Flea and Tick Prevention

With spring right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about flea and tick protection and prevention.

Why is flea and tick prevention important?
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Fleas and ticks can cause two specific problems.
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  1. They can cause discomfort and skin irritation through their bites, and in some cases can cause severe allergic reactions in both pets and people
  2. They both can carry diseases and can cause illness both in pets and people.
 
Some of these diseases can be deadly and others can cause severe, chronic, and lifelong illnesses. Prevention is key to avoiding these problems.
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Prevention is also important because both fleas and ticks can infest the home. Because they have different life cycles, treating an infestation is much more difficult (and costly) than preventing an infestation.
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For fleas and tick to survive, they must bite their host and then feed on the blood. These bites can directly impact your dog’s health. The saliva from a flea bite can cause severe allergies, dermatitis, anemia, itching, and infection. Tick bites can cause infection, abscesses, paralysis, and even death.
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These nasty parasites can also harbor and spread a variety of diseases to dogs, including:
  • Lyme disease
  • Anaplasmosis
  • Bartonellosis
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
  • Tapeworms
  • Babesiosis
 
Some of these diseases can spread to you and your family. That is why it’s critical to keep fleas and ticks off your dog, as well as out of your home.
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Fleas and ticks can be found worldwide. Fleas can live in many climate zones, but they prefer humid and shady areas, such as under a leaf. They can also be carried by many different wild animal hosts, such as foxes, skunks, raccoons, birds, and rodents. They have the incredible jumping ability and can easily jump onto you or your pet as you walk by.

Ticks can also live in many climate zones and prefer humid and shady environments, especially areas with woods, shrubs, weeds, and tall grasses. Ticks can be carried by a variety of wild animal hosts such as deer, horses, and rodents. Ticks cannot jump like fleas but will grab you or your pet as you walk by via a behavior called questing.
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Types of Flea and Tick Prevention
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There are many products on the market. Some are over-the-counter and some are prescription. Some are stand-alone products and some are in combination with other treatments/medications. Some are applied to the skin, some are worn as a collar, and some are given by mouth (orally). Some are given daily, some are given monthly, and some can last for several months. Depending on your lifestyle, your pet’s lifestyle, and your needs and preferences, your veterinarian will help you choose a product that works best for you and your pet.

Examples of available products include the following:
  • Topical flea products: Activyl®, Advantage® II, Cheristin®
  • Oral flea products: Capstar®, Comfortis®, Sentinel® (growth regulator only)
  • Topical tick products: Preventic® (dogs only)
  • Topical combination products: Frontline®, K9 Advantixx® II (dogs only), Bravecto®, Revolution®, Seresto® (collar), Vectra 3D® (dogs only), Effipro® Plus, Effitix® (dogs only)
  • Oral combination products (dogs only): Bravecto®, NexGard®, Trifexis®, Simparica™

Topical flea and tick preventatives are a great option for pets that are picky eaters or have sensitive stomachs. However, if you have small children or other animals, you need to be careful that they don’t touch or lick the product before it has time to dry.

Spot-on flea and tick options may have a medicinal smell or cause transient itching/irritation or even hair loss. Topical treatments are also not a great option for dogs that like to swim a lot or dogs that need frequent baths. Water can affect the efficacy of the product.

Oral treatments can be an easy and convenient option for dog parents because they can be given as a treat. If you use oral treatments, it’s best to monitor your dog to make sure they have eaten the entire tablet and do not throw it up before it can be absorbed into their system.

If your dog vomits after eating an oral flea and tick preventative, call your veterinarian for instructions on re-dosing, as well as to report a potential reaction to the product. Feeding oral preventatives with a meal may help decrease upset stomach as well as help with product absorption.

Comparing Combination of Flea and Tick Medicine for Dogs

The chart below outlines and compares common flea and tick preventatives for dogs. Always check with your veterinarian before starting any product, whether it’s OTC or prescription.




