FLEA, TICK, AND HEARTWORM PREVENTION

The changing environment of our city is increasingly increasing the parasite risk to our pets. Fleas have always been an itchy and uncomfortable annoyance, but ticks are becoming more common. Aside from black-legged (deer) ticks, which carry Lyme disease, other dangerous ticks include the Lone Star tick, which can transmit the alpha-gal (red meat) allergy to humans, and brown dog ticks, which can dwell indoors and produce infestations. Heartworm is also a growing threat, thanks to high infection rates among coyotes in our parks and ravines, as well as an increase in the number of globe-trotting dogs. Here, we’ll the various flea, tick, and heartworm prevention.

What Are The Various Methods For Flea, Tick, and Heartworm Prevention?

Heartworms

Heartworm is a major problem for both dogs and cats. It is a parasitic worm that may grow to be 12 inches long and dwells in the hearts and lungs of mammals. Mosquitoes can transmit heartworm disease to pets.

Because numerous different varieties of mosquitoes can carry this virus, it’s critical to keep your pet on heartworm-preventive medication all year. It’s alarming to learn that over 100,000 dogs in the United States are infected with heartworm-related disorders each year. As a result, it is critical not to take these diseases lightly and to use preventive medications to avoid serious health problems.

#1. Heartgard Plus Chewables

Once a month, or as prescribed by your veterinarian, give your dog one chewable tablet. If you have a little or a toy dog breed, apply the appropriate quantity for their weight.

You can start administering Heartgard Plus Chewables to your dog when it is six weeks old and weighs at least 5 pounds. If your puppy weighs less than 5 pounds or is less than four weeks old when you begin treatment, you must wait four weeks before starting him on this medication.

#2. Interceptor Plus

Interceptor Plus is an all-in-one monthly heartworm preventative, flea and tick preventative, and dewormer. It also contains a component that aids in the elimination of tapeworms. Two tablets each month can be given to dogs over the age of six weeks and weighing up to 24 pounds. For dogs six weeks and older, the tablet must be given once a month on the same day. We recommend giving this medication at least 30 minutes before feeding your pet to ensure that it does not interfere with vitamin absorption from their diet.

#3. Trifexis

Trifexis is a monthly chewable tablet that prevents fleas, heartworms, and intestinal parasites. It is administered once a month to dogs weighing 5 pounds or more to protect them from certain parasites.

#4. Sentinel Spectrum

This medicine, as the name implies, acts to protect dogs and cats from heartworms. It also guards against internal parasites such as hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, fleas, and ticks. It is not necessary to provide it every month, but it is taken orally every three months at the rate of one tablet per 30 pounds of body weight. The drug is available in three sizes: small dog (6-10 pounds), middle dog (11-20 lbs), and large dogs (21-40 lbs).

Sentinel Spectrum is suitable for pups aged six weeks and up. Because of its breeding animal safety profile, it can also be used for pregnant or nursing dogs.

#5. Advantage Multi

Advantage Multi is one of the greatest solutions for your dog. This topical therapy is simple to apply and use. It is safe and effective for dogs and puppies over the age of six weeks, as well as cats over the age of eight weeks.

Fleas are killed before they may lay eggs with Advantage Multi for dogs. It also eliminates ticks that can spread Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Furthermore, it is safe to use during pregnancy and nursing without endangering either the mother or her offspring.

Ticks and fleas

Fleas and ticks are a nuisance for pets. They not only cause your dog to scratch itself to the point of hair and skin loss, but they can carry hazardous infections including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and anaplasmosis.

Flea prevention entails keeping fleas off your pet using a monthly medicine that eliminates fleas in their early stages before they harm your dog.

Fleas are carried by one out of every 6-7 canines, resulting in severe problems later on. Getting effective flea and tick preventive drugs is therefore critical to avoid any flea or tick-related diseases in your dog. The following medications are particularly successful for flea and tick prevention in dogs.

#1. NexGard

This is a monthly chewable pill for dogs and pups over the age of seven weeks. NexGard is the first FDA-approved chewable pill for dogs and puppies, making administration simple for you and your pet.

