The Best Flea and Tick Preventatives and Treatments For Dogs

In the last 10 years or so, the pet market has seen a huge surge of oral prescriptions for flea and tick prevention. Nexgard works against the most common ticks found in the UK, such as the Ixodes ricinus tick (known as the castor bean tick, sheep tick or deer tick) and the Dermacentor reticulatus tick (known as the ornate dog tick, ornate cow tick, meadow tick or marsh tick). Each prescription flavoured chewable is effective for 30 days and is available in dosages for dogs between 2–50kg.

For added protection, consider Simparica Trio, which also works against deer ticks and meadow ticks – in addition to fleas and heartworm. Released in 2016, Simparica is newer to the flea and tick game than NexGard, but has proven to be just as safe and effective. Simparica also comes in a flavoured chewable and is also prescription only. However, Simparica has the added bonus of having a larger weight range than NexGard, with doses available for dogs between 1.25–60kg.

When it comes to flea and tick prevention, topicals hold one key advantage over oral medication. “Tablets don’t work so much as a repellent, so the tick will still get on your pet, but the tablet will kill the tick fairly well once it bites,” says Dr Elizabeth Shines, an associate vet at Banfield Pet Hospital in Oregon. “Topicals tend to work more as repellents and then if the tick does bite your pet, it will still kill the tick.”

So if you’re looking for more of a repellent or your dog doesn’t respond well to oral flea and tick medication, consider this topical option by K9 Advantix. Available online and over the counter, K9 Advantix is applied between your dog’s shoulder blades and should not come into contact with water for at least 24 hours. This topical also works to kill fleas and ticks on contact, so neither bug has to bite your dog before dying. Available in monthly doses for dogs up to 40kg, K9 Advantix also claims to repel mosquitos, so your pup can stay comfortable in the summer, too.

Applied simply by fitting the collar on to your dog’s neck, the Seresto Flea and Tick Collar works for up to eight months to both repel fleas and ticks and kill them on contact. This mess-free topical application works by slowly dispensing medication throughout its wear – so it should never be paired with other oral medications or topical treatments. The collar is available in two sizes, one for dogs under 8kg and one for dogs over 8.01kg, with no minimum or maximum weight limit. Just be mindful if you have a dog who likes to swim more than once a month, as it will reduce the collar’s effectiveness to five months against fleas and seven months against ticks.

If you’re looking to stay away from strong chemicals, the plant-powered Kin + Kind can get the job done just as well. Available in either lavender or lemongrass scents, this flea and tick shampoo is super-effective when used consistently. To use the shampoo, simply leave it on your pet’s fur for up to two minutes for maximum effectiveness and rinse. Kin + Kind also have a spray (£16.86) to use as a protectant before venturing out on tick-heavy activities or in tick-heavy areas. 

Stop these blood suckers at the source with this garden spray by Vet’s Best. Formulated using pet-safe essential oils, Vet’s Best kills, repels and prevents fleas and ticks from infiltrating your garden. But don’t worry: Vet’s Best won’t harm helpful bugs like bees and butterflies, so both pets and pollinators can enjoy the great outdoors together.