Flea & tick allergies – Best practices for prevention and safe treatment for your dog

Looking for a safe flea and tick preventative? Know where to get recommendations and what to look for to keep your dog in good health. 

Safe Flea and Tick Prevention for Dogs

Choosing a safe flea and tick preventative for your canine companion can be a challenge when sorting through a list of chewable and topical products. How, then, do you select a safe flea and tick prevention for dogs with so many options to choose from?

If you are looking for trusted and safe flea and tick prevention, you needn’t look further than the brands your local veterinarian carries. Many brands will only be sold at a veterinary facility to relay to dog owners that they are 100% backed by the veterinarian community. Not to mention your vet will not recommend products that are not safe for your specific dog.   

However, the brands that your local veterinarian carries are constantly changing as new and more efficient products reach the market. What may be the safest tick and flea treatment will also vary from one dog to the next, and are not free of adverse health effects. This article will cover the safest flea and tick preventatives and their potential health effects, proper administration, and natural alternatives. 

What is the Safest Tick and Flea Treatment for Dogs?

Just like with humans, your dog may have a different reaction to a tick and flea treatment than another dog. This is one of the main reasons that many brands will only allow their product to be sold by a veterinarian. Some even require a signed prescription if requested through sites like PetRx or PetMeds. 

After all, both topical and chewable flea and tick preventions are considered pesticides. Not everyone is comfortable with the idea of their pet ingesting a form of pesticide or having it applied to their skin.   

Veterinarians are very aware of this and will carry a selection of flea and tick treatments to choose what you are most comfortable administering. However, chewable tablets have become more and more favourable among veterinary clinics. Some of the more veterinary trusted products are:

  • Fluralaner
  • Sarolaner
  • Afoxolaner

When consulting your veterinarian about which chewable – or topical solution – is best for your dog, they will consider if your dog has the following:

  • Any food sensitivities 
  • Allergies
  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Skin sensitivities

Is Flea and Tick Medicine Harmful to Dogs?

All flea and tick medicine has the potential to be harmful to dogs. As mentioned, both topical and chewable flea and tick preventatives contain known pesticides. Improper administration can have adverse effects on your dog’s health. Below are some of the adverse effects associated with topical and chewable forms of prevention. 

Topical Flea and Tick Treatment

If the idea of your dog ingesting a type of pesticide has you leaning towards a topical product, it would be wise to familiarize yourself with some of the potential side effects. If you notice any of the following side effects, contact your veterinarian and poison control immediately. 

  • Dogs with sensitive skin or breeds that are prone to skin allergies, may experience irritation and redness in the area the topical is applied. 
  • More serious side effects that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found associated with topical solutions include seizures, trembling, diarrhoea, and vomiting.

This brings us once again to the importance of selecting a veterinary-backed product. Although extreme reactions to preventatives are less common, the likelihood of this happening can increase according to the type of preventative you select. 

For instance, many dog owners will choose cheaper products found at their local Walmart, such as Hartz. In this case, cheaper does not mean safer. I have personally witnessed a dog become paralyzed in more than half of its body after the application of this product.  

Chewable Flea and Tick Treatments

Chewable flea and tick treatments do not require monthly application the way topical products do. Although they contain pesticides, this may be the ideal option for dogs with sensitive skin and dog owners who prefer less administration. 

With that said, there are certain side effects that can take place. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists the following adverse health effects associated with chewable preventatives:

  • Neurological reactions such as muscle tremors, ataxia, and seizures.

The Administration is Also Key to Safety!

When choosing the safest flea and tick treatment to use on your dog, it is also important to remember that how the preventative is administered is just as important to your dog’s safety as the type and brand you choose.

Flea and tick treatment is not cheap. If it is cheap, it likely contains more harmful chemicals than found in other products. The price of tick and flea preventatives often plays a role in your decision-making process.

I have heard countless dog owners ask if getting a dose for a dog twice their dog’s size and splitting the tablet or liquid solution into two separate doses would be okay. The idea is to spend less for more doses. This is not okay! 

How Splitting Dosage Can Harm Your Dog

Whether you select a topical or chewable flea and tick preventative, you will always want to keep in mind that these products go by what a safe dosage is for your dog’s weight. Giving too much of the product will lead to some of the more serious health conditions mentioned above, On the flip side, not giving enough will negate the desired effects of the medication.

One of the main problems with splitting a dosage meant for a dog twice your dog’s size is that:

  • Topical– Topical solutions are liquids that you apply directly to your dog’s skin. The dosages, even for big dogs, are generally a small amount and sometimes not packaged in see-through tubes. This will often lead to more or less than half the solution being administered, with the other “half” of it being inadequately stored for future use.
  • Chewable-Chewable tablets may be easy to cut precisely in half, but that doesn’t mean the medication is adequately split in half. Manufacturers ensure that the required dosage is present in the whole pill. That does not mean that the medication is equally distributed throughout the whole pill. Meaning one side could hold more of the medication than the other.

What is the Best Natural Flea and Tick Prevention for Dogs?

If the above options have you a bit on edge about giving your dog any type of pesticide-based flea and tick preventative, there are some natural preventatives that the American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends.

One option is to apply several drops of essential oils such as:

  • Lavender
  • Cedar
  • Peppermint
  • Eucalyptus Oil
  • Rosemary
  • Citronella
  • Lemongrass

The AKC also recommends using a homemade lemon wash deterrent. Simply boil six cups of water, add four slices of lemon, and one tablespoon of salt. Boil for two minutes before removing from the heat and allowing the mixture to steep for 24 hours. You can then apply this mixture daily to deter fleas and ticks- and your dog will smell lemony fresh too!

Always Ask Your Vet

Even with natural flea and tick preventatives, you will want to consult your dog’s veterinarian.

Natural preventatives may not be as effective as the chewable or topical products they recommend. However, your vet will be able to direct you to the most effective options while ensuring that whatever you use on your dog won’t be harmful to any other pets in the house.

Your vet will also help you steer clear of natural remedies that may set off your dog’s allergies or agitate their sensitive skin.  

Conclusion

All in all, your veterinarian will direct you to the safest form of flea and tick preventatives. Whether you choose chewable, topical, or natural preventatives, your vet will consider both your dog’s health and your comfort.

You’ll be able to rest assured that you selected a safe flea and tick preventative for dogs- especially yours specifically.

References

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