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Best Overall
K9 Advantix
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Summary
Effective, easy to apply, and kills ticks and fleas
Best Collar
Seresto Flea and Tick Collar
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Summary
Eight months of protection, easiest to use
Best Spray
Wondercide Flea and Tick
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Summary
All natural ingredients and can be used on bedding
Flea and tick season is in full swing right now, and as we start taking our dogs into the field again, chances of them encountering fleas and ticks are high. Warm, furry and low to the ground, dogs make vulnerable targets for fleas and ticks looking for a host which is why flea and tick prevention for dogs is important. Flea and tick-borne maladies range from the annoying, itchy bites of fleas to potentially serious diseases spread by ticks, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever making them some of the deadliest insects in the world
. Once your dog brings fleas and ticks into the house, you become their next target.
Although the most effective flea and tick pills require a prescription, you can choose from several excellent over-the-counter treatments as well. Topical treatments, sprays, shampoos, collars all make effective weapons in the fight against these pests. They contain small amounts of pesticide that either kill fleas and ticks outright or reduce their ability to lay eggs.
Any time you deal with pesticides you have to know what you’re doing. Consult with a vet before using flea and tick medication, especially with puppies, old dogs, dogs with health problems, and dogs with a history of seizures.
Read on to learn how to find the best flea and tick prevention for your dog.
Best Overall (Topical): K9 Advantix II
Best Collar: Seresto Flea and Tick Collar
Best Spray: Frontline Dog Spray
Best Shampoo: Adams Flea and Tick Shampoo with Precor
Best Spray for Home: Wondercide Flea and Tick
Best Outdoor Treatment: Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Outdoor Yard and Kennel Spray
How We Picked The Best Flea and Tick Prevention for Dogs
As longtime dog owners—and owners of a couple of cats over the years—we’re familiar with the need to combat flea and tick infestations to keep pets healthy, and we’ve used numerous prescription and over-the-counter products throughout the years. Our use of prescription preventatives allowed us to accurately judge the effectiveness of over-the-counter treatments.
We looked at a wide range of over-the-counter treatments because pet owners’ needs vary—and also because sometimes you need to use several types of treatment, such as a topical for your pet plus a yard treatment, to combat bad infestations. We selected them according to the following criteria:
Effectiveness: How long does it last, what pests does it protect against?
Safety: Some pets experience adverse reactions to treatment. We looked for proven products that had a good safety record and were safe for people to be around.
Application: Ease of application
Versatility: Some products work on dogs, cats, and/or bedding, and we made note of those.
Price: Cost was not a consideration, because pet safety is more important than saving a few dollars. However, none of the products here are expensive.
The Best Flea and Tick Prevention for Dogs: Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall (Topical): K9 Advantix II
Best Topical Flea and Tick Treatment
Why it made the cut: A very effective, over-the-counter topical treatment, K9 Advantix is the best topical flea and tick treatment for dogs who won’t take pills or that claw at collars.
Key Features
Applicator: monthly dose bottle
Duration: one month per dose
Package contents: six doses
Pros
Over-the-counter effectiveness
Easy to apply
Kills fleas and ticks, also repels mosquitoes
Treatment lasts a month
Cons
Application can be messy
Dog can’t swim or bathe for 48 hours after application
Advantix II contains permethrin, the active ingredient in many insect repellents
, so it not only kills fleas and ticks, it repels mosquitoes as well. Applied to a dog’s back where it can’t reach around and lick it off, Advantix II is absorbed into the dog’s skin, and attacks the nervous systems of fleas and ticks that come in contact with it. Sold in doses sized for dogs from 4 to over 55 pounds, Advantix comes in six packs that provide half a year of protection.
Best Collar: Seresto Flea and Tick Collar
Best Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs
Why it made the cut: Vets often recommend this as the best flea and tick collar for dogs, which offers long-lasting protection up to eight months.
Key Features
Size: Two sizes to fit necks from 4 to 23 inches
Duration: Eight months of protection
Package Contents: One collar
Pros:
Works on fleas, ticks and lice
Long lasting
Easy application
Easy to remove if you have to stop treatment
Cons:
Some dogs scratch at collars
Hazardous if chewed
Not as effective as topical
Seresto collars start working within 24 hours to kill fleas, ticks and lice. The active ingredients include imidacloprid for fleas and flumethrin for ticks. The odor-free collar is water-resistant, so you can leave it on when you take your pup for a swim. The collars trim to fit and are neither oily nor smelly like some collars are.
Best Spray: Frontline Dog Spray
Best Flea and Tick Spray for Dogs
Why it made the cut: An effective spray treatment that is safe even for puppies as young as eight weeks. It begins working within 24 hours.
Key Features
Application: spray bottle
Duration: 30 days
Contents: 250 ml
Pros:
Easy application
Safe for puppies as young as eight weeks
Reaches spots some collars might miss
Cons:
Application time takes longer than other treatments
Only lasts 30 days
This is the best flea and tick prevention spray for dogs because it massages into your pet’s fur and is completely safe to touch once the dog’s coat is dry. It’s waterproof, so there’s no worry about taking your dog for a swim. The treatment is effective against fleas in all life stages, as well as against several types of ticks. It can also help control flea allergy dermatitis. Frontline spray also comes in home versions to spray on carpets in the house to stop flea infestations once dogs bring the fleas home.
