You know what’s worse than a dirty dog? A dirty dog with deer ticks! We’ve had a lot of tick reports this summer and customers want to know why ticks seem worse than usual. According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), a number of tick species have dramatically expanded their range, moving into areas of higher latitude and altitude than they were previously found. A common tick most people know about is the deer tick. They carry Lyme disease and can pass it on to your pet and sometimes you. There are many products that can help protect your pet from deer ticks. We know it can be hard sorting through all the options. To make it a little easier, we have created a few tips that will hopefully help you find a product that is right for your pet! 

*It’s important to know that the products you use are designated for specific species. Don’t use dog flea and tick products on cats and don’t use cat products on dogs. Also, not all flea and tick preventatives are safe to use on breeding dogs, so make sure to do your research if you have a dog (male or female) that will be used for breeding.

For Monthly Deer Tick Protection

Topical treatments are the way to go for monthly deer tick prevention. They are used on the skin of your dog or cat. They mix with the natural oils of your pet’s skin to create a barrier that keeps ticks off of them. Topicals are fairly easy to use and there are a couple of different types. When it comes to topical products, Frontline Plus and K9 Advantix II are popular products in the topical category and they all protect against deer ticks. Frontline Plus and Advantix II not only kill deer ticks, but they will also repel them for up to 30 days. For a more natural approach to deer tick prevention, we have Cedarcide. Cedarcide uses oils from nature that naturally repel ticks.

For your feline friends, Frontline Plus for Cats and Bravecto for Cats are great products to keep them protected from deer ticks. Even if your cat is exclusively indoors, they can still become infested with fleas and ticks.

We know it can be overwhelming to know what tick prevention product is best for your pet. Don’t worry! Revival is here to help. The Revival Flea & Tick Finder is a free tool that helps you select the best tick preventative for your dog or cat. Try it today!

If You Can Get A Prescription

We also carry Bravecto. Bravecto chews are meant to be ingested by the dogs. It is one of the first oral chews that protects your dog from ticks up to 12 weeks. Talk to your vet if you’re interested in trying it. When you get a prescription, call our Pet Care Pros and they can help you get your prescription transferred to our pet pharmacy.

For Low Maintenance Protection

Collars are a great low maintenance way to protect your pet from deer ticks. Some collars will even protect your pet for up to eight months! They are safe and easy to use, which is great for owners who may be busy or for pets that won’t stay still enough for topical treatments. When it comes to collars our Pet Care Pros hear good things about Seresto and Adams Plus. Seresto also makes a cat collar.

Don’t Forget Your Home and Yard

Like treating your pets for deer ticks, you should also take the proper steps to treat the areas that your pet frequents. Ticks aren’t limited to hiding in tall grass; some ticks establish themselves in kennels and small animal hospitals. Advantage has a line of deer tick products for your home and yard. If you are looking for a more natural premise treatment, then Cedarcide is the way to go. Both products are easy to use and can help form a line of defense against deer ticks and other pests.

There are many types of ticks in North America and it’s important that you know which ones are common to your area and what diseases they can carry. Properly treating your pets can keep them safe from the possibility of contracting those diseases that deer tick carry. We know there are tons of treatments available for your pets and sometimes that’s overwhelming, so if you have any questions or need help finding the right product, call 800.786.4751 and one of our Pet Care Pros can help match you up to the product that’s right for you!