Prevention is less stressful, cheaper, and healthier than treatment.
Topical Products
Seresto Collar (Bayer, Elanco)
- Active Ingredient: Imidacloprid (neonicotinoid), Flumethrin (synthetic pyrethroid)
- Kills fleas, ticks, sarcoptic mange, chewing lice. Repels fleas, ticks.
- Dosing Frequency: 6-8 months
- Cost: $60 for 6-8 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 7 weeks
- The good: Safe for dogs with food allergies. Kills existing fleas within 24 hours. Kills re-infesting fleas within 2 hours before they lay eggs. Begins preventing ticks within 48 hours of application. Repels and/or kills new ticks in as quickly as 6 hours. Kills lice on dogs for 1 month.
- The bad: Won’t last as long if bathe or swim often (only once monthly okay), great for fleas but may need an additional tick prevention method. Side effects may include itching, hearing loss, mild skin reactions. May decrease seizure threshold, so not recommended in dogs with history of seizures or neurologic disorders.
Revolution (Zoetis)
- Active Ingredient: Selamectin (macrocyclic lactone)
- Kills fleas, ear mites, sarcoptic mange, 1 tick (Dermacentor variabilis). Prevents heartworm disease.
- Dosing Frequency: monthly
- Cost: $55 for puppy 3 months, $110-130 for adult 6 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 6 weeks
- The good: Safe for dogs with food allergies. Bathing will not reduce efficacy. Safe for breeding/ pregnant/ nursing. Safe for heartworm-positive dogs. Safe for pets with ivermectin-sensitivity (collies).
- The bad: Only covers 1 species of tick. Does not cover hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, tapeworms. Side effects may include vomiting, diarrhea with or without blood, decreased appetite, sluggishness, salivation, rapid breathing, itching, welts, hives, skin redness, incoordination, fever and rare instances of death. Rare reports of seizures in dogs.
Bravecto for dogs (Merck)
- Active Ingredient: Fluralaner (isoxazoline)
- Kills fleas, ticks.
- Dosing Frequency: 12 weeks (2.7 months)
- Cost: $50-54 for 1 dose lasting 12 weeks
- Minimum Age & Weight: 6 months, 4.4 lbs (2 kg)
- Pros: longest-lasting protection available in a single chew or topical dose (almost 3x longer than any monthly treatment)
- The bad: Not a good choice for flea allergic dogs. (won’t kill tick until they bite – won’t transmit a disease causing organism though). Side effects may include. vomiting, hair loss, diarrhea, lethargy, decreased appetite, moist dermatitis/ rash. May decrease seizure threshold, so not recommended in dogs with history of seizures or neurologic disorders. Not effective against lone star ticks beyond 8 weeks of dosing. Does not repel fleas or ticks, does not repel or kill mosquitoes
Frontline Shield (Boehringer Ingelheim)
- Active ingredient: Fipronil (Phenylpyrazole insecticide), Permethrin (Pyrethrin), Pyriproxyfen (Insect Growth Regulator)
- Kills adult fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, ticks, chewing lice. Repels ticks, mosquitoes, stable flies.
- Dosing Frequency: 1 month
- Cost: $40 for 3 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 8 weeks, 5 lbs
- The good: Repels ticks and mosquitoes so they don't even go on your dog. Starts killing fleas in 5 minutes. Starts killing ticks in 1 hour.
- The bad: Toxic to cats, do not use in a household with cats. Side effects may include skin irritation seen as scratching, redness, and discomfort.
Frontline Plus (Boehringer Ingelheim)
- Active Ingredient: Fipronil (Phenylpyrazole insecticide), (S)-methoprene (Insect Growth Regulator)
- Kills adult fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, adult ticks, chewing lice.
- Dosing Frequency: 30 days
- Cost: $65 for 6 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 8 weeks, 5 lbs
- The good: Fast-acting, long-lasting, waterproof.
- The bad: Does not repel fleas or ticks, does not repel or kill mosquitoes. Side effects may include skin irritation seen as redness, scratching, or other signs of discomfort.
Frontline Gold (Boehringer Ingelheim)
- Active Ingredient: Fipronil (Phenylpyrazole insecticide), (S)-methoprene (Insect Growth Regulator), Pyriproxyfen (Insect Growth Regulator)
- Kills adult fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, adult ticks, chewing lice.
