Tick and Flea Prevention: What You Should Know Before You Buy
Imagine This: You were excited to go home and try a tick and flea prevention product you just bought. You can finally get rid of the parasites from your dog and from your home. And get that good night sleep you look forward to have.
And your dog seems to be excited too! So you both sat there while you read the instruction of the product box.
But your happy mood gets dampened when you realized that you bought the wrong product! Your dog weighs lighter than what the tick and flea preventive is intended for. Tsk.
You called the store and thankfully they can change the product to the right one. Still, you were annoyed at yourself for not knowing beforehand the right product for your pet.
So before you buy anything, you have to know the product first.
Here are the basic essentials you should know of tick and flea prevention products:
Tick and Flea Prevention: Know The Minimum Age Required
You cannot just buy a tick and flea preventive without checking for the minimum age required. There are products that allow puppies as early as 4 weeks while some products cannot be given until your dog is already 6 months old.
Tick and Flea Prevention: Know The Weight Of Your Dog
Another detail to know about your dog is their weight. More often than not, tick and flea preventives differentiate their products by dog weight. This is because a larger dog requires more of the ingredients than a small dog. You have to be careful in reading if it is in pounds or kilograms.
Tick and Flea Prevention: Know If Your Can Buy Over The Counter
Many tick and flea preventives can be bought over the counter but there are those that need a prescription. This is because others have higher form of treatment to ensure that the parasites are killed.
Tick and Flea Prevention: Know The Duration Of Effectiveness
One of the important details to know on tick and flea preventives is their length of effectiveness. There are those that only have a 24-hour duration that you have to give or apply to your dog everyday, while there are those that can last for a month or up to 8 months. Your choice may depend on your lifestyle and preference.
You can check out the different types of tick and flea preventive products here: Tick and Flea 101: Choosing The Right Tick and Flea Preventive For You And Your Pet
Tick and Flea Prevention: Know What The Product Targets
As the pet owner, you want to know what the product targets. Even if it says ticks and fleas, you have to figure out if it include flea eggs or larvae as some products only target adult fleas.
There are also tick and flea preventives that can prevent internal parasites such as heartworms, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms.
In a nutshell, there are a lot to consider when choosing the right tick and flea preventive for your dog. If you cannot decide or need a better insight on removing these parasites from your pet and home, best to consult your vet.
Flea infestation may mean you need immediate attention on addressing the fleas. And you may need a vet’s sound advice on that. This way you will be sure that you have the right tick and flea prevention product for your pet and your home.
Enjoy peace of mind,
Dr. Sixto Carlos, DVM, MS
Makati Dog and Cat Hospital
Serving Pet Parents near Mandaluyong, Makati, and BGC
“The St. Luke’s of Pet Hospitals” – from a Happy Client