Paralysis ticks are deadly and they’re everywhere at this time of year. We recommend using tick prevention all year round for our dog & cat patients as the Mid North Coast and hinterland have the perfect climate for ticks to breed and be actively looking for and feeding on hosts. To help you make the right choice for tick prevention for your pets, we have made a short list of the products available and their best features.

Which tick prevention should you use for your dog?

Bravecto Chews

Available in a convenient dose given every 3 months, they tie in well with your adult dogs routine worming schedule. We recommend giving a Drontal intenstinal wormer every 3 months as well.

Bravecto chews are effective against all ticks, fleas and mites.

  • Easy to administer
  • Highly palatable and well accepted by most dogs
  • Safe for use in breeding, pregnant and lactating dogs
  • For use in dogs from 8 weeks of age and over 2 kg in body weight

Bravecto 1 Month Chews

This smaller dose is ideal for GROWING puppies and young dogs or for those who prefer to give a monthly treatment to their dog.

Bravecto Spot On

Applied to the back of the neck once every 5-6 months, this is recommended if you have an adult dog who is difficult to give a chewable treatment to, or if you have a busy lifestyle and aren’t likely to remember to give your dog a monthly or 3-monthly treatment. Note: your dog needs to stay dry for 48hrs after treatment (no baths or swimming) to allow the product to be effectively absorbed through the skin.

  • Effective against fipronil-resistant strains of fleas
  • Can be used in breeding, pregnant and lactating dogs
  • Kills pre-existing and new infestations of paralysis ticks (Ixodes holocyclus) for 6 months
  • Provides effective control of fleas on dogs within 8 hours of administration, and subsequently maintains persistent efficacy against flea re-infestations for 6 months following application
  • The flea life cycle can be broken by the rapid onset of action and the long-lasting efficacy against adult fleas on the dog
  • Newly emerged adult fleas on a dog are killed before viable eggs are produced
  • Effectively controls environmental flea population in areas to which the dog has access

Nexgard Spectra / Nexgard

This chewable treatment is given monthly; covers ticks, fleas, most intestinal worms (tapeworm needs to be treated separately) and heartworm. Note: you must remember to give this every month on the same day.

 

Nexgard Spectra also covers heartworm prevention for dogs who have previously been kept up to date with heartworm protection (either with monthly tablets such as Milbemax or the annual Proheart vaccination). If you prefer to cover all parasites with one treatment given EVERY month then perhaps Nexgard Spectra is the best option for your dog.

If your dog is already on heartworm prevention (Proheart annual vaccination) then using the regular Nexgard chewables is a good alternative. It is fast acting too, being absorbed quickly in the stomach, it will start killing any fleas, ticks or mites within 30 minutes.

 

Which tick prevention should you use for your cat?

Bravecto Spot On

Effective against ticks, fleas and mites, apply to the skin on the back of your cat’s head (at the base of the skull) every 3 months. Each pack contains 2 treatments for a total of 6 months worth of protection (3 months per treatment).

Safe for use in kittens from 9 weeks of age or weighing at least 1.2 kg.

Bravecto Plus Spot On

As above, plus there is an additional ingredient to control & prevent intestinal worms. Each pack contains 1 treatment for 3 months protection.

Revolution Plus

Monthly topical treatment effective against ticks, fleas, intestinal worms, mites and lice. Available in packs of 3 or 6.

Safe for use in kittens from 8 weeks of age or weighing at least 1.25 kg.

Rapidly starts killing fleas within 6 hours of treatment. Starts killing ticks within 24hrs of treatment.

 

Seresto Tick & Flea Collars

In the right circumstances these tick collars can offer longer term protection (up to 8 months) against ticks but bear in mind they become less effective when wet or in damp weather.

For safety, the collar is equipped with a break free, release mechanism that is easily triggered by your cat or kitten if they get snagged or caught when out and about.

Safe for use in kittens from 10 weeks of age