Do dogs need flea and tick medicine every month? The best way to prevent and ward off fleas is to keep your dog on flea and tick medication year-round. Most preventative medications, both topical and oral versions, need to be taken monthly to remain effective.
You should de-flea and worm your pet once a month. Not only will this prevent them from experiencing the side effects of either condition, but it'll allow your pet to be completely protected and free from suffering.
Peak Flea and Tick Season
The cooler, drier winter weather will offer your pets some relief, but it is crucial to treat against fleas throughout all seasons. 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.
If you miss that monthly dose, your pet is at a potential risk of getting flea or tick bites, which can transmit some serious diseases. Heartworm preventive medicine is especially important to keep on schedule for your pet.
NexGard protects dogs against brown dog ticks, bush ticks and the potentially deadly paralysis tick. NexGard should be given monthly, all year round in areas where paralysis ticks are found.
To keep your dog protected from parasites and avoid treatment gaps, it's important to adhere to the dosing schedule. However, if you do miss a dose, give it as soon as you remember. Then, adjust the dosing schedule so that the next dose is 30 days after the new dose.
Using an all-in-one parasite prevention product like Nexgard Spectra (for dogs) or Revolution Plus (for cats) from June to November is a great base to build from. This ensures you pet is safe from heartworm, which is generally the most serious parasite related health problem with see our patients.
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.
It's recommended to do tick treatments until it turns cold enough to send these nasty pests back into hibernation. As for fleas, these annoying critters can live year round indoors. A good rule of thumb is that as soon as the frost hits the ground, they are not much of a threat outdoors.
It is important to understand that this may take some time, as this flea and tick treatment is given once a month, and it may still be in their system for up to 30 days.
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.
Flea season can last anywhere from 6-9 months to all year round in some states. Fleas love warm temperatures, so your season can start early in spring and last until September, October, or November.
Dogs are very susceptible to tick bites and tickborne diseases. Vaccines are not available for most of the tickborne diseases that dogs can get, and they don't keep the dogs from bringing ticks into your home. For these reasons, it's important to use a tick preventive product on your dog.
Every dog is at risk for worms, no matter where they live or how much time they spend outside. Worms are usually transmitted through the faecal-oral method, meaning that your pet may come across microscopic parasitic eggs that are present in faecal material. Some worms, such as tapeworms, are transmitted via fleas.
A worming treatment every three months is usually enough to prevent problems from developing. It may be necessary to deworm your dog slightly more regularly if they scavenge a lot. Remember to protect your dog against lungworm as well as intestinal (gut) worms.
Yes, Nexgard is an incredibly safe and effective prevention for fleas, ticks, and mites. However, because Nexgard is ingested and absorbed into the bloodstream, rather than applied to and spread by the oils of the skin, the few reactions that do occur can seem more dramatic.
All of your furry family members should be treated year-round with flea and tick control products. These can be prescription or over-the-counter, and often require application every 30 days.
Common signs of toxicity from flea products containing organophosphates are diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, small pupils, muscle tremor, weakness or falling over, and drooling. Organophosphate toxicity can be rapidly fatal, depending on the ingredients and dose the pet is exposed to.
How often can you bathe a dog with flea and tick shampoo? Flea and tick shampoos that contain chemical ingredients can be used once a week until the infestation is gone, but they shouldn't be used long-term. Shampoos made with essential oils can be used every time you bathe your dog to treat and prevent fleas.
If chemical products are necessary for additional flea or tick control, NRDC recommends s-methoprene or pyriproxyfen, which are less toxic ingredients—but read the labels carefully because some products use them with other, more harmful pesticides.
Combine 1 quart of water, 1 cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, and 1 cup of baby shampoo or liquid dish soap. Use this mixture to bathe your dog once or twice a month. Vinegar kills fleas and ticks on contact and can prevent future infestations.
Prescription flea and tick medications use different ingredients that can be more effective. However, they can have a smaller margin of error when it comes to safe, effective use, so you can only buy them with your veterinarian's guidance.
The answer is yes, flea and tick preventatives need to be applied year-round in order to keep your pets safe. Read on to learn more about how fleas and ticks operate, the dangers they can harbor, and how best to protect your dogs and cats.
How often should NexGard SPECTRA be given? You should dose your dog once a month, ideally on the same day of each month.
Simparica Trio works against the same ticks and fleas as Nexgard and also protects your dog from heartworms, hookworms, and roundworms.