When an animal consumes NexGard in a contaminated environment, it kills fleas, ticks, and their larvae. It also protects your dog from heartworms, so you won’t have to worry about giving your dog extra meds or pills every month.

#2. Bravecto

Bravecto for dogs is the first chewable, beef-flavored oral flea and tick preventative for dogs over the age of six months that delivers up to 12 weeks of flea and tick protection. It also protects your dog from fleas, heartworms, and infestations by the Asian tiger mosquito, which may transmit the Zika virus, with an easy single-dose administration.

#3. Simparica Plus

Simparica Plus is a monthly chewable pill that eliminates fleas while also preventing infestations. It’s also the only treatment for paralysis ticks, which can cause significant disease in dogs.

Simparica Plus is intended for dogs and pups seven weeks and older. However, it is not suggested for puppies under the age of seven weeks because their immune systems are not fully formed. Assume your dog has gotten its first round of vaccinations. Nonetheless, in that case, you can begin using Simparica Plus right away. However, give him another vaccine within 48 hours of starting this medication to ensure optimum protection against tick-borne infections such as Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

#4. Frontline Plus

It is a topical medication used to keep fleas and ticks away from dogs. Frontline Plus is an insecticide that kills fleas, ticks, and lice. The lotion is also effective at repelling mosquitoes, sand flies, and stable flies. Frontline Plus is also waterproof, so it will continue effective even if your pet gets wet.

#5. K9 Advantix II

K9 Advantix II is a monthly topical medicine that kills and repels fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. It also works well against biting lice. K9 Advantix II kills fleas within 20 minutes of administration due to a unique mix of chemicals. Furthermore, this potent solution protects your dog against adult fleas at all stages of their life cycle, preventing them from maturing into eggs or larvae that could create future infestations in your home.

K9 Advantix II also protects dogs against ticks, including those that can spread Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections including Ehrlichia and deer ticks, which can transmit anaplasmosis. Ticks are efficiently repelled for at least three weeks after treatment with K9 Advantix II, in addition to being killed at all phases of their existence.

It should be noted that this medicine does not kill brown or American dog ticks, which are common in southeastern areas like Texas and Florida.

#6. Sentinel

Sentinel is a heartworm, flea, and tick preventative that also works against intestinal worms. The chewable pill is suitable for pups, pregnant and nursing dogs. It is also suitable for dogs suffering from epilepsy.

The only disadvantage of Sentinel for dogs is that it does not protect against heartworms but does protect against other parasites such as hookworms and roundworms. Yet, if you can get past the price tag of roughly $180 each year, it’s a good option.

Parasites

Parasites are a prevalent concern in dogs and can cause major health problems if left untreated. They can be transferred to humans by flea and tick bites, as well as contact with sick animals. The most frequent treatment for these diseases is to give your dog an oral medication that either kills the parasite or keeps it from replicating further within his body.

C Panacur

The greatest heartworm, flea, tick, and parasite protection is Panacur C Canine Dewormer. This medicine is used to treat dogs with roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, and giardia. It comes in the form of a powder that can be blended with food or applied to the back of your dog’s tongue. This medicine, when used appropriately, will kill any parasites existing within your pet, including heartworms.

Panacur has been around for a long time, so it’s not only safe to use but also well-known by vets, so you can ask them any questions you have about how to administer the drug safely and successfully on your pet at home.

The Cheapest Flea, Tick, and Heartworm Prevention for Dogs

Here, we’ll see the cheapest flea, tick, and heartworm prevention products that are expected to be the first choice of many pet owners this year.

#1. Nexgard Tick and flea treatment

Nexgard, manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim/Merial, is an oral chewable for the treatment of fleas and ticks. The active component ‘Afoxolaner’ in the beef-flavored mix treats and prevents flea and tick infestation for one month. Nexgard is licensed for the treatment of Lyme disease caused by black-legged ticks. Adult fleas are killed after 30 minutes of administration, and all of them are killed within 8 hours. Nexgard oral chewable prevents reinfestation by killing fleas before they develop eggs. It is also utilized in the treatment of Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD). Nexgard Flea and tick chewable is safe to use in pregnant, lactating, and breeding dogs. It is advised to use it on dogs above the age of 8 weeks and weighing less than 2 kg.

