Tick repellent for dogs
Any pet that goes outdoors is at risk of being attacked by dangerous ectoparasites—ticks. These bloodsuckers are especially active in the spring and summer, so every dog owner should have special tick repellent for dogs in their home from March to October.
These arachnid arthropods, no more than a few millimeters in size, live in grass and on low plants and transmit many vector-borne diseases, including piroplasmosis, borreliosis, tularemia, tick-borne encephalitis, and others. Furthermore, a tick bite can cause an allergic reaction, infection, and suppuration.
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Types of tick repellents
The veterinary industry today offers a wide range of tick protection products for dogs. These include medications containing insectoacaricides (amidines, isoxazoline carbamates, lactones, organophosphates, pyrethroids, and phenylpyrazoles), as well as natural products made from plants with acaricidal or repellent properties.
External use products include:
- Drops. The product is applied to the dog's skin in areas where it cannot lick it off, such as the withers or upper back. When a tick comes into contact with the treated skin, it quickly dies, as the active ingredient in the drops has a paralytic effect on the ectoparasite.
- Collars. The substances impregnated in these tick repellents are activated upon contact with the dog's warm skin and are released at a constant, low intensity. The impregnated components of collars can be toxic to arthropods or have a repelling effect on parasites.
- Workwear. Vests and overalls made of dense fabric protect most of the animal's body from parasites.
- Aerosols. Tick sprays for dogs last for about a month and are categorized as repelling or killing. Their main drawbacks are that when treating an animal, these products must be applied to all areas of the animal's body, but if applied too liberally, there's a risk of poisoning the dog when grooming its fur.
- Shampoos. Almost all acaricidal shampoos only repel parasites, and the effect lasts only a few days. However, with regular use of these shampoos, your pet's fur and skin will be free of ticks and fleas.
Acaricidal tablets are designed to protect animals internally from ectoparasites. These tick repellents for dogs contain ingredients that are safe for animals but lethal to most blood-sucking insects. After administration, the active ingredient enters the dog's bloodstream, and any ectoparasite attached to the animal's skin quickly receives a lethal dose of the toxic substance. The effectiveness of acaricidal tablets against ticks for dogs ranges from one to several months.
There are also vaccinations against ticks, or rather, against piroplasmosis, the disease most commonly transmitted by ticks. These include Pirodog, a vaccine from the German company Merial, and Nobivac Pyro, a vaccine from the international company Intervet/MSD Animal Health. These vaccines are based on antigens to protozoans of the genus Babesia. Immunity in vaccinated dogs develops two weeks after two vaccinations and lasts for six months.
Advice from experts
When using tick-repellent medications for dogs, it is important to strictly follow the dosage instructions to prevent intoxication of your pet.
To protect pets, you can combine several acaricidal agents, but it's important to choose the right combinations. It's best to use the same active ingredients in each product, as the interaction of different ingredients can cause allergic reactions or other complications in dogs.
The following combinations of protective equipment are considered optimal:
- anti-tick spray plus collar;
- acaricidal shampoo plus special clothing.
The most effective tick repellents for dogs
We offer a list of products that, according to experts, can most effectively protect dogs from ticks.
Drops
This is perhaps the most convenient to use and therefore the most popular product; it remains bioactive for about a month. However, to ensure the drops are well absorbed into the skin, it is recommended not to bathe the dog for the first 24 hours after application.
The best tick drops for dogs, according to veterinarians:
- Frontline Combo. This product is intended for adult dogs. Active ingredients: fipronil and methoprene. Manufactured by Merial, Germany.
- Advantix. Recommended for medium and large breed dogs. Active ingredient: imidaclopid. Manufactured by Bayer, Germany.
- UltraGuard. Drops against ticks and fleas. This water-resistant product takes effect 1-2 days after application. The active ingredient is phenothrin. Manufactured by Hartz, Germany.
- Dironet Spot-On. A comprehensive treatment for dogs and puppies that protects against ticks, fleas, and lice. The active ingredient is ivermectin. Manufactured by Agrovetzhashchita, Russia.
- Insect stop. A tick and flea repellent for adult dogs. Active ingredient: fipronil. Manufactured by ProVet, Ukraine.
Collars
Provides protection against ticks and fleas for 3 to 8 months. Top brands:
- ProfiLine. The active ingredient is the insecticide Propoxur. Manufactured by Priroda LLC, Ukraine.
- Beaphar. The active ingredient is a natural contact insecticide made from plant extracts of neem, pyrethrum, and lavender. Manufactured by Beaphar, UK.
- Pro VET STOP-Біо. They provide contact insecticidal and acaricidal action against most ectoparasites, and all active ingredients are of natural origin. Manufactured by AnimAll VetLine, Ukraine.
- A product of the Dutch company of the same name. The active ingredient is the organophosphorus insecticide Diazinon.
- Foresto. The active ingredients are the nicotinoid insecticides imidacloprid and flumethrin, a product of the German company Bayer.
- Kiltix. Active ingredients: Propoxur and Flumethrin. Manufactured by Bayer Animal Health, Germany.
Sprays
One of the advantages of these flea and tick repellents for dogs is their economical and convenient dosage. Two or three sprays provide a dose sufficient for small dogs weighing 1-1.5 kg. Even for a large dog, one bottle of spray lasts more than six months.
Popular brands:
- ProVET Insectostop. Fipronil, an ingredient in this product, has insecticidal and acaricidal effects on ticks at all stages of their development. Manufactured by AnimAll VetLine, Ukraine.
- VET`S BEST. This dog tick spray is made with natural peppermint and clove oils and contains insecticidal plant extracts. Manufactured by Vets Best, Ukraine.
- Sentry Natural Defense. A natural product containing lemongrass, peppermint, clove, and thyme oils. A product of the French company Merial.
- Bolfo. A product with insecticidal and acaricidal action, the active ingredient being Propoxur. Manufactured by the international company Bayer.
Pills
To the most effective tick repellent tablets for dogs include:
- Simparica. The drug begins to work 3 hours after administration and lasts for one month. The active ingredient is Sarolaner, an isoxazoline-class ectoparasiticide. Manufactured by Zoetis, USA.
- NexGuard. Starts working within 30 minutes and lasts for 20-30 days. Contains the insectoacaricides oxarolaner and milbemycin. Brand: NexGard, USA.
- Bravecto. Antiparasitic chewable tablets. The active ingredient is the insectoacaricide Fluralener. The effect appears 6-8 hours after administration and lasts for approximately 4 months. Manufactured by Bravecto Animal Health, USA.
Shampoos
The most popular tick shampoos for dogs are:
- American Veterinary Formula, which contains a high concentration of natural pyrethrin, obtained from plant materials;
- Ukrainian Palladium Golden Defense with propoxur (acaricide with fast and long-lasting action) and Dalmatian chamomile extract.
A chemical-free tick repellent has recently hit the pet market. It's the Waudog Ultrasonic Tick Repeller, a small keychain that fits around your dog's neck.
The ultrasonic vibrations emitted by the device at a specific frequency have an extremely negative effect on the nervous system of ectoparasites; humans and animals are unaffected by them. The operating range is 1.5 meters. The price of this gadget in Moscow is 1,500 rubles. The country of manufacture is Hungary.
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