If you haven’t already started gathering your arsenal of tick and flea repellents and heartworm preventatives, now is the time.
The most important thing to know is that not all tick and flea products prevent the ticks from landing on and attacking your dog. Some repel ticks and fleas, and some kill ticks and fleas within 18-24 hours of coming into contact with your dog.
Here is a sample of available products and what their claim to fame is:
TICKS and FLEAS: TOPICAL APPLICATION
1. K9 Advantix II:
Applied monthly directly to the skin; waterproof. Recommendation–wait 24 hours before bathing or swimming.
Repels and Kills Ticks, Fleas, and Mosquitoes; Repels biting Flies; Kills Chewing Lice.
Kills fleas on contact with skin usually within 12 hours of application—no biting required.
Active Ingredients: Imidacloprid 8.80%, Permethrin 44.00%, Pyriproxyfen 0.44%
No Prescription Required
2. Frontline Plus:
Applied monthly directly to the skin. Recommendation–wait 24 hours before bathing or swimming.
Kills Ticks, Fleas, and Chewing Lice
Kills fleas on contact with skin usually within 12 hours of application—no biting required.
DOES NOT REPEL any of the above.
Active Ingredients: Fipronil 9.8%, (S)-methoprene 8.8%.
No Prescription Required
3. Frontline Gold:
Kills Ticks, Fleas, Flea Eggs, Flea Larvae
After an initial 48 hours of application, it kills fleas within 30 minutes of contact with skin.
Active Ingredients: Fipronil, (S)-methoprene, Pyriproxyfen.
No Prescription Required
4. Frontline Shield:
Kills Ticks, Fleas, Flea Eggs, Flea Larvae
After an initial 48 hours of application, it kills fleas within 30 minutes of contact with skin.
Active Ingredients: Fipronil, (S)-methoprene, Pyriproxyfen.
No Prescription Required
Applied monthly directly to the skin. Recommendation–wait 24 hours before bathing or swimming.
Kills Ticks, Fleas, and Chewing Lice
Kills fleas on contact with skin usually within 12 hours of application—no biting required. It has the same ingredients as Frontline Plus.
DOES NOT REPEL any of the above.
Active Ingredients: 9.8% Fipronil and 8.8% (S) Methoprene
No Prescription Required
6. Advantage Multi:
Applied monthly directly to the skin. Waterproof–Recommendation–wait 60-90 minutes before bathing or swimming
Provides broad-spectrum protection against heartworms, fleas, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and sarcoptic mange. No protection against ticks.
Kills on contact with skin usually within 12 hours of application—no biting required.
Active ingredients: 400 mg Imidacloprid (10%), 100 mg Moxidectin (2.5%)
Prescription Required
7. NextStar:
Applied monthly directly to the skin. Can be applied daily if needed. Waterproof
Repels and kills fleas, ticks, chewing lice, mosquitos, flea eggs, and flea larvae.
Kills on contact in 5 minutes, full protection 24 to 48 hours after the first treatment—no biting required.
Active Ingredients Fipronil 9.80%, Cysphenothrin 5.20%, (S)-methroprene 8.80%
No Prescription Required
I strongly recommend using products recommended exclusively by your vet, not chemicals sold over the counter by random companies that have not established themselves in the marketplace as time-tested.
NOTE TO PET PARENTS about bathing before or after using a topical flea and tick product.
1. It is highly recommended that you wait the amount of time as indicated in the product’s directions prior to bathing your dog, before or after using a topical flea and tick product.
2. It is highly recommended that you use a SOAP-FREE shampoo as it will not interfere with the flea and tick topical product’s effectiveness.
Many pet parents use Dawn dish liquid to bathe their dog, to kill fleas prior to using the topical flea and tick preventative. However, it will also cause the topical preventatives from working as they should to protect your dog from further flea infestation.
I always use Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Dog Shampoo but there is a good selection of other formulas.
What do I think about Tick and Flea Collars? I do not use Tick and Flea Collars on my own canine family or recommend them due to possible irritation and infection when the collar comes in contact with your dog’s neck. I have seen infected, irritated, and burn-like wounds on the necks of dogs with flea collars left on them long after they should have been removed.
In addition, I would not recommend them to families with children as it could be a health issue if your child makes contact with the collar. As with all products, check with your veterinarian before usage.
Check for ticks and fleas as often as possible, especially after exposure to wooded areas. You can teach your dog that “Tick Check” is part of the ritual of taking a walk. Run your finger through your dog’s coat and feel for anything that doesn’t belong there. Another good way to get a visual of your dog’s skin is to use a hair blower set on cool or low and blow the coat into parts, exposing the skin. Proper removal is essential if you find a tick embedded in your dog’s skin. If you’re unsure, let a vet or vet tech assist you.
Research the Internet or get printed information to identify the tick and the diseases it may carry. If you notice lethargic behavior, difficulty walking, jumping, or limping, or suspect Lyme Disease or other tick-associated diseases, consult your veterinarian immediately, as early detection is important. Enveloping the tick in some scotch tape or a zip-lock bag and having it analyzed may be helpful if you bring your dog to the veterinarian after removing the tick yourself.
Many families choose to shave their heavy-coated and long-haired dogs during the summer months. Though the look may not be desirable, and shaving a full-coated dog is extreme and may be stressful to your dog, a “puppy cut” can help you detect and ward off most of your dog’s summertime assailants. Professional grooming should be done more often in the summer for many reasons, but tick detection is at the top of the list.
Prevention can save your dog’s life. Our dogs add a tremendous amount of joy during the summer playtime months, so please give them the love and care they deserve.
