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The first time I took Maggie to the vet as a puppy, I heard a whole lot of terms that didn’t make any sense to me.
She got her routine shots and I scheduled her for future appointments, but I felt a little lost when presented with options.
One of the most confusing parts was deciding which kind of tick repellent to give her.
There are so many options, but in the years since, I’ve come to know quite a few of them.
Check out everything I know about the best tick repellents for dogs.
They’ll protect your dog and prevent future ticks from catching a ride, so your dog stays safe and healthy all year long.
It’s a daily vitamin that repels ticks by masking the CO2 in your dog’s coat that attracts them.
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What I Liked
Flea Away’s tick pill is amazing because it:
Repels ticks, fleas and mosquitoes
Contains omega-3 fatty acids to help your dog’s skin and coat
Eases joint pain caused by old age
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What I Didn’t Like
A few consumers have complained that this product:
Must be given as a daily tablet
Takes 30 days to build up your dog’s immunity
Is a bit big for small dogs to chew on
Conclusion
Flea Away is a great option if you prefer all-natural solutions
Break the pill in half if you have a small dog and you’re good to go. Given a few weeks, your dog will be protected from ticks and other pests they might encounter while out in the yard or at the dog park.
Check out why it might be right for your dog and what’s made people fall in love with this easy pest solution.
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What I Liked
This collar beats its competition because it:
Doesn’t have a smell
Doesn’t leave behind greasy residue
Protects dogs for up to eight months at a time
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What I Didn’t Like
These features may not please everyone:
Some dogs had allergic reactions to the ingredients
It may take a few days to fully protect your dog
It’s about the same price as a prescription medication
Conclusion
You might find cheaper tick collars on the market, but none will give you the guaranteed, lasting protection of a Seresto collar. Give it a try with your dog to see it in action.
It kills ticks on contact, so it’s the perfect solution to a current infestation.
You can also bathe your dog with this shampoo before taking them into the woods as a tick preventative, though you should wait seven days between uses.
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What I Liked
This shampoo ranks above its competitors because:
It uses pyrethrum, a natural insecticide, to soothe skin while it kills ticks
It doesn’t contain soap, so it won’t dry out sensitive skin
It’s available for dogs 12 weeks and older
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What I Didn’t Like
Before you start up the shower for your pup, make sure you know that:
It doesn’t absorb into the bloodstream, so it only kills the ticks it touches
Some dogs don’t enjoy the smell
May cause an allergic reaction in some dogs
Conclusion
It’s always smart to try tick shampoo when you spot more than one or two on your dog.
Getting extra medication, a special collar, or a topical treatment for your dog may seem like extra work.
After all, shouldn’t flea medication kill any insects living on your dog?
Tick protection is worth going out of your way for.
Here are a few reasons why ticks pose such a big threat to dogs.
They Directly Access the Bloodstream
When ticks survive to adulthood, they know they need to feed on blood.
They wait in grassy or wooded areas for animals to lay down so they can catch a ride. They also reach out their arms to grab onto animals that walk past them, so they can jump onto dogs from nearly anywhere.
After a tick finds a host, they poke their three mouth parts through your dogs skin and sink directly into a vein[1].
While they feed, their saliva travels through the bloodstream and could carry bacteria with it.
They Carry Lyme Disease
Sometimes celebrities show up in the news because they announce that they have Lyme disease, but dogs can get it too.
It happens when a dog gets bit by a deer tick carrying a spirochete bacteria[2].
Symptoms occur a few months after the initial bite, which is when your dog will experience:
Fever
Limping
Enlarged lymph nodes
If left untreated, Lyme disease spreads to the kidney, which is when it becomes fatal[3].
Ticks Pose Other Risks Too
You might think the odds of your dog getting Lyme disease are low, but that’s not the only way a tick can make them ill.
Whenever the weather warms up, ticks start to wake up from their dormant winter season.
You might see ticks most often starting in March or April until freezing temperatures begin in late fall[5].
Pet Your Dog Daily
You already spoil your dog with plenty of pets, but keep your senses tuned to anything strange while you pet your dog.
Bumps under their fur or dark spots should be closely inspected, as they might be ticks.
Talk With Your Vet
Your vet will know how much of a threat ticks are in your area.
They may recommend a simple tick collar or prescribe extra-strength medication.
They’ll also discuss if you can wash your dog with tick shampoo while they use their standard treatment, in case your dog spends most of their time outside.
Conclusion
Which tick prevention method you choose for your dog is always a personal choice.
I prefer to give Maggie a lasting oral medication, which is why I have her on Simparica. She loves the taste and smell of the pill, which is a huge bonus because she’s a picky eater.
She hasn’t had any tick problems and I don’t suspect she will while she takes her medication.
Talk with your vet if you have any questions or concerns about your dog’s care.
They want to help clear up confusion you might have about how your dog’s current medications may interact with something meant to kill and prevent ticks.
Once you get their approval, you’ll find you can rely on options like these to take care of your dog and keep them from dealing with future pest problems.
FAQs
Do Dogs Need Tick Medicine All Year Round?
Yes!
Most ticks will go dormant during cold weather, but could wake up on warmer days.
It’s safer to protect your dog during all seasons.
What Does Tick Medication Do for Dogs?
Tick medications either absorb into your dog’s skin or bloodstream to kill ticks that try to use your dog for a meal.
They can also prevent ticks from latching on, depending on the ingredients in the medication.
When Should You Give Your Dog Tick Medicine?
Your dog should take their tick medicine on the same day every month.
Most pills only protect dogs for 30 days.
Follow the instructions for your dog’s chosen medication and create a reminder on your calendar so you don’t forget to give them their next pill in the months ahead.
Skipped doses will create a lapse in protection, which opens the door to tick bites.