Treatment FAQ

what flea and tick treatment should i use for my dogs

by Shanna Grady Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  • Advantix – Best Topical Flea Medication for dogs
  • Capstar – Best Oral Flea Treatment for dogs
  • Seresto – Best Flea Collar for dogs
  • Adams Plus – Best Flea & Tick Shampoo for dogs

Frontline Plus is our top nonprescription recommendation because it kills ticks and fleas, controls flea infestations, and kills chewing lice, all with one easy application. When used primarily for flea control, each dose of Frontline Plus lasts up to three months.Aug 17, 2021

Full Answer

How to choose the safest flea treatment for your dog?

#5: Best Natural Option: Arava Flea & Tick Prevention Collar

  • Effective for up to 6 months
  • Water resistance
  • No pesticides harmful to your dog or the environment

What is the best over the counter flea treatment for dogs?

  • Frontline Plus.
  • Advantage® II.
  • Capstar.
  • Flea Away.
  • Seresto.
  • Frontline Flea Spray.
  • Natural Chemistry Squeeze-On for Pets.
  • Flea Busters.
  • Advantage Yard & Premise Spray.
  • De Flea Pet Shampoo.

What is the best remedy for dog fleas?

Some of the plants you can try to help you get rid of fleas on dogs naturally include:

  • pennyroyal
  • lavender
  • clove
  • spearmint
  • thyme
  • chrysanthemums

What is the best tick repellent for dogs?

What is the best tick repellent for dogs? K9 Advantix II Flea & Tick Treatment. At the top of my list is the spot-on treatment made by K9 Advantix. Frontline Plus Flea & Tick Treatment. Vet's Best Flea + Tick Home Spray For Dogs & Cats. Seresto 8-Month Flea & Tick Collar. Flea Away Natural Flea, Tick & Mosquito Repellent For Dogs.

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What do vets recommend for ticks on dogs?

Bravecto Chews for Dogs. ... NexGard Chewables for Dogs. ... Simparica Trio Chewable Tablets for Dogs. ... K9 Advantix II Flea, Tick and Mosquito Prevention for Dogs, 6 Doses. ... Seresto 8 Month Flea & Tick Prevention Collar. ... Tweezerman Ingrown Hair Splintertweeze. ... The Original Tick Key for Tick Removal.More items...•

What flea medicine do the vets give for dogs?

Types of Flea Pills for DogsAfoxolaner (Brand name NexGard)Fluralaner (Brand name Bravecto)Nitenpyram (Brand names include CapStar)Spinosad (Brand name Comfortis)

What do vets give for flea and tick?

Oral Tablets: These are a great choice for both prevention and treatment of fleas and ticks, while being safe for both your dog and your family. Oral tablets that treat fleas and ticks can only be obtained from your veterinarian.

Do I need a prescription for flea and tick?

Over-the-Counter preventatives are available without a prescription. The reason some flea/tick topical preventatives are in this category is that they aren't absorbed into your pet's body the same way a prescription medication is, hence, no prescription is required.

Is NexGard better than frontline?

The answer to this question is the inverse of the answer given for fleas, which is to say that both are equally effective at killing ticks, but in this case, Nexgard kills them quicker. Nexgard can eliminate the little bloodsuckers in just eight hours, whereas it takes 24-48 hours for Frontline to work.

What do vets recommend to prevent fleas?

Oral medications are some of the most effective flea medications currently available. Nexgard kills fleas and ticks, while Trifexis prevents fleas, heartworms, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms. Bravecto also prevents fleas and ticks, and is given only once every 3 months.

Is Frontline Plus safe for dogs?

The active ingredients in Frontline Plus — fipronil and s-methoprene — are largely considered safe and effective for most dogs.

Which is better flea collar or pills?

Flea collars: The verdict Flea collars are usually less effective than medications, but there are a few exceptions. And while some of the most effective flea collars remain prescription-only, Seresto has recently been recategorized as a POM-VPS product.

How to treat fleas and ticks in dogs?

