Belive me there is no easy answer, I have done quite a bit of investigating in search of the perfect preventative. There is a lot of information out there on each and every product.
I do not endorse any one product. I am not a vet , but I am a dog owner with 2 dogs in my care who I want to make sure are cared for in the safest way possible. This article is to provide information that I have found in my search and to help you in your search for the best product for your dog. You cannot pick the best product by one article, so I encourage you to do some research on your own as well. Talk to your Vet or see what your friends are are using and ask them if they are satisfied with it.
When choosing a flea and tick preventative you have to take your dog into consideration. How old is your dog, is your dog allergic to flea bites, does he have sensitive skin, is he sick, is she pregnant, does she lick herself a lot, do you have children, do yu have cats, etc... The list goes on and on but I think you get the idea.
There are many different kinds of flea and tick preventatives. They range from flea collars to shampoos, dips, powders and topical. each with its own benefits and draw backs.
Read the packages or product information on the Internet thoroughly. Be sure to read warnings, reactions and research the active ingredients. Make sure you have the correct dosage for your dog (if you need to, take them to the vet to be weighed). Read the package for special application instructions, they are not all the same, some you apply in one long strip, others in 2 places and still others only between the shoulder blades. Make sure you also read the cautions for children and adults and cats!
I am going to give you a summary of some of the top brands of topical. Some of these companies also make collars, shampoos and sprays, so if you prefer these methods to topical be sure to take a look.
Frontline Plus for dogs.
This is one of the most popular and well known preventative.
Frontline Plus completely breaks down the flea life cycle by effectively stopping the development of new fleas.
Frontline plus also kills all stages of four major ticks including the ones that transmit lymne disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Always read and follow the directions carefully before applying product to your dog
Frontline Plus remains effective even after bathing, water immersion, or exposure to sunlight.
Apply ever 3 months for flea control, and every month for tick control
Active ingredient: Fipronil 9.8%
Advantage Flea Control:
Advantage is proven to stop fleas from biting in 3 to 5 minutes after application and it kills 98-100% of fleas within 12 hours of application.
One treatment lasts up to 1 month.
Advantage is water resistant, so it continues to kill fleas even after a shampooing, swimming or exposure to rain or sunlight .
Advantage is gentle, so it can be used on seven week old puppies.
Only effective on Fleas Does nothing for ticks
Always read and follow the directions carefully before applying product to your dog
Active ingredients: Imidacloprid
K9 Advantix: K9 Advantix is a once-a-month topical tick, mosquito and flea treatment for dogs and puppies 7 weeks old and older
K9 Advantix is a unique combination of 2 proven ingredients.
Prevents mosquitoes from biting.
Repels and kills deer ticks, American dog ticks, lone star ticks, and brown dog ticks before they can attach
Stops fleas from biting and kills them before they lay eggs.
remains effective after swimming and bathing.
DO NOT USE ON CATS and keep cats away from dogs after application until product is absorbed.
Always read and follow the directions carefully before applying product to your dog
Active ingredients: imidacloprid and permethrin
Prices range for these products and come in different sizes and doses, so be sure to read the package carefully and get the right one for your dog.
When deciding on a product you can find very low priced items. Be sure to check the active ingredient. Some are made with insecticides that may not be as safe for your dog. Do your homework!
Good luck and have a tick and flea free summer.
