During the summer months, many pet owners will start parasite preventative measures like topical repellents or oral medications. While the warmer months seem like the hot zone for the creepy crawlies, preventative measures are important during any time of year. Different parasites have different life cycles, meaning their time of infectivity differs. For example, flea infestations seem to take off in the summer months. While you can have flea infestations any time of year and under any conditions, the warm and humid weather speeds up their life cycle so they can multiply much faster. Ticks, on the other hand, have breeding cycles in the spring and fall so we typically see a lull in the summer. The best way to prevent parasites is using year-round prevention.
There are many different options for flea and tick prevention products. Some are aimed at repelling the parasites whereas others are targeted to kill the parasites. Both types have their pros and cons.
The repellent type products are some of the oldest preventatives we have. Some of these require a prescription and some are over-the-counter. Because some of these products have been on the market for decades, we do see some resistance in certain areas of the country. Another important note is that many of these products are toxic to cats and we don’t recommend using them in households with cats. Non-prescription repellent products include Frontline, K9 Advantix, Vectra and Pet Armor. Prescription repellents include Seresto collars, Revolution, and Trifexis. Some of the prescription repellents can also prevent heartworm disease.
The oral flea and tick prevention products work by killing the fleas and ticks after they bite the pet. Because they will usually die within a few hours, the fleas and ticks are not attached long enough to allow them to transmit any diseases like Lyme or Anaplasma. The drug class, called isoxazolines, should not be used in pets with seizure-like disorders. While they do not cause seizures in pets, they lower the seizure threshold, making it easier for certain pets to have seizures. These products require a prescription from your veterinarian. These include Nexgard, Credelio, Simparica, and Bravecto. These are chews that also prevent intestinal parasites like roundworms and hookworms. You can use a topical and an oral preventative together, which we will often recommend in dogs that are at high risk like hunting dogs.
There are multiple combination products now that prevent fleas, ticks, and heartworm. For cats, these include Bravecto Plus, Nexgard Combo, and Revolution Plus. For dogs, these include Nexgard Plus, Credelio Quattro, and Simparica Trio.
If you have questions or concerns about using a flea and tick prevention product on your pets, the best place to start is by asking your veterinarian. It can be easy to be overwhelmed with all of the options, but your veterinary office will have recommendations for your pet based on other pets in the home, medical conditions and lifestyle.