Ticks can cause some serious health problems in your dog, probably the most concerning of which is tick paralysis. As such, it is of vital importance that you choose the best type of tick treatment, not only to get rid of all the ticks your dog is currently hosting but also to prevent future infestations.
Tick treatments for your dog typically come in three different types: oral chewables, topical or spot-on, and collars.
Oral chewables
Sometimes also referred to as pills or tablets, oral chewables come either flavored or unflavored. This form of treatment is more often used on dogs since it can be difficult to get cats to swallow pills.
Some pet owners like to use oral chewables because they are easy to administer—all they need to do is either give the product directly to their dog to swallow or mix it in with their pet’s food.
The two leading oral tick treatment products in the market are Bravecto and Nexgard. Both products not only kill fleas, but they also get rid of fleas, eggs, larvae, and newly emerged ticks before they can lay eggs.
Choosing between either product will depend on how often you like to administer treatment and the age of your dog. If your pet is at least 8 weeks old and weighing over 4 pounds, you can use NexGard for dogs, which is a monthly treatment.
Bravecto chews, on the other hand, can only be used on dogs over 6 months of age and weighing over 4.4 pounds. It provides up to 12 weeks of protection against ticks (8 weeks for lone star tick), preventing new infestations.
Topical or spot-on
Topical tick prevention treatments have been the traditional method used to kill ticks and fleas on dogs. They are still the preferred form of tick treatment for some pet owners, and also for those whose pets refuse chews.
Bravecto, Revolution, and Frontline Plus are three of the more popular topical tick prevention products. Bravecto topical, much like Bravecto chews, is a 12-weekly treatment that can be used on dogs over 6 months of age and weighing over 4.4 pounds.
Revolution for dogs is good for puppies over 6 weeks of age and weighing at least 5.5 pounds, while Frontline Plus is for puppies over 8 weeks old, with a minimum weight of 4.4 pounds.
All three products kill ticks, as well as fleas, eggs, and larvae, and offer 30-day protection. Frontline Plus also kills and repels mosquitoes.
Collar
Besides using either an oral chewable or topical treatment, you may want to consider using the Seresto collar, especially during high tick activity season. It kills and repels ticks and fleas for up to eight months, and is safe to use on puppies from 7 weeks old.
Deciding on the best tick treatment for your dog
There is no one product that is the best for any dog. Choosing the best tick treatment for your dog, such as between the oral chewable Nexgard or Frontline Plus, the spot-on treatment, will depend on your personal preference for application and frequency.
At the same time, you would want to take into consideration the weight and age of your pet.
Whichever product you choose, be sure to regularly use it on your dog, to make sure it doesn’t stop working.
Most importantly, if you are trying to get rid of ticks, be sure to kill the ticks in your house and yard, as they are all places ticks can be hiding, ready to re-infest your dog again.
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