Best Dog Flea & Tick Prevention Products
11–12 minutes to read | Updated for 2018
Fleas and ticks are a common problem that nearly all pet owners are confronted with at some point.
Dogs are very prone to be affected by these pests and they can cause serious health problems and even fatalities for dogs and humans. It is however easy to use a variety of methods to keep your pets and family safe.
Top Rated Dog Flea and Tick Preventions
Last update on 2018-06-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What’s In This Guide
Bayer Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs
Last update on 2018-06-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Many pet owners find the convenience of a collar that kills pests a no-brainer. A collar like this can simply be worn by your dog and replaced in eight months. It will provide the same kind of preventative treatment as you would expect from eight spot-on applications without having to apply every month or REMEMBER to apply!
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This product will kill fleas within 24 hours of your pet wearing the collar. Re-infested fleas are killed in just two hours whilst ticks are killed and repelled within six hours.
The collar is non-greasy and the chemicals work effectively by being passed through the skin and hairs on your dog all throughout the animal’s body. It is not greasy and has no scent.
We love flea and tick preventative collars for the convenience but you should make a note to yourself as to when the collar needs replacing.
Another consideration is that whilst these collars are great for flea prevention you need to consider if your dog still needs to wear a standard collar as well. For the most part, we use collars as a form of identification for animals and also to control them to an extent.
Your dog should be micro-chipped and if you are going to use the flea collar only then transfer the pet ID tag on to your flea collar and make sure it is secure. This is suitable for very small dogs, however, for larger dogs, it may be best to use a flea collar in conjunction with a stronger thicker collar. In order to better control your dog when out and about you should attach a strong lead to a strong collar suitable to the weight and force your dog can exert.
While the initial investment for this product may seem relatively expensive, it shall last for a prolonged period of time, making the overall monthly cost just a couple of dollars.
PRO
- Long-lasting
- Destroys life cycle of fleas and ticks
- Waterproof
- No need to re-apply
CON
- Can be expensive
- May cause lethargy and vomiting
Bayer K9
Last update on 2018-06-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This product is suitable for either treatment or prevention. It contains Imidacloprid, Permethrin, and Pyriproxyfen which as a combination is super effective in eradicating fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. You may consider this to be overkill though if you are just looking for a preventative measure rather than a treatment and you may wish to use a more natural method for your dog.
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Spot on treatments are super effective but they can be more expensive, meaning that you should always check how many doses you are getting in your pack. This will ensure that you will have enough to clear your dog from ticks without overspending.
Under no circumstances should you use this product on cats as it extremely toxic to them and you should ensure your cat does not ingest the medicine by grooming your dog. Also please note that whilst the product repels and kill mosquitoes which transmit heartworms this is a NOT a heartworm prevention medicine.
PRO
- Suitable from seven weeks old
- Destroys full flea life-cycle
- Easy to apply
- Waterproof
- Mosquito protection offers protection from heartworms
CON
- Expensive option
- Sensitive dogs may have a reactions to this
Vets Best Flea and Tick Home Spray
Last update on 2018-06-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you are looking for a more natural product as a preventative measure for your dog rather than more harsh chemicals that you may wish to use in the case of infestation then this could be just the product for you. Lots of experts recommend limiting the use of chemicals which is where Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Home spray comes in.
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This product uses all natural products, it is environmentally safe and is also good for sensitive dogs You can also use this spray as a preventative measure to spray around the home using it on bedding, carpets and even in the yard. You will need to reapply this product repeatedly as the active ingredients will evaporate quickly. It kills fleas, flea eggs, and larvae as well as ticks and it costs less than $10 for a large 32 oz bottle.
PRO
- No harsh chemicals
- Suitable for sensitive dogs
- Can be used in the home and yard
- Inexpensive
- Natural product
- Pleasant clove and peppermint aroma
- Does not stain furniture
CON
- Need to re-apply
- Less effective
- Some people may dislike aroma
Types of Preventative Treatments
Preventative flea and tick medications come in a heap of different forms. You can sprinkle powders, apply spot-on treatments, use sprays, shampoos or collars.
Powders and granules can be used in the home and yard in conjunction with other practical methods mentioned earlier in the guide.
Spot-on treatments are quick and easy to apply monthly. Shampoos can be part of your bath time routine and can be part of keeping your pet fresh and clean with a conditioned coat. Collars are a super quick and easy, yet long-lasting method of tick and flea prevention also.
We have taken a look at some of the best on the market to help you choose which is right for you.
Fleas
Fleas will jump on to a human for a quick snack but the lack of hair on humans means they will soon be detected and brushed away. That is not the case with your dog.
Flea eggs laid in the yard, develop into larvae and as soon as the larvae hatch they will jump on to your dog for a blood meal. There they will happily stay attached to their host buried underneath the fur.
The fleas can cause anemia and death in small, old, young or sick animals. They cause allergies and dermatitis in many animals, anaphylactic shock can occur in some animals and many fleas pass on tapeworms which can also cause serious illness and death to your pets.
Fleas whilst causing major problems for infested dogs can also cause serious illnesses in humans. Fleabites cause irritation and may require treatment with anti-histamines. In rare cases, a flea bite can cause an allergic reaction in a human which may include swelling and difficulty in breathing. In these cases, it is essential that you dial 911 immediately.
