The Best Flea & Tick Collars For Dogs
Whilst collars have their place, especially for repelling ticks, spot-on and oral medications are generally best at providing a quick kill. “Spot-ons can be fine â but bear in mind that theyâre less effective in dogs that swim or get bathed regularly,â says Dr. Woodnutt.
“They also often contain imidacloprid, a pesticide thought to be responsible for bee decline, and thereâs some concern that it might wash into rivers and seas, or even spread on the grass if your dog rolls around,” says Dr. Woodnutt.
How Do Dogs Get Fleas And Ticks
Dogs get fleas either directly or indirectly from other animals. Fleas can actually jump from one animal to another, so if your dog comes into contact with another who is infested, such as a dog, cat, or even a wild possum, your dog can get fleas from them. They can also get them directly from the environment around them.
Fleas like warm, moist environments, so summer climates are when your dog is most likely to end up contracting them. This can happen when fleas that were on another animal lay eggs that get scattered throughout the environmentin the grass, on weeds, etc.that hatch and jump onto your dog.
Dogs usually get ticks from the environment, much in the same way we do. Ticks like to hang out in plants that are about 18-24 inches off the ground, and when a dog brushes past them, they attach to our dogs and begin to burrow into their skin to feed.
Ticks can be a little harder for your dog to catch than fleas because ticks cannot jump they can only crawl. However, ticks are more likely to be active for several seasons of the year, possibly even year-round in climates where it doesnt freeze, whereas fleas are most common only during the summer months.
What Is Actually In Your Dog’s Food
WAIT! BEFORE YOU GO on about your day, ask yourself: Is the dog food you’re feeding your best friend really the best food out there? At its core, theres an unhealthy meat dependency in pet food. Most of the time, meat in your pet food means: Bad ingredients. Bad practices. And bad health.Learn more about clean protein dog food…
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How Do Oral Flea Products Work
Some pet owners prefer oral flea medication, which are available as tablets or chewables. These products are either preventives, which help prevent a flea infestation, or flea treatments, which can help eliminate an active flea infestation on your pet.
Once ingested, oral flea treatments work by circulating their active ingredients throughout your pets bloodstream. When bloodsucking parasites like fleas bite your pet and drink blood, they ingest these active ingredients and die. This means fleas need to bite your dog or cat to be killed.
Short-acting oral flea treatments are readily available without a prescription from a variety of retailers or from your veterinarian. Longer-acting flea preventive orals are available with a veterinarians prescription.
When To Start Flea And Tick Treatment For Puppies
So this becomes a tricky question since it depends on numerous factors. We are sorry to give this cop-out answer, but even if we tell you what works for us, it might not be optimal for your puppy. For most breeds, 7-8 weeks is the cut off for when you can start treating the puppy with anti-flea products. We go by this rule for most of our puppies, and it has worked out good for us.
There MAY however be breeds or individuals that cannot be given prevention treatment as early, and if you are uncertain you should always check with your breeder or your local vet. Be extra careful if the anti-flea product is clearly trying to label itself as a product that is useable on pups less than 7 weeks old. You never want to take unnecessary risks when it comes to the health of you little fur ball.
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Fastest Acting Product: Credelio
Like the other products in this list, Credeliois highly effective against fleas and ticks, yet it works a little faster than other products in its class.
Product features:
- Starts killing fleas within 4 hours and kills 99% within 8 hours for 35 days
- Kills and prevents ticks for up to 30 days
- Comes in a beef-flavored chewable tablet
Credelio is the last isoxazoline on this list with an active ingredient known as lotilaner. It kills and prevents ticks for a full 30 days, but lasts a little longer for flea protection at 35 days. Credelio starts working within 4 hours of administration and can reach peak concentrations in your dogs body as soon as 6 hours after ingestion! This is important because ticks can transmit Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses after just 6 to 8 hours from the time of the initial tick bite.
Pros:
- Works slightly faster than other products on this list
- Can be used in puppies as early as 8 weeks of age
- Has a tasty flavor compared to other preventive products
Cons:
- Only available through your veterinarian or with a prescription
- May be contraindicated in dogs with a history of seizures
- Not labeled for use in puppies weighing less than 4 pounds
Bonus Question: How Long Does It Take For Ear Mites To Go Away After Treatment
How lucky are you?! We know what youre thinking: there have perhaps been more intriguing bonus questions asked in the world. However, since we are on the topic of disgusting things that we dog owners all hate, we thought wed just through an answer to this commonly asked question about ear mites.
Ear mites are pesky parasites. They can take up to 21 day to develop into adult mites. Because of this, and the fact that they are immune to many treatments when they are only eggs, the treatment should also carry on for 21 day.
If you are in more of a hurry, you could try out other stronger alternative medications that are more aggressive at tackling the ear mites. Some of these are effective against the eggs as well, and they only need to be carried out for two weeks or so. You should of course ask you local vet before trying any of these medicines, to learn which treatment is the best for your dog.