Dog Flea and Tick Prevention Product Summaries


Advantage II is a topical monthly product containing the active ingredients imidacloprid and pyriproxyfen. This combination of drugs is fast-acting and kills all forms of fleas, including eggs, larvae, and adults, within hours, as well as chewing lice. However, this product has no tick prevention. This product should only be used in dogs and puppies over 7 weeks and who weigh more than 3 pounds. It is typically applied every month.

Advantage Multi is a topical monthly product containing the active ingredients imidacloprid and moxidectin. This combination of drugs treats fleas, sarcoptic mange, intestinal parasites hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms, as well as preventing heartworm disease. Advantage Multi is fast-acting, killing fleas within hours, but other parasites may take up to 24 hours. This product does not provide tick prevention. This product should only be used in dogs and puppies over 7 weeks and who weigh more than 3 pounds. It is typically applied every month.


Bravecto is a chewable tablet or topical solution containing the active ingredient fluralaner, which is in the isoxazoline drug class. Isoxazolines are absorbed systemically, and therefore must bite the dog to receive the drug. Bravecto is fast-acting, starting to kill fleas within 2 hours and ticks within 12 hours. This drug treats fleas and ticks and comes in three forms:

  • 1-month chewable tablet: This product should only be used in dogs and puppies over 8 weeks old and who weigh more than 4.4 pounds. This product is effective against fleas, deer ticks, American dog ticks, brown ticks, and lone star ticks.

  • 3-month chewable tablet: This product should only be used in dogs over 6 months of age and over 4.4 pounds. This product is effective against fleas, deer ticks, American dog ticks, and brown ticks for 12 weeks. However, is only effective against the lone star tick for 8 weeks. Ask your veterinarian or review capcvet.org to determine your pet’s risk.

  • 3-month topical treatment: This product should only be used in dogs over 6 months of age and over 4.4 pounds. This product is effective against fleas, deer ticks, American dog ticks, and brown ticks for 12 weeks. However, is only effective against the Lone Star tick for 8 weeks.

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Bravecto has also proven effective against demodectic, sarcoptic mange, and ear mites. As a drug in the isoxazoline class, all Bravecto products should be used with caution in dogs with a history of seizures, epilepsy, or neurologic disorders.

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Comfortis is a chewable tablet containing the active ingredient spinosad. This product treats fleas only. Comfortis is fast-acting agent, killing fleas within 30 minutes of dosing. Dogs and puppies must be 14 weeks or older and weigh over 5 pounds. Comfortis is typically administered every month.

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Credelio is a chewable tablet containing the active ingredient lotilaner, which is in the isoxazoline drug class. Isoxazolines are absorbed systemically, and therefore the parasite must bite the dog to receive the drug. Credelio treats fleas and ticks. It is fast-acting, starting to kill fleas within 4 hours of administration. This product should only be used in dogs and puppies over 8 weeks and who weigh more than 4.4 pounds. Credelio is administered every month. As a drug in the isoxazoline class, all Credelio products should be used with caution in dogs with a history of seizures, epilepsy, or neurologic disorders.

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Frontline Gold is a topical monthly product containing the active ingredients fipronil, (s)-methoprene, and pyriproxyfen. This combination of drugs kills all fleas (all forms), ticks, and chewing lice. Frontline Gold is fast-acting, killing fleas and ticks within hours. This product should only be used in dogs and puppies over 8 weeks and weighing more than 5 pounds. It is typically applied every month.

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Frontline Plus is a topical monthly product containing the active ingredients fipronil and (s)-methoprene. This combination of drugs kills all fleas (all forms), ticks, and chewing lice. Frontline Gold is fast-acting but may take longer than Frontline Gold. This product should only be used in dogs and puppies over 8 weeks and weighing more than 5 pounds. It is typically applied every month.