Keep in mind that no two pets are the same. Therefore, a product that’s commonly considered to be safe flea and tick prevention for dogs may be a great option for one animal and a mistake for another. Factors to consider include: 1 Age: Flea treatments must be age-appropriate; many are not made for young puppies. Look at the product’s label for this information. 2 Breed: Coat type may influence your decision. Thicker coats may be difficult for topical treatments. 3 Your pet’s health history: Other medications or supplements that you give, concurrent health conditions, and previous reactions to flea and tick preventatives should be taken into account. For example, neurologic problems have been seen in dogs when high doses of ivermectin (heartworm prevention ingredient) are given in conjunction with spinosad, a flea preventative ingredient. 4 Your pet’s lifestyle: The presence of children and other pets (especially cats) in the household and your pet’s daily activities/exposure to the outdoors are important details. 5 Where you live: Which parasites are common in your area? Is resistance to certain preventatives a concern?

What is the best flea treatment for dogs?

Types of Safe Flea Treatments for Dogs. Veterinarians typically recommend dog flea and tick collars, topical flea and tick treatments , or oral flea and tick medications (sometimes in combination) to fully protect their patients. Here are a few of the safest flea treatments for dogs on the market today and some of their pros and cons.

What factors to consider when treating a puppy for fleas?

Factors to consider include: Age: Flea treatments must be age-appropriate; many are not made for young puppies. Look at the product’s label for this information. Breed: Coat type may influence your decision. Thicker coats may be difficult for topical treatments. Your pet’s health history: Other medications or supplements that you give, ...

Can flea and tick collars be used on cats?

As is the case with flea and tick collars, if you’re unable to keep your pet away from small children or animals who may come into direct contact with the medication before it has dried or absorbed into your pet’s skin, a topical treatment might not be the ideal solution. If you have cats in your home, you will want to talk to a veterinarian ...

Do tick collars leave traces?

All flea and tick collars tend to leave traces of the chemicals that make them effective around the dog’s environment and on your pet, so this may be a concern with young children who tend to put everything in their mouths. Some dogs have had local skin reactions to the collar that have resolved when it was removed.

Is a flea collar safe for dogs?

Under many circumstances, newer dog flea collars are safe options for flea and tick control (unlike older collars, which were largely ineffective). The Seresto collar is a very popular option right now. It uses flumethrin and imidacloprid to kill fleas at multiple stages of development as well as ticks. The collar’s effectiveness lasts ...

Does Frontline Plus work?

Frontline Plus is an OTC product that uses fipronil and (S)-methoprene to attack fleas and ticks at every life stage. It also eliminates chewing lice and helps to control sarcoptic mange infestations. While it shouldn’t be ingested, a few surreptitious licks by your dog won’t cause much in the way of problems.

What is the best spray for dogs to kill fleas?

If you're leery of using synthetic chemicals on or in your dog, try this plant-based spray. It’s formulated with certified natural peppermint and clove essential oils to kills fleas, flea larvae, flea eggs, ticks, and mosquitoes on contact.

How to keep fleas away from my dog?

Fleas prefer to live in shaded outdoor areas with sand, leaves, or other debris, so you can help prevent fleas by keeping your grass cut short and keeping your dog from playing in areas where fleas might be hiding. You can also treat your home with diatomaceous earth, which helps to kill adult fleas. 4.

How long does it take for a flea and tick treatment to work?

Working for up to 30 days to kill fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes on contact, this treatment can be used safely on dogs as young as seven weeks. Particularly if your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, it's important to make sure that they're protected from fleas and ticks (and the various diseases that they carry).

How long does it take for Bravecto to kill ticks?

Each of Bravecto's prescription-only chews provides up to 12 weeks of protection against fleas and ticks, and starts to kill fleas in just two hours. They control four tick species: black-legged ticks, American dog ticks, brown dog ticks, and Lone Star ticks.

How long does flea shampoo last?

The shampoo contains an insect growth regulator (IGR) to kill and prevent flea development for up to 28 days, though you may find you need to use it every seven to ten days for the most effectiveness. A little goes a long way, so the bottle should last you for some time.