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Best Flea Collar For Dogs
As a pet owner, theres no escaping the fact youll have to deal with the issue of fleas and ticks at some point in the year. And lets be honest, without solutions like the best flea collar for dogs, these parasites can be a pain in the neck.
Im talking about a frustrated and miserable dog, the possibility of a full-blown pest infection in your house, utter discomfort for you and your family, you name it.
Luckily, you have a myriad of options to choose from, but not all pooches take well to the more popular options of flea treatment like spot-on products, sprays, or tablets.
Flea collars, on the other hand, barely get any resistance from dogs because of their simplicity. They work for just about any dog, including those that are not too enthusiastic about other flea treatment alternatives.
My guess is that you want to know which flea collar will bring your dog that much-needed relief. Because there are those that wont work, however expensive they are.
Well, thats what this review and guide is about, and to start you off, heres a quick look at what I found to be the most effective flea and tick collars for your pet, taking into consideration the type, versatility, ingredients, and other factors.
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How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost For Golden Retrievers
How much does insurance cost for a Golden Retriever? Golden Retrievers dog insurance prices will be based on your pets pre-existing health conditions, gender, age, location, and other factors.
Keep in mind, rising vet costs due to advances in technology and an increasing number of claims in the location where you live can make your monthly payment increase. For instance, if your Golden Retriever is quoted at $45 per month today, that price is subject to change.
We compared quotes for plans for Golden Retrievers with three popular pet insurance providers to help you find the best fit for you in terms of monthly premiums and coverage.
We chose three Golden Retrievers at different stages in their life. An adult Golden Retriever , a young Golden Retriever , and a puppy Golden Retriever .
Check out this Pet Insurance Comparison table for Golden Retrievers.
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What Are Dog Fleas
Fleas are tiny creatures that belong to the insect family.
Fleas feed on the blood of mammals, for example, dogs and cats, although they can sometimes bite people, too. Amazingly, a flea can survive for a few months without feeding. However, female fleas must have a meal of mammalian blood before they are able to reproduce and lay eggs.
A single flea can lay as many as 4,000 eggs on the host animals fur, so you can see just how quickly an infestation can take hold.
Flea eggs go through four lifecycle stages:
- Embryo
- Pupa
- Imago
The fleas lifecycle generally takes between two to three weeks, although that can take longer if conditions are cool.
Adult fleas are a reddish-brown color with long, flat bodies that measure only a millimeter or so in length. Fleas cant fly, but they move around easily enough by vertically jumping up to eight inches! That enables a minuscule flea to leap onto a passing dog or cat for a meal.
How Much Does A Golden Retriever Cost
According to the American Kennel Club, the Golden Retriever is the third most popular dog in the United States. Its an attractive, medium-sized dog with a friendly personality. Its also intelligent and can be useful as a guide dog and for search and rescue missions. If you would like to get one of these for your home but are unsure about the expenses you will incur, you have come to the right place. Keep reading while we look at the cost of a new puppy and the recurring charges you can expect in order to give you a good idea of what you are signing up for when bringing one of these furballs home.
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Why Trust The Spruce Pets
For this roundup, we consulted with veterinarians, groomers, and researched what respected veterinary, pet, and government organizations say about flea and tick treatment. We avoided recommending prescription products because, although these are often most effective, they are something you should discuss with your veterinarian.
This article was researched and written by who has covered animals and pets for several decades. Mary Jo has fostered more than three dozen puppies and dogs and is always searching for the healthiest and most effective products to use on them.
Best Budget: Frontline Plus
Some flea and tick products may be outside of your price range, which is extremely frustrating when you want to help your itchy best friend. Frontline Plus may be able to provide some relief for your Golden and for your wallet.
Product features:
- Kills fleas, ticks, and chewing lice
- Topical product that lasts for one month
- One of only a few products that is safe for pregnant dogs
Frontline Plus contains two active ingredients: fipronil and s-methoprene. The former ingredient kills adult fleas and ticks while the latter ingredient kills flea eggs and larvae, thus effectively breaking the flea lifecycle. Frontline Plus is sold over the counter and so you do not need a prescription from your vet.
Once Frontline Plus is applied, it must dry for 24 hours before you bathe your Golden. After that, the product is considered waterproof.
It is also safe for use in cats and is labeled safe for use in pregnant and lactating dogs. The only other preventive product that is safe for use in pregnant dogs is a topical flea and heartworm preventive called Revolution, but this particular product is not labeled for tick prevention.