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Frontline Shield is a topical monthly product containing the active ingredient fipronil. permethrin, and pyriproxyfen. This combination of drugs kills all fleas, ticks, chewing lice, and stable flies. It also repels mosquitos, stable flies, and ticks. Frontline Shield is fast-acting, starting to kill fleas in 5 minutes and ticks within 1 hour. This product should only be used in dogs and puppies over 9 weeks and weighing more than 5 pounds. It is typically applied every month. This product is highly toxic to cats, so avoidance or extreme caution should be used in households with cats.

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K9 Advantix II is a topical monthly product containing the active ingredient imidacloprid. permethrin, and pyriproxyfen. This combination of drugs repels and kills fleas (all forms), ticks, mosquitos, and chewing lice, while also repelling biting flies. K9 Advantix II is fast-acting, starting to kill parasites within hours. This product should only be used in dogs and puppies over 7 weeks and weighing more than 4 pounds. It is typically applied every month. This product is highly toxic to cats, so avoidance or extreme caution or should be used in households with cats.

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Nexgard is a chewable tablet containing the active ingredient afoxolaner, which is in the isoxazoline drug class. Isoxazolines are absorbed systemically, and therefore must bite the animal in order to receive the drug. Nexgard is effective against fleas, deer ticks, American dog ticks, brown ticks, and lone star ticks. It is also effective for extra-label treatment of sarcoptic and demodectic mange. Nexgard starts to kill fleas within 4 hours and ticks up to 48 hours. The monthly product should only be used in dogs and puppies over 8 weeks and who weigh more than 4 pounds. As a drug in the isoxazoline class, all Nexgard products should be used with caution in dogs with a history of seizures, epilepsy, or neurologic disorders.

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Onguard Plus is a topical monthly product containing the active ingredients fipronil and (s)-methoprene. This combination of drugs kills all fleas (all forms), ticks, sarcoptic mange, and chewing lice. Onguard is fast-acting. This product should only be used in dogs and puppies over 8 weeks and weighing more than 5 pounds. It is typically applied every month.

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Seresto is a collar containing the active ingredients imidacloprid and flumethrin. This combination of drugs kills and repels fleas and ticks for 8 months. Fleas are killed within 24 hours of application and ticks are killed 48 hours after. If a dog is bathed or swims frequently (more than once per month), it may decrease efficacy and need to be replaced as frequently as every 5 months. The product should only be used in dogs and puppies over 7 weeks of age.

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Simparica Trio is a chewable tablet containing the active ingredient sarolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel. Sarolaner is in the isoxazoline drug class. Isoxazolines are absorbed systemically, and therefore must bite the animal in order to receive the drug. Simparica Trio treats fleas, ticks, roundworms, and hookworms, while also preventing heartworm disease. It is also used extra-label to treat demodectic mange, sarcoptic mange, and ear mites. It is also effective for extra-label treatment of sarcoptic and demodectic mange. Simparica Trio is fast-acting, starting to kill fleas and ticks within 4-12 hours. This product should only be used in dogs and puppies over 8 weeks and who weigh more than 2.8 pounds. As a drug in the isoxazoline class, all Simparica products should be used with caution in dogs with a history of seizures, epilepsy, or neurologic disorders.

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Trifexis is a chewable tablet containing the active ingredients spinosad and milbemycin oxime. Trifexis is effective against fleas, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms, while also preventing heartworm disease. It is a fast-acting drug, starting to kill fleas within 30 minutes. This product does provide protection from ticks. Dogs and puppies must be 8 weeks or older and weigh over 5 pounds.

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Vectra 3D is a topical monthly product containing the active ingredients dinitefuran, permethrin, and pyriproxyfen. This combination of drugs repels and kills fleas (all forms), ticks, mosquitos, chewing lice, sand and biting flies, and some mites. Vectra is fast-acting, starting to kill parasites within hours. This product should only be used in dogs and puppies over 8 weeks and weighing more than 5 pounds. It is typically applied every month. This product is highly toxic to cats, so avoidance or extreme caution or should be used in households with cats.

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