTIRE LABEL BEFORE EACH USE.”