Does My Pet Need a Flea and Tick Preventative?
It is always a good idea to protect your dog or cat from fleas and ticks. Especially if they go outside in grassy areas.
Ticks love to hang out in the tall grass and wait for a warm body to latch to. Even if your pet is not taken to heavily wooded areas, fleas and ticks can still be found in suburban environments. It may happen in a short walk around the apartment complex. 
Once a flea or a tick is on the dog or cat, they now have access to a large food source: your pet’s blood!
If the pet is on a flea and tick preventative, the fleas and ticks that would have thrived on your pet’s blood, will now be killed by it. Once the medication has spread throughout the pets body, the oils in their coat will begin exude the medication. Allowing for greater protection over the course of the 30 day treatment window.
We may see advertisements for flea and tick medication such as Frontline or Advantix. They claim to protect your pet against fleas and ticks for up to 30 days.
What types of medication are there?
There are several different types of flea and tick medications.
- Flea Collar
- A simple plastic collar coated in a flea and tick preventative
- Often considered an entry-level treatment that is most effective in combination with other treatments.
- A simple plastic collar coated in a flea and tick preventative
- Essential Oils
- A topical treatment with essential oils such as peppermint oil or citronella.
- Generally considered to be safer than the vet-grade medications, however they are not as effective in eliminating an infestation. One tick left alive is one too many!
- A topical treatment with essential oils such as peppermint oil or citronella.
- Oral Preventative
- Medications such as NexGuard, Bravecto, or Trifexis are
administered monthly and have the benefit of not being able to be washed away like a topical ointment may be.
- Oral preventatives are also considered safer for dogs who are prone to sensitive skin, as the other options are all topical.
- Medications such as NexGuard, Bravecto, or Trifexis are
- Vet-Grade Topical Treatment
- The most common type of preventative we see is a vet grade topical ointment. Popular brands are Frontline, Sentry, Adams, Pet Action Plus etc.
- There may be many different brands, available. However the active ingredient we typically want to see in vet-grade treatments is Imidacloprid or Fipronil. Ask your vet which is best for you!
- The most common type of preventative we see is a vet grade topical ointment. Popular brands are Frontline, Sentry, Adams, Pet Action Plus etc.
administered monthly and have the benefit of not being able to be washed away like a topical ointment may be.
To reduce the risk of spreading fleas and ticks, Scottsdale Pet Hotel does require your pet to be on either a vet-grade topical or an oral preventative.
A simple monthly treatment on your pet can be the difference between a bug free home or a developing infestation.
