It’s that time of year again when the weather gets warmer, which also means the bugs come out. You have probably heard your vet talk about parasite prevention. It can be a confusing topic as there are so many products in different forms its hard to know which ones to choose. We recommend treating all year round for fleas and ticks. For heartworm, we recommend treating from June to November, as well as regular deworming and an annual fecal to ensure your furry family member is not carrying around any parasite passengers. Here is a breakdown of the different products we offer at the Kingston Veterinary Clinic and hopefully this will help you make an informed decision on the best prevention for the pets in your home.
Nexgard: Comes in a chewable, works on dogs only. Works on fleas and ticks for one month.
Nexgard Spectra: Comes in a chewable form, for dogs only. Works on fleas, ticks, heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and mites. Before we can dispense this, your dog is required to have a 4DX test done at the clinic.
Advantix: Comes in a topical form, we will have to special order it in, in either a 4 or 6 pack. It kills fleas and ticks and repels mosquitos and lice — it lasts for one month. This product is for dogs only and is toxic to cats. If you have a dog and cat in the house, they should be separated for at least 12 hours after applying Advantix to your dog.
Advantage: Comes in topical only, has a formula for dogs and cats. Treats fleas for one month.
Advantage Multi: Comes in topical only, has dog and cat formulas. Last for one month. Works on — fleas, mites, heartworm, hookworm, roundworm and whipworm.
Bravecto: Comes in a chewable and topical form. For dogs, it lasts three months. Both treat for fleas and ticks. We will have to special order in both forms of Bravecto.
Bravecto Feline: Comes in topical form only, treats ticks for two months and fleas for three months.
Heartgard: Comes in chewable form, for dogs only. Works on heartworm, hookworm and roundworm. We recommend having heartworm protection from June to November.
If you have any further questions on prevention for your pet, you can always call or book an appointment to discuss the best options for you with your veterinarian. It is also important to know that before we can dispense any medications for your pet, we must have your animal on our files and have an in date medical exam on file. We also do not recommend buying over the counter prevention from pet stores as some of these brands can lead to reactions and toxicities in pets. Stop in and make sure every member of the family is protected this summer!
Written by: Miranda Mathieson, VT