- Dosing Frequency: 1 month
- Cost: $45 for 3 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 8 weeks, 5 lbs
- The good: Starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Waterproof after 48 hours of application.
- The bad: Does not repel mosquitoes. Side effects may include signs of skin irritation seen as redness, scratching, or other signs of discomfort. Gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting or diarrhea have also been reported.
K9 Advantix II (Bayer, Elanco)
- Active Ingredient: Imidacloprid (Neonicotinoid), Permethrin (Pyrethrin), Pyriproxyfen (Insect Growth Regulator)
- Kills fleas, ticks, lice, mosquitoes. Repels fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, biting flies.
- Dosing Frequency: 4 weeks/ monthly
- Cost: $65 for 6 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 7 weeks, 4 lbs
- The good: Kills fleas within 12 hours of application. Kills reinfesting fleas within 2 hours.
- The bad: Toxic to cats, do not use in a household with cats. Side effects may include signs of skin irritation such as redness, scratching, or other signs of discomfort. Gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting or diarrhea have also been reported.
Advantage Multi (Bayer, Elanco)
- Active Ingredient: Imidacloprid (Neonicotinoid), Moxidectin (Macrocyclic Lactone)
- Kills fleas, ticks, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, sarcoptic mange. Prevents transmission of heartworm. Repels ticks, fleas, mosquitoes.
- Dosing Frequency: monthly
- Cost: $110 for 6 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 7 weeks, 3 lbs
- The good: Effective against fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, 3 GI worms, and sarcoptic mange mites.
- The bad: Do not allow dog (or other pets or children) to lick product from application site for 30 minutes. Side effects may include Itch, poor appetite, lethargy. Risk of adverse reactions in heartworm positive dogs including cough, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, inappetence, dyspnea. Does not cover flea eggs, tapeworms, ear mites, ticks.
Vectra 3D (Ceva)
- Active Ingredient: Dinotefuran (Neonicotinoid), Pyriproxyfen (Insect Growth Regulator), Permethrin (Pyrethrin)
- Kills fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, biting and sand flies, lice, mites (except mange mites). Repels fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, biting and sand flies, lice, mites (except mange mites).
- Dosing Frequency: 1 month
- Cost: $62-76 for 6 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 8 weeks
- The good: Good for flea allergic dogs. Kills through contact so parasites don’t have to bite to die. Begins reducing flea feeding in 5 minutes, kills fleas in 6 hours. Remains effective after bathing and swimming.
- The bad: Not effective against mange mites. Toxic to cats, do not use in a household with cats. Side effects may include skin sensitivity seen as redness or itch.
Activyl for dogs (Merck)
- Active Ingredient: Indoxacarb (Oxadiazine)
- Kills fleas
- Dosing Frequency: monthly
- Cost: $30 for 3 months, $55 for 6 months
- Minimum Age & Weight: 4 lbs
- The good: Waterproof after 24-48 hours from application. Good for flea allergic dogs, as fleas do not have the take a bite just contact with skin.
- The bad: Only covers fleas. Side effects may include signs of skin irritation such as redness, scratching, or other signs of discomfort.
Sources:
*Photos and cost estimates from Chewy.com*
https://www.elancodvm.com/our-products/seresto/seresto-dogs
https://www.drugs.com/vet/seresto-small-or-large-dog.html
https://us.bravecto.com/for-dogs
https://www.zoetisus.com/products/pages/revolution_dogs/home.aspx
https://frontline.com/shield-for-dogs
https://frontline.com/plus-for-dogs
https://frontline.com/gold-for-dogs
https://www.elancodvm.com/our-products/advantix/k9-advantix-ii-dogs
https://www.elancodvm.com/our-products/advantage/advantage-multi
https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=bf87c925-6a5a-40e1-9d73-4b648b3c1fbd
https://www.drugs.com/vet/vectra-3d.html
https://www.drugs.com/vet/vectra-3d.html
https://us.activyl.com/activyl-for-dogs-and-cats.aspx
https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/product/activyl-for-cats-and-kittens
https://www.drugs.com/vet/activyl-tickplus-for-dogs-and-puppies-over-4-lb-and-up-to-11-lb.html
