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Heartworm disease causes lasting damage to the heart, lungs, and arteries, and can affect the health and quality of life of dogs long after the parasites are gone. Once a heartworm is transmitted into a dog, it matures into an adult, mates, and produces offspring and if untreated it can lead to many heart worms living inside your dog! Ick! Heartworm is a parasite that is transmitted from mosquitoes to dogs. But there is something you can do about it: preventatives, preventatives, preventatives! Heartworm Prevention The CDC says diseases from fleas, tick, and mosquitoes has tripled in the last 10 years alone. These pests will seek you and your pets out just about anywhere outdoors by scent, sight, body heat, and carbon dioxide sensing, then will attach, bite, or otherwise prey on their host whilst sometimes transmitting diseases. Using the characteristics of flea and tick treatments listed in our buyer’s guide will help you know what to look for the next time that you shop for flea and tick treatment for your dog.Warm weather, and even mild days in winter, can bring some dangerous friends – ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes.
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It is just as effective in keeping your dog parasite free, but at a budget-friendly price tag.
BEST FLEA AND TICK FOR DOGS PLUS
The best value for the money in topical flea and tick protection is TevraPet FirstAct Plus Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Dogs. This treatment lasts for up to 3 months and provides extra protection against the West Nile carrying Lonestar Ticks. The best overall topical flea and tick treatment for dogs is Bravecto Topical Solution for Dogs. Keeping your grass cut short or keeping your dog from playing in leaf piles can reduce their chances of coming into contact with these bugs. Fleas live in shady areas outdoors, in sand, leaves, or other piles of debris. There are a few things that you can do in addition to flea and tick treatment to reduce the chances of your dog getting fleas. Image Credit: Naurora, Shutterstock How Do You Tell If Your Dog Has Fleas? This not only affects how often you need to administer the treatment, but it will also dictate how much money you have to spend. Some must be applied weekly or monthly, while others last for several months.
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Not all areas have heartworm-causing mosquitos, for example, so you may not need to expose your dog to extra chemicals to prevent these.ĭifferent products work for different amounts of time. They will have a good grasp of which insects live in your area and the ones that can harm your dog. Some chemicals also come with a higher risk of causing an adverse reaction in your dog, so discuss with your vet which ones are best for your situation. It’s important to research the exact chemicals in each product to determine which insects it kills and its safety around other animals and children. Most topical flea and tick prevention products have some sort of insecticide contained in them. The disadvantage, however, is that orals are often more expensive than topicals. Oral products have the advantage of being ingested, so you don’t have to worry about your dog getting wet or the treatment being washed off. We only covered topical methods in these reviews, including liquids, shampoos, and collars, but there are also oral products available. There are several different delivery methods for flea and tick prevention products.
BEST FLEA AND TICK FOR DOGS HOW TO
It also can’t be put back on after it’s come off, so you’re forced to use a new collar every time.īuyer’s Guide: How to Choose The Best Topical Flea and Tick Treatments for Dogs What to Look For in Flea and Tick Prevention Products This safety feature inherently means that most dogs won’t keep the collar on for long. This is a necessity because if your dog gets it caught, you need it to break loose instead of choking your dog. For your dog’s safety, the collar is designed as a breakaway. The biggest problem with flea collars lies in their design. Unlike some flea collars, this one isn’t greasy and doesn’t smell bad, so you can feel good about leaving it on your dog. It’s water-resistant and comes in two sizes. Seresto collars are cost-effective options that kill fleas and ticks for up to 8 months while your dog is wearing one.
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It can be combined with other flea and tick preventatives, although this should be discussed thoroughly with your vet before combining medicinal ingredients. For some pet owners, particularly those who live in areas densely populated by ticks, a collar may be the best prevention.
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