Dog Tick Medication
" Dog tick medication choice varies based on the needs of the owner and the level of infestation in your area. In general, protection is recommended year round since ticks can even survive in cold weather months. The most convenient methods are with a collar or topical approach. If your dog has a tick borne illness such as lyme disease then antibiotics will be needed. "
There are several different types of dog tick medication. Not all products are safe for young or pregnant dogs, so be sure to check the label. If you live in an area with ticks, consider using prevention products year round, since ticks can live in the cold, even when there is snow.
This provides a list of common dog tick medication products and how they work. Each is an effective choice. If you are going to use more than one product (eg; shampoo and collar), check the label of each to ensure that they are compatible. A common safe combination is the use of a topical or spot on product (liquid applied to the back 1x per month) and the Preventic (Amitraz) collar.
Most dogs will do well with any of the products listed below. We suggest using a collar or topical and use sprays or shampoos as a supplement if your dog is infested. Common effective ingredients include fipronil and S-methoprene, imidacloprid and permethrin, selamectin, or as in the case of a collar Amitraz.
| Product Type | Popular Brand | Active Ingredient | Additional Information |
| Collar | Preventic® | Amitraz | Kills ticks on dog and prevents future infestations for up to 90 days. Not for dogs under 3 months old. |
| Top Spot/Topical | Frontline Plus | Fipronil (plus also has mthoprene) | Protects dogs for 30
days. Apply to back.
Plus version kills fleas. Does not repel ticks which is a negative and
protection is decreased if your dog goes swimming. Overall, a good
choice. Summary of benefits:
|
| Topical | K9 Advantix™ | Imidacloprid, Permethrin | Dog must be 7 weeks or
older. Protects dogs
for 30 days. Decreased protection if used when swimming or when gets
wet. Overall a good choice. Summary of benefits:
|
| Topical | Revolution® | Selamectin | Requires a
prescrpition in the U.S. For dogs older than 6
weeks. Applied and
protects up to 30 days. Decreased protection when wet.. Easy to use. Summary of benefits:
|
| Spray | Frontline | Fipronil & S-Methoprene | More labor intensive than other approaches. Good to kill large infestations. Protects for up to 2 months. |
Dog Tick Medication - Saving Money
A good way to save and find cheap dog flea tick products is to comparison shop and buy online. One good source to check is PNP.
Dog Tick Medication - Prescription Antibiotics
Antibiotics are the most common approach for helping a dog that is suffering from lyme disease including doxycycline and minocycline. The most common symptoms are fever and arthritis type symptoms. You might see swelling of joints near the area of the tick bite.
Depending on the type of infection your dog will either be treated for 28 days (Canine Ehrlichiae) or 7 to 14 days (Canine Rickettsiae - Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever).
For lyme disease, the antibiotic Doxycycline is usually prescribed for 1 month, particularly when there are signs of arthritis. If more severe symptoms are present such as inflamed kidneys (nephritis), then treatment can be longer.
Dog Tick Medication - Homeopathic Remedy, Natural Support
If your dog is suffering from lyme disease, another way to support your dog is with a homeopathic remedy such as PetAlive TF-Defense Formula. It contains natural ingredients such as Milk Thistle and the flavonoid complex called silymarin which are known to help support the liver in the removal of toxins from the body. The company is also a good source of information on tick borne illnesses and treatment approaches.
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References for Dog Tick Medication:
New Approaches to Common
Canine Ectoparasites
Peter J. Ihrke, VMD, Diplomate
ACVD, Professor of Dermatology
Chief - Dermatology Service, VMTH
Department of Medicine & Epidemiology
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of California, Davis
Tick-borne Ehrlichiae and
Rickettsiae of Dogs (update 2-May-2003)
A.S.Varela
Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
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