Fleas Also Cause the Following Diseases in Humans:
Bartonellosis
Plague (Yersinia pestis)
Typhus (Rickettsia typhi)
Tungiasis
Flea tapeworms
Vets Flea and Tick Spray
4 minutes to read | Updated for 2018 In This Guide: Our Rating Key Features Vet's Best Flea and Tick Home Spray for Dogs and Home, USA Made from $11.49 Buy on Amazon Last update on 2018-06-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Our...
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Ticks
Ticks often live in long grasses and are common in recreational parks and other places that you may your dog may frequent. As animals brush against the grass the tick will attach.
A pet is unlikely to be bitten by several ticks unlike in the case of fleas so blood loss and anemia is not the main issue affecting pets. However, there are several tick-borne diseases that are dangerous for both dogs and humans.
Tick-borne Diseases Can be Fatal for Pets and Include the Following:
Lyme disease
Rocky mountain spotted fever
Ehrlichiosis
Anaplasmosis
Tick paralysis
All of these tick-borne diseases can cause serious problems ipets. Unpleasant symptoms such as seizures, vomiting, depression, loss of appetite, joint pain, anemia, fever, abscesses, weakness, paralysis, kidney disease, heart conditions can occur. Fatalities can occur.
It is not possible for an animal that has a tick-borne disease to pass it on to a human – so that need not be a concern, however, humans can develop tick-borne diseases when bitten by ticks themselves.
In particular, Lyme disease is a disease transmitted to humans after being bitten by infected ticks. Chronic Lyme disease affects people in many ways. People experience heart problems, joint problems, depression, muscle aches, fatigue, neuropathy, headaches, sleep impairment and generalized pain. 40% of people that have ongoing symptoms with Lyme disease find they are no longer able to work.
All Round Prevention
Integrated pest management is a professional term for dealing with pests strategically and effectively utilizing preventative measures and limiting toxic pesticides if possible and you can do the same at home with a little thought and common sense.
You need to treat your home, yard, and pets altogether with a variety of products to stay clear of these unpleasant and potentially dangerous pests.
Flea and Tick Prevention in the Yard
Don’t overlook your yard when dealing with flea and tick prevention as this is where your dog is most likely to pick up pests. Take these simple steps to keep pests in your yard to an absolute minimum.
Make your yard as impenetrable to other animals as possible. Make sure there are barriers to prevent wild animals venturing into your yard.
By creating a barrier approximately three feet between bushes and wooded areas you will prevent pests from creeping in.
Mow lawns to prevent pests lurking and living in long grasses and weeds.
Remove all garden waste such as compost piles and grass clippings that are perfect places for pests to live.
Keep garbage cans sealed and trash contained. Any food scraps or rubbish of any kind can easily attract wild animals, birds, and rodents that carry fleas and ticks.
Grow plants that repel pests such as delicious herbs and beautiful flowers. Rosemary, Lavender, Sage, and Marigolds are all excellent at repelling fleas and ticks.
Flea and Tick Prevention in Your Home
For the most part fleas and ticks will make their way into your home traveling on your pet however they can make it into your home by other means. Follow these easy to follow tips to make your home as impenetrable as possible to these pests.
Check around the interior and exterior of your home for cracks. Ticks, in particular, can make their way through these cracks. Use an epoxy sealant for small cracks or call in a professional to deal with larger cracks.
Vacuum all of your home at least once a week. Pay attention to furnishings, upholstery, rugs, and curtains.
Wash pet bedding regularly.
Keeping your home hygienic and free from garbage will ensure that pests that carry fleas such as rodents will not be attracted to your home or yard.
Treat your home with a flea and tick preventative powder.
Tick Removal
It is quite common for dogs to be affected by ticks. Often dogs will pick up ticks after they have been out for a walk. You may take your dog for a long walk in the woods where he or she has bounced around and played in the long grass and as a result, a tick has attached itself to your dog.
Sometimes ticks will attach themselves to less obvious parts of your pet, such as in their “armpits” but it is quite common for a tick to attach itself to your dog’ head or nose as they sniff around grassy areas. When ticks attach to your pet they are likely to be small and barely visible however after long walks you should check your dog after 12 to 24 hours. By then the tick will have taken its first blood meal and will be engorged and visible.
Whilst these parasites are very unsightly it is best to tackle them immediately and remove them from your pet to prevent health risks to your pet. Tick-borne diseases often take a while to infect an animal so removing the tick at the earliest possible opportunity can prevent your pet from becoming sick. Be reassured that ticks do not generally hurt your pet as they inject a painkiller before they suck blood in order to prevent detection.
Follow These Steps to Remove Ticks:-
Put on gloves as a cautionary measure to prevent any disease passing to you.
Calm your dog.
Using tweezers grab the tick firmly and pull out in a steady motion, without twisting or grabbing your pet’s skin.
Take care to not squeeze the tick so that it injects fluid back into your pet and also take a look at the tick to ensure that you have removed the head and mouth. If you have squeezed the tick or left any part of the tick in your dog take it to a veterinarian straight away.
Drop the offending tick into alcohol in a jar and as a precautionary measure keep the pest so that your veterinarian can identify the species at a later date, should your pet become sick.
Disinfect your pet’s skin and then it is time to reward your dog with cuddles, play, and treats.
After removing a tick keep an eye on your pet’s health and take it to a veterinarian along with the removed tick should your pet develop any symptoms at all.
The Bottom Line
While fleas and ticks are the bane of pet-owners, there are many more and varied products to handle this issue than there were even a decade ago. Any of the products above should grant you, and your pet some relief. While prevention is always best, be sure to react immediately upon seeing any evidence of fleas or ticks on your pet.