An infestation by fleas or ticks can lead to itching, scabs, redness and hair loss in dogs – so it is essential that they receive safe and effective flea and tick treatments.
There are numerous preventive medications, collars and chewables on the market to protect your dog from fleas and ticks, including fipronil and pyrethrins which target their nervous systems to kill these pests.
Contents
Frontline
When choosing the safest flea and tick treatment for your pup, there are several key points to take into account. These include factors such as number of parasites treated, active ingredients used, safety restrictions and how long the medication lasts. Before making your choice, it’s wise to read over any product’s label carefully to ensure it does not contain harmful chemicals.
Your veterinarian can help you choose from an assortment of oral flea and tick preventives designed specifically to keep dogs free from fleas and ticks, such as pills or chewable forms, that best suit their age.
Frontline Plus is an effective over-the-counter flea and tick treatment. Utilizing fipronil and S-methoprene, this medication quickly kills fleas, ticks, lice and chewing lice throughout their development cycle – as well as helping control sarcoptic mange infestations. Furthermore, this simple three-month application method makes for convenient treatment of this infestation.
K9 Advantix
This top-rated and veterinarian-recommended flea preventative starts killing fleas within 12 hours and continues to protect for up to one month, making it easy for use on dogs of all sizes – puppies included! Plus it protects against Lyme disease-carrying deer ticks as well as American dog ticks, brown dog ticks, and lone star ticks – offering complete protection.
This treatment contains imidacloprid, which kills adult fleas and their larvae on contact, while simultaneously repelling biting flies and mosquitoes. Furthermore, this remedy is safe to be used on cats.
K9 Advantix II contains another active ingredient called pyriproxyfen that works by disrupting hormone signaling of insects that have just finished developing and stopping their life cycles. This makes K9 Advantix II particularly effective against full-scale flea infestations by stopping eggs and larvae from maturing further.
Mercola
If your pet has allergies or sensitivities to traditional flea and tick treatments, natural methods may provide an effective alternative. Essential oils have been known to discourage fleas, ticks and mosquitoes without irritating your pup’s skin – lavender is known for keeping fleas at bay as well as stopping flea eggs from hatching; just add several drops to their shampoo regularly when bathing him!
Be careful when selecting an organic pest repellent. Checking its ingredients carefully to ensure no harmful substances have been introduced into it is recommended, while if your pet is sensitive to specific essential oils they should be avoided altogether.
Triple Sure
NEXTSTAR is an easy-to-use topical application designed to kill fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and chewing lice on dogs for up to 30 days without the use of permethrin, pyrethrins or d-limonene products. Results typically take anywhere from one month up to several months in some areas. It does not work in all regions.
Flea and tick preventatives come in tablet or chew forms for oral administration, and can effectively protect your dog from fleas, ticks and various types of worms (including heartworms). Speak to your veterinarian to identify which product best meets the needs of your pup!
Your pet’s age, environment and individual traits should all play a part in choosing which treatment option will be most effective for them. Consult your holistic veterinarian for further insight into any risks involved with each medication type to keep your pup happy and healthy.
Vet’s Best
The Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Spray contains plant-based essential oils which irritate and kill ectoparasites, making this spray safe for cats and dogs with its natural scent and water-resistance; no fabrics or hardwood surfaces were stain by using this product!
Oral flea and tick treatments, unlike topical spot-on preventives, are effective against all life stages of parasites – including hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, giardia, tularemia as well as five types of ticks which could carry Lyme disease.
Prescription medications tend to be more effective than over-the-counter options; however, both can have their advantages. A monthly dose of the oral flea and tick preventive NexGard offers protection from all life stages of fleas as well as four species of ticks and chewing lice.
