If chemical products are necessary for additional flea or tick control,
Best overall tick prevention
Bravecto starts killing embedded ticks in as little as 12 hours and fleas in as little as two hours. The chewable tablets are meat-flavored, so you won't have to hide any pills in peanut butter or cheese, and they are available in different sizes for dogs from (roughly) four to 123 pounds.
Simparica is an excellent choice for flea and tick protection. The monthly chew also comes with an option for heartworm protection, too, as Simparica Trio. But while Simparica is usually safe flea and tick treatment for dogs, it shouldn't be prescribed to dogs with a history of seizures.
BRAVECTO Spot On is our pick for the best flea and tick treatment for dogs. It has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Pet Circle. BRAVECTO Spot On is a topical flea and tick treatment that treats and prevents flea and paralysis ticks for up to 6 months. It also helps control brown dog ticks and flea allergy dermatitis.
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.
The only downside to NexGard is that the parasites have to bite the dog to be affected by the medication, which can sometimes take several hours to take place. We'll contact your Vet to verify.
As you can see, both Nexgard and Simparica are extremely good and effective flea and tick treatment and they do not have a major difference between them. But that being said, Simparica does kill an additional tick specie and is relatively faster in eliminating fleas and ticks.
Collars such as Seresto will repel fleas and ticks, and even prevent ticks from attaching, but they must be applied tightly enough to have skin contact. Many topical options containing permethrin (e.g. K9 Advantix II, Vectra 3D) will repel and prevent tick attachment.
If your dog does have a history of seizures, it is advised to use different flea and tick medications than those mentioned above. Topical medications such as Advantage, Vectra, Revolution, or Frontline are good choices. Some dogs may have a localized reaction to topical medications.
Frontline is generally considered to be a better option for dogs that have health concerns because it's applied to the skin. However, if your pup is in good health, they can benefit from the protection that NexGard offers.
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.
Vinegar. 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.
Because side effects are rare, the Food and Drug Administration considers Bravecto and other isoxazoline products safe for dogs.
Simparica Trio is considered safe for dogs as young as eight weeks old who weigh at least 2.8 pounds. However, the product has not been evaluated in breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs.
Side effects
Simparica for dogs is a drug from the isoxazoline class. This class has been linked to neurological signs such as tremors, unsteadiness, and seizures in dogs. However, the FDA considers drugs in the isoxazoline class to be safe and effective for dogs.
How does Simparica Trio work? Simparica contains three active substances: sarolaner, moxidectin and pyrantel. Sarolaner acts as an 'ectoparasiticide'. This means that it kills parasites present on the skin or in the fur of animals, such as fleas and ticks.
Both products are safe for dogs when following directions and have been approved by the FDA to treat and prevent flea and tick infestations. However, unlike Bravecto, Simparica has yet to be approved for use in breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs.
Deaths reported total 28 (death + death by euthanasia). The Nexgard product insert lists vomiting (with and without blood), dry flaky skin, diarrhea (with and without blood), lethargy, and anorexia as the top 5 adverse events in the pre-approval field study (415 dogs treated with afoxolaner).
If you give your dog or cat the flea and tick preventatives Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica, or Credelio, the FDA wants you to be aware that these medications may cause neurological issues like stumbling, seizures, and twitching in your pet.
That same information showed 720 reported seizures for Bravecto in four years and 557 for Simparica in three years. For Credelio, six seizures were reported in the first six months after its approval.
Therefore, use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. The safe use of NexGard in breeding, pregnant or lactating dogs has not been evaluated.” There are two sections of adverse reactions listed on the package insert.
Protecting your puppy against worms is also crucial. Nexgard Spectra is an excellent all-around wormer using the active ingredient Milbemycin Oxime that protects against gut worms, lungworm disease, eye worms, hookworms, whipworms, roundworms and perhaps the most important, heartworms.
“NexGard (afoxolaner) is one of the isoxazoline class of parasiticides. Please do NOT use any of them again. There are now two isoxazoline-related class-action lawsuits in North America — one in Quebec and the other in New Jersey. The FDA finally has required warnings on the labels and product inserts.