How long does fipronil last on dogs?

After you snap open the tube and apply the formula to your dog’s shoulder blades and back, it’s stored in the oil glands to give long-lasting protection for a full 30 days.

Can flea and tick prevention products help dogs?

But flea and tick prevention products aren’t just important for your dog’s comfort and health —they can also prevent you and your family from getting Lyme disease or another tick-borne illness. 1. From pills and chews to ointments and shampoos, there are plenty of options to choose from to keep your dog healthy.

How to treat fleas and ticks in dogs?

Tips to Control Fleas. The best and safest way to cure flea and tick infections is to use natural medications along with preventive measures. Since fleas attach themselves to your dog's body when he goes outdoors, make sure your comb the dog's fur after taking him on a walk.

How to get rid of fleas in dogs?

Wash your dog's bedding in hot water to kill dust mites and fleas. You should spray your outdoor areas with pet friendly chemicals to get rid of fleas. Horticultural oil is a good option. Some pet owners choose to give their pets garlic, to keep flea and tick infections at bay.

Is flea and tick treatment safe for dogs?

What Is the Safest Flea and Tick Treatment for Dogs. ... Although there are plenty of flea and tick treatment options that effectively kill adult fleas and ticks, these products are not always safe for use. Most products contain organophosphate insecticides that effectively kill adult parasites. If these insecticides are used incorrectly ...

Can flea collars be used for ticks?

What You Should Avoid. Although all commercial products help control flea and tick infections, most of them cannot be used as long term solutions for parasite control. Flea collars contain harmful pesticides that shouldn't come in contact with human skin. This makes it unsafe for use around children, too.

Is flea control safe for children?

This makes it unsafe for use around children, too. Flea control tablets also have their own side effects but they aren't as harmful as most other treatment options. However, make sure you administer tablets that are lower in toxicity. Avoid products that contain organophosphate insecticides.

Can flea and tick control be used on dogs?

If these insecticides are used incorrectly or if your pet ingests even the smallest amount of topical solutions that are applied to his body, he stands a chance of developing several harsh side effects. It is therefore important to look for alternative and safer options to control flea and tick infections in dogs.

How do flea and tick preventatives work?

How Oral Flea And Tick Preventatives Work. When you give your dog isoxazolines, they work systemically. This means they’re absorbed into his blood and they affect the entire body. When fleas and ticks feast on your dog’s blood, they eat the chemicals … and become paralyzed and die.

What are the chemicals used to treat fleas?

They’re potent and dangerous enough. They include acaricides that are pesticides poisonous to ticks and mites. Ectoparasiticides are to treat external parasites like fleas, ticks, lice, mites and flies.

How long does flea and tick prevention last?

Here’s a reminder of some things to beware of. Duration of prevention. Avoid the longer-lasting 8 to 12 week products. Longer prevention means a more potent product and longer time in your dog’s system.

What is the best flea control?

Lotilaner – an ectoparasiticide belonging to the isoxazoline family, with a 1 month duration. Spinosad – made from soil bacteria that is toxic to insects and found in garden insect spray. Lufenuron – controls flea infestations by preventing the hatching of eggs, and prevents the flea shell from developing.

How long do tick collars last?

The second riskiest category is impregnated flea and tick collars that your dog wears all day and all night for as long as 8 months. So they’re right under your dog’s nose all the time. The absorption of chemicals is through the skin. And unlike oral flea and tick preventives, your dog isn’t supposed to eat these.

How long does it take for a dog to die from fleas?

When a flea or tick draws blood from your dog it’s infected with the chemical and dies. This takes place over several months while your dog wears the collar.

What is the name of the drug that binds to chloride channels inside a flea?

These drugs contain isoxazolines. And they’re usually only available by prescription. Many of these meds contain a class of ingredients called isoxazolines. They’re non-competitive GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) receptor antagonists. This means they bind to chloride channels inside the flea or tick.

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