Does my dog really need flea and tick prevention?

"Ticks and mosquitoes are dangerous to the health of people as well as pets," says Dr. Jill Lopez, a veterinarian with Merck Animal Health. "For that reason, flea and tick protection is essential for all dogs and cats that live with you."

Is flea and tick prevention worth it?

The simple answer: Yes, flea & tick medication is important.

This should be as important as humans taking their daily vitamins.

Is it OK to not give dog flea medicine?

Some low-risk pets might not need year-round treatment or might get on better with a different product to make treatment easier. However, on the whole, it is best to treat your pet regularly for fleas- even if you think they don't have a problem.

Is flea prevention necessary for indoor dogs?

It is important to regularly give your dog a preventative flea treatment, even if they are an indoor dog, because the most effective flea control is preventing an infestation before it happens.

Do dogs need flea and tick every month?

Vets tend to recommend monthly flea-and-tick treatment across the board for all dogs, but what's best for one dog is not necessarily best for another. Yes, in some areas you really need to protect your dog from fleas and ticks year round. In other areas, it's not much of an issue.

Guide to Flea and Tick Medication - Ask A Vet

How often should you give your dog flea and tick medicine?

Once your puppy is old enough, it's important to start using a monthly flea and tick preventive medication to help ensure that your dog won't be affected by fleas or ticks in the future. Many of the treatments available and are effective for preventing both fleas and ticks.

What months do dogs need flea and tick medicine?

Flea and tick season will start with the onset of spring in late March to early April. However, depending on how far south you go, it may end in either November or December according to when the temperatures drop for winter.

Do dogs always have fleas?

Squirrels, raccoons, feral cats, and small rodents are common carriers of fleas and ticks. Dogs are at the highest risk of getting fleas in the summer months, but flea infestations have been observed year round.

Are flea and tick collars better than pills?

Flea collars: The verdict

Flea collars are usually less effective than medications, but there are a few exceptions. And while some of the most effective flea collars remain prescription-only, Seresto has recently been recategorized as a POM-VPS product.

What happens if you don't treat fleas?

Left untreated, fleas can multiply rapidly and make your dog seriously ill. That's why it's important to check your dog for fleas on a regular basis and act quickly to eliminate any outbreaks that occur. Some dogs are severely allergic to flea saliva and can experience extreme discomfort even from a single flea bite.

What is the safest flea and tick prevention for dogs?

Under many circumstances, newer dog flea collars are safe options for flea and tick control (unlike older collars, which were largely ineffective). The Seresto collar is a very popular option right now. It uses flumethrin and imidacloprid to kill fleas at multiple stages of development as well as ticks.

Is NexGard necessary for dogs?

Ticks can transmit Lyme disease, which affects both dogs and humans. In order to keep your pets safe from fleas and ticks, the veterinary hospital strongly recommends a medicated flea and tick prevention product like NexGard, which the hospital sells.

Are flea pills better than topical?

The ninety-day study found that topicals were 88.4 percent effective, while oral treatments were 99.9 percent effective.

Why you shouldn't use flea collars?

Ranging from skin irritation and gastrointestinal distress, to organ failure and even death, flea collars have a long history of harmful effects in both cats and dogs. When used as directed, flea collars are still known to cause severe chemical burns and seizures in pets.

Do tick collars really work?

Pest collars can be more effective at combating ticks than fleas because the collars rest around the dog's neck. This means the insecticide is most effective in the neck and face area, which also happens to be where ticks gravitate. If ticks are more of a concern for you than fleas, collars might be a great option.

Do flea collars actually work?

Do Flea Collars Really Work? Yes! Flea collars are designed to kill fleas. Some collars target only adult fleas, while others may kill some of the younger stages of fleas, too.

Do healthy dogs get fleas?

Although all dogs are at risk of contracting fleas 365 days a year, some dogs seem to be more of a flea magnet than others. It appears as though a flea's love for dogs might be a little more on the conditional side, meaning when certain conditions are present fleas are more likely to thrive.

What percentage of dogs get fleas?

As many as 1 in 4 cats and 1 in 7 dogs are carrying fleas, and about 11 per cent of these fleas are infected with potentially pathogenic bacteria, according to a large-scale analysis of owned animals in the UK.

How do indoor dogs get fleas?

Dogs often get infested with fleas through contact with other animals or contact with fleas in the environment. The strong back legs of this insect enable it to jump from host to host or from the surrounding environment onto the host. (Fleas do not have wings, so they cannot fly.)

What time of year do dogs get ticks?

When are ticks active? Ticks are commonly more active in open (as well as woodland and urban) areas in spring and autumn. Don't be fooled into thinking they're just a warm weather problem; they can, in fact, be found in your dog's environment throughout the year.

How often do dogs get fleas?

Contrary to popular pet owner belief, fleas aren't seasonal – actually, they're a year-round risk. Treating your dog or cat for fleas should be a regular entry on the kitchen calendar. A common question vets get asked is 'how often should I flea my dog? ' – this very much depends on the product you choose to use.

What time of year do dogs get fleas?

Summer is one of the most active times for fleas and ticks, with some of the worst season being fall, in September, October, and November. Research has shown that the number of fleas on cats and dogs is 70% in the fall when compared to the spring season.

How long is flea and tick medicine good for?

The most popular flea and tick medications for dogs and cats last for at least a month; some are even effective for eight to twelve weeks!

Is there a yearly flea and tick shot for dogs?

EXPERIENCE

BRAVECTO provides 12 weeks* of protection against fleas and ticks with a single treatment. That's easy and convenient with fewer chances to forget and a better experience for you and your pet, all taken care of with just one dose.