Tick Treatments

I use Nexguard, which is a monthly oral. It was recommended by my mom, who is a vet. I prefer Nexguard to the topicals like Frontline because (1) it's easy to administer (it's like a tasty treat for the dog), as opposed to that nasty greasy topical that is poisonous to humans before it dries, and (2) Frontline's 30 day efficacy can be reduced if the dog is regularly in the water, making scheduling applications confusing, potentially harmful and costly.

There is one thing you need to understand about some of these drugs, and that is the fact that Nexguard and Frontline (and other similar drugs) are NOT tick deterrents, they simply kill fleas and ticks AFTER the bug has bitten the dog by overloading the bug's nervous system. So, you can very well still find fleas and ticks on your dog even with proper use of these drugs, but they will likely be dead or just perusing your dog's fur for a place to bite, at which point they will die.

Sawyers tick spray (permetherin) is effective for not only ticks, but all bugs. You spray it on your hunting clothing (outdoors), and it lasts for a long time, even through multiple washes. But as Nick said above, it is not always effective, ticks are nasty as hell. IMO the best protection is just covering yourself. For the dogs, Nexguard and a thorough tick inspection after being in the field.

One final note, is that there has been a bizarre surge in cases of Lymes disease in Michigan and other states in the past year. Many are now opting to use the vaccine in conjunction with drugs like Nexguard, and I think that is a prudent move (keeping in mind that the vaccine may not protect against all strains).

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Tick Treatments