The Best Flea and Tick Preventatives and Treatments For Dogs

In the last ten years or so, the pet market has seen a huge surge of oral prescriptions for flea and tick prevention. At the head of the pack is Nexgard, which works against black-legged ticks, American dog ticks, lone star ticks, and brown dog ticks — all of which are the most common ticks found in the continental United States. Each prescription, flavored chewable is effective for one month and is available in dosages for dogs between four and 121 pounds.

For added protection, consider Simparica Trio, which also works against black-legged ticks, American dog ticks, lone star ticks, and brown dog ticks — in addition to fleas and heartworm. Released in 2016, Simparica is newer to the flea and tick game than NexGard, but has proven to be just as safe and effective. Simparica also comes in a flavored chewable and is also prescription only. However, Simparica has the added bonus of having a larger weight range than NexGard, with doses available for dogs between 2.8 pounds and 132 pounds.

When it comes to flea and tick prevention, topicals hold one key advantage over oral medication: “Tablets don’t work so much as a repellent, so the tick will still get on your pet, but the tablet will kill the tick fairly well once it bites,” says Dr. Elizabeth Shines, an associate vet at Banfield Pet Hospital in Portland, Oregon. “Topicals tend to work more as repellents and then if the tick does bite your pet, it will still kill the tick.”

So if you’re looking for more of a repellent or your dog doesn’t respond well to oral flea and tick medication, consider this topical option by K9 Advantix. Available online and over the counter, K9 Advantix is applied between your dog’s shoulder blades and should not come into contact with water for at least 24 hours. This topical also works to kill fleas and ticks on contact, so neither bug has to bite your dog before dying. Available in monthly doses for dogs four pounds and up, K9 Advantix also claims to repel mosquitos, so your pup can enjoy a truly comfortable summer.

Applied simply by fitting the collar onto your dog’s neck, the Seresto Flea and Tick Collar works for up to eight months to both repel fleas and ticks and kill them on contact. This mess-free topical application works by slowly dispensing medication throughout its wear — so it should never be paired with other oral medications or topicals. The collar is available in two sizes, one for dogs under 18 pounds and one for dogs over 18 pounds, with no minimum or maximum weight limit. Just be mindful if you have a dog who likes to swim more than once a month, as it will reduce the collar’s effectiveness to five months against fleas and seven months against ticks.

If you’re looking to stay away from strong chemicals, this plant-powered bundle by Kin + Kind can get the job done just as well. Available in either lavender or lemongrass scents, this shampoo and spray combo is super effective when used consistently. To use the shampoo, simply leave it on your pet’s fur for up to two minutes for maximum effectiveness and rinse. For the spray, use before venturing out on tick-heavy activities like hiking, hunting, or playing with other pets. 

Stop these blood suckers at the source with this yard spray by Wondercide. Formulated using pet-safe essential oils, Wondercide kills, repels, and prevents fleas and ticks from infiltrating your yard‚ along with a host of other pests listed on the Wondercide website. But don’t worry: Wondercide won’t harm helpful bugs like bees and butterflies, so both pets and pollinators can enjoy the great outdoors.