Flea/ Tick policy

[azoci]

Hi, I have a question for those of you that are in flea and tick country (here in AZ very seldom do I see these critters) but occasionally I will. But with my relocation coming soon to an area that is F/T country...I just wondered how you all handle it?

I has a dog yesterday (one of like very few) that I noticed had ticks after I got his wet shave done, what a pain! That got me to thinking...since time is $$$ do you charge for Tick removal? Extra Charges for de-bugging the rig after a flea day?
I know this topic came up on a list, and concenses was charging to tick removal "per tick"...
I also attended a seminar las year at APF, and learnd how another moblier does her flea policy...(Capstar)

So...thought...opinions?

[sim groomer]

When people ask I tell them WE wash every flea and tick on the dog, so even your dogs pets come home clean.

If it is just a few I just do, more than a hand full discuss it with the client, regarding charges.

[Kim in SD]

San Diego isn't tick country but boy is it flea country. We seldom have a problem with ticks. One day I was mortified when I thought I had cut a mole. On closer inspection thank god it was a tick. At the some of the shelters here every animal gets a capstar/shots/wormer and a bath.
I remember the earlier post your referring to. But, I would think tick removal should be part of the job. Although using capstar is a great idea, one time pill works fast kills everything, bath them and walla. I would charge extra for this. The mobile groomer I used to work for charged extra for flea dip and or shampoo, I don't.

[Plexi]

I live in Indiana and we sure have plenty of fleas & ticks. Yes, I do have an extra charge for either. Depends if you have afew or alot, runs about $3-$5.00 and if you have only one flea you get a flea shampoo bath. I use Dog Herbal Shampoo & Dip Concentrate, you put it on a dry dog and let sit. It's made by Natural Animal in St Augustine,Flordia. Don't forget to put eye protection drops in their eyes first.

[diamienono]

for fleas I charge extra. Even if I only find 1 that means there are more. I rebath them with flea shampoo. For ticks, if I find a couple no big deal, but if they have a lot (which I have never run into thank god) I would charge extra.
Fleas make for lots of extra clean up.

[Chicken]

Flea central here in Illinois. Absolutely we charge extra for fleas. From $5-10 depending on the level of infestation and if we have to bomb the shop afterwards. And I know shops getting twice this. I loathe fleas - it's a huge pain in the butt!!

[Doug]

fleas

I dont do fleas.It's too hard the shave between thier legs.Dogs with fleas get turned away and told to go the vet.There are enough products available on the market for pet owners to prevent it.Pest control is found in the phone book before you get to pet grooming.

[Misty]

Hi Pam,
It all goes with the types of clients that you have. I know that you are a fantastic groomer and have top quality clients where you are now. Since you are moving to a new location you may get some once a year, and less desirable clients to start with. Once you get established then you will weed these people out. I live in New Jersey, with lots of fleas and ticks, and very rarely get a problem customer. Since I do a lot of dogs who live on large estates sometimes they will have ticks. But it is usually just a few. I have a once a week OES that I do who goes to doggy day care. He has come home with fleas a couple of times now. I give him a flea bath each week now and she increased his Frontline to every 3 weeks instead of once a month and he hasn't had any more problems.

[RevWind]

I would consider tick removal a part of the job. No way am I going to let a dog go home with ticks still on it. If it's nastily infested with ticks? I'd probably say "off to the vet" for possible health problems. As far as f&t shampoo? At my current place, we don't charge extra, but I don't know what I'll do about it if I get to go mobile. What DO mobilers do about flea issues??

[Gracy Rose]

I am in Florida and we have ticks, regulare fleas, chicken fleas and more. We have an excessive tick removal fee. I charge $5 for Pet Silks flea and tick shampoo and if the dog is covered in fleas we do capstar (the parent buys it and administers it, we do help but extra liability because it is ingested).

[bow_wow_wheels]

I'm with Doug on this one! I do NOT do fleas. I'm too afraid of the nasty buggers to mess with ticks because I'm afraid of getting some tick borne disease. I had toxoplasmosis when I was a kid and it like to have killed me. I don't want to get that sick ever again and some of those tick borne diseases are lethal at worst and very debilitating to your system at best! They can also have long-term negative effects on your health-why take a chance on THAT? And with 2 dogs in full coat I look like I need fleas or ticks to follow me home lol! I see ticks they stay-I do NOT pull them off. I suggest a Preventic or Tick Arrest collar. I have only had a couple of clients turn up with fleas and they were sent to the vet for Frontline. I don't want to carry them from pet to pet (what a rep that would be!!!) and I don't want to bring them home with me to MY pets, either! Thank God I have wonderful clients who don't let their pets get flea infested. New clients I stay out of the van long enough with them in my arms for the fleas to get on me-and I can tell because my scalp will start itching like crazy if a new client has fleas. I try to be gracious but I don't feel that in this day and age fleas and ticks should be common on my clients. I don't want them at home and I don't want to bomb my van and wait for the hour it takes for the stuff to work go get rid of them before going to my next appointment. I just don't DO fleas/ticks

[misscatahoula]

Fleas are very rare here. In last 2 yrs only had 1 dog come in with them. But during tick season I get at least 5 dogs a week with ticks. Thankfully I've only had to remove 2 or 3 off each dog. I don't charge extra for a few. A dog covered in ticks I would decline. They gross me out and I don't want them crawling all over the place!EWWW

[PAWS]

When I was in VA, I required my clients keep their pets on Frontline every month or so, and if they had fleas, we would reschedule, or I would groom in their house. I got an occasional tick on a dog, even with the product (nothing is 100%!), but would not charge to pick them off...I guess if there ever were more than a few, I would have them first treat. It won't hurt to treat your rig every now and then, if you start seeing a lot of this.

[Plexi]

I am in Florida and we have ticks, regulare fleas, chicken fleas and more. We have an excessive tick removal fee. I charge $5 for Pet Silks flea and tick shampoo and if the dog is covered in fleas we do capstar (the parent buys it and administers it, we do help but extra liability because it is ingested).

Gee, I never heard of chicken fleas before, do chickens get fleas? Or are they a certain kind of flea??

[azoci]

HI gang, You know I used to just do a de-flea with every dog that came in the shop, (when we lived in WA before) but after the last 10 years here in AZ, and with the advancements in flea control, I feel that clients should take responsiablity for their pet.

I agree that I'll 'weed-out' the clients, but I would like to have some sort of a policy for parasites...in the eventuallity that I'll encounter them.
Thanks for the thoughts.