Flea & Tick Options

When it comes to flea & tick preventives for dogs you have many options. How do you know which is the right option for your dog? At Bemidji Veterinary Hospital, we believe in medicine that is tailored to your pet’s specific needs. Our trained staff can answer your questions and help you choose the right product. Here is an overview of the products we carry.

	Bravecto®	Credelio®	Seresto®	Vectra®	Frontline Gold®
Route Administered	Oral chewable	Oral chewable	Collar	Topical	Topical
Duration	3 months	1 month	8 months	1 month	1 month
Covers	Kills ticks & adult fleas. Off-label use on mites.	Kills ticks & adult fleas. Off-label use on mites.	Repels and kills & fleas. Kills flea larvae & lice.	Repels and kills fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, lice, some mites, and biting & sand flies	Kills ticks & fleas, including flea eggs and larvae.
Minimum Age	6 months	8 weeks	7 weeks	8 weeks	8 weeks
Prescription Required	Yes	Yes	No	No	No

When should flea & tick preventives be given?

In short, spring through fall; though in our area the seasons can vary greatly from year to year. Ticks tend to appear as soon as the outside temperature reaches about 45 degrees. They will emerge even if there is still snow on the ground. Most products can be started at that time, though some recommend starting a month early to build up efficacy. During the hot summer months, the ticks seem to taper off, but this is when the fleas become very active. When the temperature dips again in the fall, the ticks tend to reappear with a vengeance.

Important Notes:

*None of these dog products should be used on cats.

*Certain medications should not be used on pets with a history of seizures.

*Oral chewable tablets should be given with food.

*Prescription meds can only be sold for pets who have had an exam within the last 12 months.

Protect your pets from fleas & ticks this season with these preventive products. If you have any questions give us a call at (218) 751-2753 or stop in today.