Flea and tick prevention

[dream2012]

I'm interested in what many of you use for flea and tick prevention. I started using Frontline last year April through November and it has worked effectively. I've used it in previous Shelties without an issue. Now, my vet wants me to use Simparica. What flea and tick med has been found to be the safest for shelties? I remember Heartguard was not to be used years ago. With Simparica relatively new to the market, there are no long term studies and that concerns me but there are plenty of dogs adversely affected by this new drug. I really wish there were a safer alternative but living in a tic infested area and plenty of wildlife, including deer, I feel I don't have an option.

Thank you.

 

[take4roll10]

Personally, I feel: If it's not broke, don't fix it. I use a natural cedar oil spray called Wondercide because my dog has a history of neurological episodes. I have to spray it every few days, but it seems to work for us.

 

[dream2012]

Thanks! Do you live in an area with deer and wildlife?

 

[Cara Sandler]

Both of my dogs are on simparica and have had absolutely no issues with it.

 

[take4roll10]

Thanks! Do you live in an area with deer and wildlife?

The last several years, I have had deer approach my backyard fence weekly. But technically I do live in a more city-like location, so not as much wildlife as more suburban areas.

 

[Caro]

I agree, if Frontline is working why switch. I tried Simparaca last month, Deska had really, really bad diarrhea for several days, Tully had some diarrhea for a day. Obviously it was causing stress on Mr D's tummy so I won't ever use it again. We switched back to Frontline after being off it for a while when it wasn't working. They are both doing fine on it and it's working again so I'll be sticking to Frontline.

 

[Cara Sandler]

It's funny how different dogs react differently to different products (can I use the word "different" one more time?). Spirit had a terrible reaction to a topical flea prevention (I don't remember which one but I think it was Frontline). But she's fine on Simparica. So really, if the Frontline is working with no issues, I don't see any reason to switch.

 

[Shelby's mom]

We have been using Simperica with no issues. Frontline didn’t seem to be working well for the tics anymore. We live rural with a lot of wildlife walking through. I heave not found a tic imbedded in her since we started using it. On Frontline we were finding them almost daily.

 

[dream2012]

Thanks, everyone! I think I will stick with Frontline since it is working. My vet wants our dog on it year-round, but once the temps drop and the ground freezes, i see no reason to use it. Have not found a tick on Jax since being on Frontline. Fleas have never been an issue. It is interesting how these products affect our shelties differently.

 

[Caro]

That's surprising if you get freezing weather in winter to keep using it, don't they need a certain ground temp for tick eggs to hatch? We have paralysis ticks in Aust, but where I live we get below zero temps so the ticks aren't an issue in winter, neither are the fleas.