Best Tick Prevention for Dogs: 7 Vet-Prescribed Options

Published on 02/21/2024

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The geographic ranges of ticks are expanding every year. Even in the winter, some ticks will make an appearance if the temperature reaches 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, these blood-feasting parasites think your dog is quite the tasty treat. Tick prevention for dogs is the best protection for your canine companion against these arachnids and the associated health risks.

What follows is everything you need to know about tick control products for dogs, plus a list of vet-approved options to consider.

Tick Prevention for Dogs: Why It Matters

Ticks aren’t just annoying external parasites—they could be dangerous for your dog!

Ticks endanger your dog’s health in several ways:

Ticks carry diseases, such as ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, or Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can make your dog sick and possibly threaten their life.
Ticks also cause tick paralysis in dogs, a condition in which toxins in the tick’s saliva cause gradual paralysis, which does not resolve until after the tick is removed. This condition can become severe enough that hospitalization is required.
If your dog gets a lot of ticks, the ticks can drink enough blood to contribute to anemia. This is especially risky in puppies.
Tick bites are sometimes itchy! Your dog may bite, scratch, and lick at the bite area, causing hair loss, wounds, or even infection.

Your dog can also carry ticks into the home, where the parasites can latch onto you, your family members, or other pets in the home.

The ranges of specific tick species are expanding, which means the risk of contracting a tick-borne illness is going up in many areas. Although ticks are usually more active in the warmer months, exposure can occur year-round. Preventing ticks and fleas on dogs year-round is the best method for keeping your dog safe.

Types of Tick Control for Dogs

Tick control comes in multiple forms: topical solutions, oral medications, collars, and sprays. The products can be a single ingredient, which usually means they only manage ticks and fleas, or they can have multiple ingredients that allow the product to also cover heartworms and/or intestinal worms.

Some of these products require a veterinary prescription. Any tick preventive that also covers heartworms will fall under that category.

The List

Best Tick Prevention for Dogs: 7 Vet-Prescribed Picks

Pet parents have many good tick prevention options to choose from, so determining which to use can be a daunting task. Read about seven of the best vet-prescribed tick preventives below.

Keep in mind that your veterinarian is your go-to resource for selecting the best option for your dog. If you have any concerns about tick preventives, we recommend you speak with your veterinarian.

Credelio

Credelio is a beef-flavored, monthly chew that contains the active ingredient lotilaner.

Credelio kills adult fleas, and it both treats and controls tick infestations. Ticks must bite for the preventive to have effect. The types of ticks treated include:

Lone star ticks
American dog ticks
Deer ticks
Brown dog ticks

This medication should only be used on dogs who are at least 8 weeks of age and weigh at least 4.4 pounds. This should be administered with food.

The medication should be used with caution in dogs who have a seizure history. Lotilaner is a member of the isoxazoline class and has been associated with neurologic side effects such as tremors and seizures. Safety in breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs hasn’t been established. The most common side effects include increased drinking, diarrhea, elevations in blood urea nitrogen, and weight loss, those these are uncommon.

Credelio requires a prescription from a veterinarian.

Simparica Trio

Simparica Trio is a once-monthly, liver-flavored oral chew that contains the active ingredients sarolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel. This is the first FDA-approved product that addresses fleas and ticks, heartworms, and intestinal worms all in one treatment.

The medication protects against heartworm disease, kills five types of ticks, kills fleas before they can lay eggs, and treats and controls both roundworms and hookworms. Ticks must bite for the preventive to have effect. The types of ticks killed by Simparica Trio include:

Gulf Coast ticks (Amblyomma maculatum)
Deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis), also called blacklegged ticks
American dog ticks (Dermatocentor variabilis)
Lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum)
Brown dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)

This medication can be given to puppies as young as 8 weeks old and who weigh at least 2.8 pounds. You can give the chew with or without food.

The medication should be used with caution in dogs who have a seizure history. The drug sarolaner, which is a member of the isoxazoline class, has been associated with neurologic side effects such as tremors and seizures. The most common side effects of Simparica Trio are vomiting and diarrhea. Dogs should be tested for heartworms before receiving Simparica Trio. Safety is not established for breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs.

A veterinary prescription is required to purchase Simparica Trio.

NexGard Plus

NexGard Plus is a once-monthly, beef-flavored oral chew that contains the active ingredients afoxolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel.

The medication protects against heartworm disease, kills four types of ticks, kills fleas, and treats and controls both roundworms and hookworms. Ticks must bite for the preventive to have effect. The types of ticks killed by NexGard Plus include:

Deer ticks
American dog ticks
Lone star ticks
Brown dog ticks

This medication can be given to puppies as young as 8 weeks old and who weigh at least 4 pounds. You can give the chew with or without food.

The medication should be used with caution in dogs who have a seizure history. Like sarolaner in Simparica Trio, afoxolaner is a member of the isoxazoline class and has been associated with neurologic side effects such as tremors and seizures. The most common side effects of NexGard Plus are vomiting and diarrhea. Dogs should be tested for heartworms before receiving NexGard Plus. Safety is not established for breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs.

A veterinary prescription is required before purchasing NexGard Plus.

ParaMonthly Plus

Covetrus ParaMonthly Plus is a monthly topical ointment that contains fipronil and (S)-methoprene (same active ingredients as Frontline Plus). The tick must attach for the medication to have effect.

This medication kills fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, chewing lice, and four types of ticks. The four lice killed by ParaMonthly Plus include:

Deer ticks
American dog ticks
Lone star ticks
Brown dog ticks

Puppies should be at least 8 weeks old and weigh at least 5 pounds before taking ParaMonthly Plus.