#2. Bravecto Dog Chewables

Bravecto chewable is an excellent treatment for flea and tick infestations in dogs. Unlike ordinary flea and tick treatment, Bravecto protects your dog for three times as long. It protects your dog from flea and tick infections for three months (12 weeks). Fluralaner is included in the formula and is also suggested for the treatment and control of Otodectes spp. mites and sarcoptic mange. Bravecto-chewable treats American dog ticks, brown dog ticks, black-legged ticks, and Lone Star ticks for 12 weeks. The tasty chewable is recommended for dogs 6 months and older weighing 4.4 lbs or more. Bravecto begins acting within two hours and kills all fleas within 12 hours of ingestion.

#3. Heartgard Plus

Heartgard Plus chewable is a heartworm and intestinal worm preventative for dogs. Manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim/Merial, Heartgard Plus prevents heartworm infections in dogs for one month. Ivermectin and pyrantel are the active ingredients in the tasty beef-flavored chewable. Heartgard Plus protects dogs 6 weeks and older from heartworm infection. The heartworm chewable can also be used to treat and control roundworm and hookworm diseases. Heartgard Plus is not harmful to pregnant or breeding dogs.

#4. Advantage Multi (Advocate)

Advantage Multi (Advocate) is a multi-spectrum topical medication for dogs. Fleas, heartworms, and intestinal parasites are all effectively treated with the spot-on formula. Advantage Multi (Advocate) is a Bayer product that contains imidacloprid and moxidectin. The monthly topical treatment kills fleas, prevents heartworms, treats and controls roundworms, whipworms, hookworms, and sarcoptic mange illnesses, and it is safe to use on animals. The active material spreads all over the body’s surface after administration, and fleas die as soon as they come into touch, therefore fleas do not need to bite the animal to be destroyed. Advantage Multi is suitable for dogs as young as 7 weeks old and weighing no more than 3 pounds.

#5. Simparica Trio

Simparica Trio, as the name suggests, is made with three verified chemical compounds to protect your beloved pet. Manufactured by Zoetis Pet Care, Simparica Trio comprises the active chemicals sarolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel. The chewable monthly therapy protects dogs from fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal worms (roundworms & hookworms). Furthermore, the trio formula kills deer ticks and lowers the risk of Lyme disease. Simparica Trio Chewable for Dogs is approved for 8-week-old and older canines weighing 2.8 pounds or more.

#6. Revolution All-in-One Dog Treatment

Revolution is a monthly broad-spectrum dog treatment. The key ingredient in spot-on therapy is selamectin, which treats both external and internal parasites with a single dose. Revolution, manufactured by Zoetis, kills adult fleas, prevents flea eggs from developing, and prevents flea infestations. This topical therapy for dogs treats and controls ear mites and sarcoptic mange, as well as prevents heartworm infections. Revolution multispectrum medication for dogs is safe for puppies 6 weeks and older, pregnant and breeding dogs, heartworm-positive dogs, and ivermectin-sensitive dogs.

Does My Dog Need Flea, Tick, and Heartworm Prevention?

No matter where you live or what you do, dogs and cats should be on heartworm, flea, and tick prevention all year.

Is There One Pill For Flea Tick And Heartworm?

NexGard Spectra protects your dog against heartworm, intestinal worms, fleas, and ticks in a single pill

How Often Does A Dog Need A Heartworm Pill?

Because heartworms must be eradicated before they reach the adult stage, it is critical that heartworm preventives be used exactly as prescribed (monthly for oral and topical products and every 6 months or 12 months for the injectable).

What Are The First Signs Of Heartworm In Drugs?

A slight chronic cough, unwillingness to exercise, exhaustion after moderate activity, decreased appetite, and weight loss are all symptoms of heartworm illness.

Where Do Dogs Get Heartworm?

Heartworms are spread from diseased animals to healthy dogs by mosquitoes. When an infected mosquito bites your dog, it can transmit infective larvae. These larvae develop into adult heartworms over the course of 6 to 7 months, causing significant health problems and maybe death.

In Conclusion

This article has outlined the best prevention products flea, tick, and heartworm infestation. They are not the only products in the market, but they are proven to be the most effective.