Its permethrin time, boys

I was hoping to do my annual permethrin soaking of the "tick-proofs" this past weekend, but life got in the way. Found the first tick of the season just now- fortunately before it got a really good grip. I was only outside for a short while, and on the lawn at that!

I buy the sheep and goat permethrin dip at the farm store, dilute to 1% solution and soak my outdoor clothes in it once each spring. I've yet to get a tick or chiggers while wearing them so long as I blouse my pants and keep the shirt tucked in. I've got the clothes soaking on the back porch now.

 

Just keep the cats away from any thing with Permethrin. It is toxic for cats.

 

I wish there was more informational awareness up here in Canada about permethrin. That stuff is magic, and yet I'm sure 7 outta 10 people don't know what it is, or where to get it. Clothing treatment can't be beat, or even matched by anything else.

As savemoney points out, it is toxic to cats when wet/applied to your articles of clothing, or if used as a perimeter spray in the yard etc. It is safe after thorough drying.

 

Ahh crap, already!?!

Little early up here, but I do use it sparingly when the black flies get nasty on my pups. The little ba****ds go after their ears and legs with a vengeance. Stuff works well. I buy a gallon and use a spray bottle to wet their coats and then brush it in. It is toxic and can cause CNS issues so please be careful with it! My dogs run through the sprinkler every day and get soaked with a hose a few times a day so it does wash off rather quickly. Couple of mists and they're back to playing without the hassle.

 

Been using it for a while now and haven't found anything as effective.
Got a bottle of dip from a feed store down in Amish country a few years ago, and still have most of it, as the bottle mixes up a few gallons.
The dogs get Advantix II, which has as it's main ingredient, Permethrin. Ticks will sometimes still get on the dogs, but they tend to be found dead on the floor.
I'm going to try the Seresto collars this year (for the dogs). One and done for 8 months.

 

2 years ago I accidentally put dog flea medication (a 70lb dog dosage at that) with permethrin on my wife's 15 year old cat! I immediately realized what had happened and gave him a bath but it wasn't enough. About an hour later he started walked sideways like he was possessed, and then went into full on seizure mode with his eyes bulging out of his head and his entire body violently shaking!

We took him to an animal hospital and they put him on an IV and gave him a second bath, and they recommended a whole list of things they needed to do to save him. When I asked how much it would cost and they responded about $1400 I immediately asked how much it would cost to put the old cat out of his misery. At that point they admitted that most cats survive permethrim poisoning and that we could take him home and he'd probably be fine.

So we did, and like they said he was perfectly fine within a couple days. Except that he now runs whenever I get out the flea medication and lets out the most pathetic yowl when I finally catch him and put the droplets on his back!

 

Some products specifically for the hounds

DD-33 Flea and Tick Spray from Happy Jack. $12.95 (Save $2.00)

Happy Jack | Animal Health Products Since 1946.

 

thanks, I know you really know what you are talking about when it comes to pet care. Good to have options.

 

You're right, I've never heard of it and I work outdoors in tick areas lots. Please post more info and how to guys and I'll definitely be looking to give my work clothing a treatment.

Where do you get it in Canada?

 

I just coat my inards with good whiskey every other day ,,,,ok sometimes daily. Serves many purposes.

 

I know you know Larry, but prolly not safe for cats. My hounds have very little contact with the cats, and I'm careful to keep their crates closed when they are not in them so the cats don't get on their bedding. I use the kennel dip on the hound bedding as well.

 

Here's the jug I bought (spendy!) and the place at the link. There are other bottles with lesser strength and lesser amounts, just depends what your needs are. We treat carpet, dog beds, clothing, and do perimeter spray outside, so I might use more than the average Joe.

https://www.amazon.ca/Control-Solut...TF8&qid=1460047664&sr=8-8&keywords=permethrin

Before your head explodes over the price of a 4.75 liter jug though, with the strength of this concentrate, you need a mix ratio of around 60 or 65 to 1 (water to permethrin) to get you a standard .5% strength permethrin spray. The jug listed will get about 100 gallons of mix.

It was either two years ago or three when I ordered it, and it arrived in about 10 days.

 

I suppose I could throw out some random babble on my thoughts and experiences using permethrin. Not trying to overtake the thread as my own, just trying to inform.

As mentioned, it is toxic to cats when wet. With careful application of permethrin to your clothing/other uses, your feline friend will experience no ill effects once "thoroughly" dry. When I perimeter spray the yard around the skirting and fence, mr meow is under house arrest no exceptions for 2 days. In reality, if it was a breezy day, even a heavy spray in the morning will be dry by late evening. I use one of those generic gardening type pump up sprayers, probably holds near 2 gallons.

When I treat inside the home, I use a spray bottle for the carpets and carpet runners in the hall, which is tedious, but you only need to do it once or twice. And then mr meow is banished outside to the shed for a couple days. Usually it's warm enough he'll just stay out for the summer by then.

It works for bees, ants, wasps, ticks, spiders, mosquitoes, flies, etc, you name it, it probably will kill it. It also makes bees/wasps/hornets extremely agitated and takes several minutes to have full effect on them. If you spray a nest, be smart about it.

If you use it indoors, as a safety precaution, clean food prep surfaces (or any surfaces in general) some time later. Also at this time, you'll notice how it works on house flies.

On a general level, it's quite safe to use, give it respect, but it's not depleted uranium or toxic waste dangerous as some would have you believe.

I don't have fish or birds, but I believe it is EXTREMELY toxic to them. So if you have a feathery friend or fish in a bowl or pond, permethrin might not be the product you want.

One thing I read often online before I bought generic permethrin, is that some kinds are more/less susceptible to UV rays, and break down from sunlight. I haven't noticed anything to that effect myself. Treated clothing is still dangerous 4 weeks later. I believe it also loses strength after 4-5 weeks, so retreat and you'll be good to go.

The stuff I use has a hint o kerosene when wet, but the smell almost disappears completely. If you treat clothing, give it a low temp tumble in the dryer once it's dry for 5 minutes with your bounce sheet, and you can't tell the clothing is treated.

Once you start using this stuff, you'll only see dead or dying ticks.

 

Yes, the product I have is somewhat smelly too, but it moderates almost completely in time. Once it's in the clothing fibers and dried, it can be washed and it stays in for the most part.

How strong is your permethrin? You only need .5% or a touch more to be effective on ticks. You should take one of your least favorite yard work/junk t-shirts, and treat it outdoors. Let it air dry outside, and see how much smell remains. I smoke, so my sense of smell is perhaps not the best.

Do you have a link to your product?

 

Well, I got the OK from my missus, so the product I'm using can't be too bad. She's more sensitive to smells than I am that's for sure.

I think your nose is just bionic.

 

Guys you can get the stuff at tractor supply. It's just horse fly spray. About $10 for a gallon of it. Has a citrus (citronella) scent so it doesn't smell too bad.

 

Thanks for all the info gang. After reading some complaints about the smell of permethrin, I found this stuff and ordered some today.

PERMETHRIN 10

Order online and save 5%, use the promo code "SPRING" and save another 5%.

I hope this stuff is truly odorless as I may treat some hunting clothing.