Best Shampoo: Adams Flea and Tick Shampoo with Precor
Best Flea and Tick Shampoo
Why it made the cut: A mild, effective shampoo that kills parasites on contact just got better with the addition of Precor flea growth inhibitor.
Key Features:
Contents: 12 ounces
Uses: works on dogs and cats
Duration: lasts 7-10 days
Pros:
Kills on contact
Precor prevents young fleas from growing
Mild, good for coat and sensitive skin
Can be used on felines
Cons:
Mostly effective on fleas on the dog during the shampooing
This shampoo combines pesticides to kill fleas, flea eggs, flea larva, ticks, and lice with Precor, a growth inhibitor that prevents fleas from growing to maturity when they can lay eggs themselves. Adams Flea and Tick Shampoo also contains oatmeal, lanolin and aloe, so it’s good for your dog’s coat and is a good choice for dogs that have sensitive skin. It is one of the few flea and tick control products that can be used on both dogs and cats, so you don’t have to buy two different treatments if you have both animals which is why it’s the best flea and tick shampoo.
Best Spray for Home: Wondercide Flea and Tick
Why it made the cut
Why it made the cut: All-natural and safe to spray on pets and in kennels where fleas and ticks can lurk
Key Features
Contents: 32 ounces
Doses: 2-3 times per week
Uses: Works on dogs, cats and bedding
Pros:
Natural, safe around children
Works on pets and on pet bedding
Pleasant, lemongrass scent
Cons:
May require frequent applications
This best flea and tick prevention spray for home was founded by a pet owner whose dog became ill from conventional flea and tick control products, Wondercide contains safe, natural oils and plant-based ingredients. Mild enough for cats and dogs, it also can be sprayed on bedding that usually holds fleas once they get into the house. It comes in a spray bottle, so you can spray your pet’s fur and rub the Wondercide in. It has a pleasant, lemongrass scent and no chemical odor.
Best Outdoor Treatment: Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Outdoor Yard and Kennel Spray
Best Outdoor Treatment
Why it made the cut: This effective natural spray takes the fight outside to the yard, where fleas and ticks wait to hitch a ride on your dog.
Key Features
Contents: 96 ounces
Doses: varies, often every two weeks
Uses: lawn spray
Pros:
Natural ingredients
Pleasant peppermint scent
Hose adapter included
Cons:
Not for use on animals
Vet’s Best Yard and Outdoor Kennel Spray hits pests where they live. Attach the included hose adapter to the bottle and spray your yard and outdoor kennels to kill fleas and ticks before they get a chance to climb onto your dog and then come inside. It’s safe for the family, around other pets and small animals, and it won’t harm trees, shrubs or flowers. With peppermint and clove oils as the active ingredients, it has a pleasant smell, too.
Things to Consider Before Buying The Bes Tick and Flea Prevention for Dogs
Getting the best flea and tick prevention for your dog is not all about cost, or even about which one is most effective. The treatment has to be right for your lifestyle and for the type of dog you have. Keep the following factors in mind before deciding:
Will your dog submit to treatments? If your dog is squirmy, a collar may be a better choice than a topical treatment.
Do you live in an area with a high tick population? Using a lawn spray as well as a topical treatment or a collar will reduce the chance of your picking up ticks from being outside even without the dog.
Will you be able to keep up with the treatments? If you’re busy, get a long-lasting preventative instead of a short-term one.
FAQs
Q: What is the safest tick prevention in dogs?
The best tick prevention for dogs is to keep them away from ticks during tick season. Ticks abound in woods and long grass. If you can keep your dog away from tick habitat until cold weather arrives, you will avoid most ticks. Failing that, all-natural treatments like Wondercide can be very effective and have excellent safety records.
Q: What do vets recommend for flea and tick control?
Veterinarians usually recommend a prescription oral treatment like Nexgard or Bravecto. Oral treatments have several advantages. It is easy to give the proper dose and there is no chance of accidental exposure to children or other pets with a tablet. The pills taste good and most dogs take them readily.
Q: What is the most effective way to prevent fleas and ticks on dogs?
Keeping dogs out of contact with fleas and ticks is the very best form of prevention, but that’s not always possible. If you live in an area with lots of fleas and ticks, you may need to take a multi-pronged approach by treating your pet, your carpets and your yard with products specifically designed for those purposes. You should not try combining treatments for your pet, such as using topical treatments and shampoos without consulting a veterinarian.
Q: How much does a Seresto flea and tick collar cost?
A Seresto collar costs around $60 for one collar that will last up to eight months.
Final Thoughts on the Best Flea and Tick Protection for Dogs
Flea and tick prevention for dogs helps keep your dog—and you and your family—healthy. We rated Advantix the best over-the-counter remedy overall because it provides long-term protection, is easy to apply, and isn’t liable to damage like a collar might be. As with any treatment you give your pet, you should consult your veterinarian before use.
Why Trust Us
For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.