To administer this product, part the fur between the shoulder blades and begin squeezing the tube. Move in a stripe down the back. The dog must stay dry for 48 hours after application.

The most common side effects include skin irritation, vomiting, and diarrhea. Products containing fipronil are usually considered safe for pregnant and nursing dogs, but as always, we recommend you speak with your veterinarian fist.

This product is usually sold by veterinary clinics but does not require a prescription.

Bravecto

Bravecto is unique in that it has both topical and pork-flavored oral chew options, and the prevention has action for 12 weeks instead of four weeks, meaning you usually only need to give a dose around every three months. For puppies, there is the option to use 1-month chews instead of 3-month chews. The active ingredient for both the chew and the topical is fluralaner.

Bravecto kills fleas and ticks within hours of its administration. Ticks must bite for the preventive to have effect. Bravecto kills:

Deer ticks
American dog ticks
Asian longhorned ticks (Haemaphysalis longicornis)
Brown dog ticks
Lone star ticks (Bravecto only works on lone star ticks for eight weeks)

The 3-month chew and topical solution are intended for dogs 6 months of age or older who weigh at least 4.4 pounds. The 1-month chews, which can be given to puppies who are at least 8 weeks old and weigh at least 4.4 pounds, are not effective against lone star ticks for puppies under 6 months old.

When administering the topical, you need to part the fur and apply directly to the skin. Begin between the shoulder blades and apply in one or more spots moving down the dog’s back. Wait three days to bathe your dog or before allowing them to immerse in water. The oral forms should be given with food.

The medication should be used with caution in dogs who have a seizure history. Fluralaner is a member of the isoxazoline class and has been associated with neurologic side effects such as tremors and seizures. The most common side effects of the chews include itching, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and lethargy. The most common side effects for the topical solution include vomiting, hair loss, diarrhea, lethargy, decreased appetite, and a rash. Birth defects may occur in puppies if their mother receives the medication while pregnant.

A veterinary prescription is required for Bravecto.

K9 Advantix II

K9 Advantix II is a monthly topical preventive with the active ingredients imidacloprid, permethrin, and pyriproxyfen.

This preventive kills and repels fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes within 12 hours of administration. The ticks you can prevent with K9 Advantix II include:

Deer ticks
American dog ticks
Brown dog ticks
Lone star ticks

Dogs must be at least 7 weeks old and weigh 4 pounds or more before receiving K9 Advantix II.

To administer K9 Advantix II, part the fur between the shoulder blades. Evenly apply the tube’s contents along the top of the dog’s back in several spots. Refer to the product label for more specifics. The dog must wait 24 hours after administration before immersing in water.

The most common side effects include skin irritation, vomiting, and diarrhea. You should consult with your veterinarian before using this product on pregnant or nursing dogs.

No prescription is needed to purchase K9 Advantix II.

Seresto

Seresto is a flea and tick collar that works for 8 months. The active ingredients in Seresto are flumethrin and imidacloprid. These ingredients are slowly released over the 8 months to provide continuous protection.

The collar kills and repels fleas and ticks through contact, which means the dog doesn’t have to get bitten for the collar to work. It can also aid in the treatment and control of chewing lice and sarcoptic mange. The ticks repelled and killed by this collar include:

Deer ticks
American dog ticks
Brown dog ticks
Lone star ticks

The fit of a Seresto collar is important for ensuring efficacy, so speak with your veterinarian if you’re not sure how to apply the collar. You will need to adjust the collar size in puppies as they grow to prevent the collar from getting too tight. These collars are water-resistant, so your dog can swim or bathe with the collar on. If your dog swims or bathes more than once a month, the collar is considered effective for five months for fleas and seven months for ticks.

The most common reaction is a mild sensitivity causing itchiness and hair loss. If your dog develops skin irritation or wounds associated with the collar, remove the collar, and speak with your veterinarian. You should speak with your veterinarian before using this product on breeding, pregnant, or nursing dogs. If you are concerned about the safety of Seresto collars, please consult with your veterinarian.

Seresto does not require a prescription.

How to Choose Tick and Flea Medicine for Dogs

Selection of a tick and flea medicine for your dog comes down to several concerns:

Your willingness to give a monthly parasiticide versus one that lasts longer
Your preference for an all-in-one product versus administering more than one product
The risk of other pets (especially cats) or children in the home touching or licking topical preventives
Any side effects your pet experiences
Your pet’s willingness to tolerate taking a pill or having the topical applied
Your pet’s underlying health conditions, especially seizure history
The product’s approved age and weight ranges
Cost of the preventive

You may begin with one product and find through trial-and-error that you prefer something else. That’s okay! Your veterinarian can work with you to pick a good option for your pet that takes into consideration your individual concerns and lifestyle.

Dog Tick Prevention FAQ

What kills ticks on dogs instantly?

No preventive will kill ticks instantly. Most preventives will take at least half a day to be effective, sometimes over a day. If you remove a tick, you can put it in alcohol to kill it.

Do ticks lay eggs on dogs?

Ticks will mate on dogs, but the female usually falls to the ground to lay her thousands of eggs.

Do dogs need flea and tick medicine every month?

Year-round flea and tick prevention is recommended. If the product you have is monthly, it should be given every month. There are options like Bravecto which can be given every 8–12 weeks depending on which tick species you are concerned about. Seresto collars should be changed every 8 months.