Flea & Tick Prevention

1. ID Tag …. 2. Transition …. 3. Housetraining   ….   4. Feeding

5. Fleas & Ticks …. 6. Heartworms …. 7. Poison Control …. 8. First Aid Kit

9. Marker Training …. 10. Aggression …. 11. Resources & Recommended Reading

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In most cases, fleas are more of an annoyance than a serious health issue. Ticks can be more problematic because they are capable of transmitting many diseases and, although rare, they can can consume enough of your dog’s blood to cause anemia. But fleas and ticks do not have to be an issue at all because truly effective flea & tick preventative products are widely available.

If you are serious about keeping fleas and ticks off your dog, don’t bother with the cheap topicals, sprays, shampoos, or the collars carried in grocery stores or budget department stores. These may help reduce flea and tick infestations somewhat, but are not truly effective as a preventative.

Some of the products that provide the best protection for your pet are listed below. These come in a variety of forms and work in different ways so are effective against different stages of the flea lifecycle. Some also guard against other insects and certain intestinal worms. Some are prescription combination products that also protect against heartworms. If you are unsure what product would be best for your dog, consult with your veterinarian, who will take your geography, your dog’s age, likelihood of exposure, and other factors into consideration.

LIQUID TOPICALS are applied to a dog’s skin between his shoulder blades. They typically eliminate 98-100% of the fleas within 12-18 hours, then have a residual effect for a month afterward, even after swimming or bathing.

•Frontline Plus – kills adult fleas, flea eggs and larvae, lice, and ticks.

•PetArmor Plus – kills fleas, ticks, and chewing lice, and prevents sarcoptic mange mites.

•Revolution – prevents heartworms, fleas, ticks, ear mites, and sarcoptic mange mites.

•Advantix II – kills and prevents fleas, ticks, mosquitoes; kills lice; and repels biting fleas.

•Advantage II – kills and prevents fleas.

ORAL PRODUCTS come as a soft chew or a flavored tablet. Unless otherwise noted below, they are effective for one month.

•NexGard soft chew – kills adult fleas and ticks.

•Bravecto soft chew – kills and prevents fleas and ticks for up to 12 weeks.

•Simparica Trio chewable tablet – kills ticks; kills and prevents fleas, roundworms, hookworms; and prevents heartworms.

•Trifexix chewable tablet – kills and prevents fleas, hookworms, roundsworms and whipworms, and prevents heartworms.

•Sentinel chewable tablet – prevents heartworm, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms; and prevents development of flea eggs.

•Credilio chewable tablet – kills and prevents fleas and ticks.

•Program chewable tablet – prevents flea eggs and larvae (does not kill not adult fleas).

COLLARS provide continuous flea and tick control for up to 8 months, even after swimming and bathing.

•Seresto collar – kills and repels fleas and ticks.