Best Flea & Tick Prevention

Flea and tick prevention isn't optional if your dog goes outside — a single flea can lay 50 eggs per day, and ticks transmit Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The three main delivery methods are oral chewables (Simparica, NexGard), topical spot-ons (Frontline, Advantage), and collars (Seresto).

Oral chewables are the most popular choice right now. Dogs eat them like treats, there's no greasy residue, and they're not affected by baths or swimming. Most cover both fleas and ticks with a single monthly dose. The downside: they require a prescription from your vet and cost more than OTC topicals.

Topical treatments are applied between the shoulder blades and spread through skin oils. They're available over-the-counter and are generally cheaper. The tradeoff: you can't bathe your dog for 48 hours after application, they can leave greasy spots, and they may wash off with frequent swimming. Flea collars like Seresto offer 8 months of protection in a set-and-forget format.