Pros:
- Kills fleas, ticks, and chewing lice for up to one month
- Costs less than other products on this list
- Approved for use in pregnant, lactating, and breeding dogs
Cons:
- Must let product dry for 24 hours before bathing
- Fleas are possibly becoming resistant to fipronil2
- Doesnt repel fleas or ticks
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Flea & Tick Treatment & Medicine For Dogs
Fleas and ticks. Is there anything worse than having these pests infest your pet and your home? We dont think so. Lets take a look at how you dog can get fleas and ticks and, more importantly, how you can prevent and get rid of them with safe, yet powerful, tick and flea treatment products.
Your dog can pick up fleas and ticks from other pets, from wildlife like squirrels, raccoons, chipmunks, deer or opossums, and from nature, generally tall grasses or bushes. When a female flea or tick living on an animal lays her eggs, they fall off onto the ground. When those eggs hatch and the larvae grow into adult fleas and ticks, they hop onto a host. And if pets cross their path, it will be them. After a dog becomes a tick or flea host, they can suffer some health risks, ranging from minor irritations to potentially deadly diseases.
When fleas bite a dog, their saliva leaves the skin irritated, leading to your dog itching and biting at the location. The irritation is uncomfortable to your dog and could even lead to her scratching to the point of fur loss. Fleas can also transmit tapeworms to your dog. Tapeworms are parasites that will live in your dogs gut, leaching important nutrition from your dogs diet. And then theres ticks. When they latch onto a dog they can transmit a range of diseasesLyme disease, rocky mountain spotted fever, tularemia and more.
Frequently Asked Questions aboutFlea & Tick Treatment & Medicine for Dogs
What are the best flea tick medicines for dogs?
Why Might Your Golden Retriever Need Flea Or Tick Medicine
If you havent already considered flea and tick control, you should consider now because its best to act sooner rather than later when it comes to these little pests.
There are over 2000 types of fleas and 15 types of ticks. At some point, you are going to come into contact with these annoying parasites. Dont let their size fool you: they may be small, but fleas and ticks can cause serious health concerns.
Fleas can cause flea allergy dermatitis or FAD. When they bite your dog, they inject a small amount of saliva into the blood. The proteins in this can cause an allergic reaction. This is what causes itching. For sensitive dogs, there could be an extremely itchy reaction leading to intense scratching and hair loss.
As fleas feed on blood, they can also cause anemia in old, frail, or very young dogs. Fleas may also transmit tapeworms.
Some ticks carry dangerous diseases, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain fever.
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The Best Otc Topical Flea Preventive
Available without a prescription, Frontline Plus for Dogs kills adult fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, ticks, and chewing lice on contact.
Pros: Kills adult fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, all life stages of ticks and chewing lice for one month safe for use in dogs and puppies at least 8 weeks of age that weigh at least 5 pounds safe for use in breeding, pregnant and nursing dogs fleas don’t have to bite for it to work
Cons: Not recommended for puppies younger than 8 weeks of age does not prevent any parasites other than fleas, ticks, and chewing lice
- Parasites prevented: Adult fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, ticks, chewing lice
- Duration of effectiveness: 90 days for fleas, 30 days for ticks and biting lice
- Safe for: Dogs over 8 weeks old and weighing over 5 lbs. pregnant, nursing, and breeding dogs
- Not labeled for use: Puppies under 8 weeks old and dogs weighing less than 5 lbs.
- Prescription: No
Frontline Plus is our top nonprescription recommendation because it kills ticks and fleas, controls flea infestations, and kills chewing lice, all with one easy application. When used primarily for flea control, each dose of Frontline Plus lasts up to three months. If ticks or biting lice are a concern, apply it monthly.
Ticks Latch Onto Your Pet’s Skin Using Their Hook
Gross, right? This means if you try and pull a tick off your pets body without much thought, it probably won’t budge.
Their mouths are firmly under the skin, forming a secure kind of anchor.
Don’t try to twist or jerk the tick off – this means that while it’s body may pop off, its mouth parts will stay inside your pet’s skin.
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Cat Fleas On Humans Including On Hair & Treatments
Fleas are one of the many blood-sucking pests responsible that affects both animals and humans. If these parasites are removed from its animal host, the cat, will it bite humans especially on the lower legs especially around the ankles?
Cat fleas on humans
Fleas have over 2000 species and subspecies which according to pestremovalguide.com have adapted themselves well in all types of terrains and regions, so their effects are seen anywhere and everywhere.
The first sign of flea infestation in a home is when your pets start scratching, biting or licking themselves unreasonably. These parasites are commonly seen on cats and dogs that than on humans.
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Use Parasite Preventives Year
You might be tempted to only use parasite preventives in spring and summer, but don’t underestimate the resilience of fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and intestinal parasites. Veterinarians recommend that all dogs stay on broad-spectrum parasite preventives all 12 months of the year.
Heartworm treatment is long, costly, and dangerous. Dogs with adult heartworms can die even if treatment is initiated. This is why veterinarians recommend using a year-round heartworm preventive for all dogs, regardless of what part of the country they live in. Veterinarians also recommend year-round intestinal parasite prevention for all dogs.
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