Now that the weather is improving throughout the country, it is likely that you and your pet will be spending more time outdoors.

That being the case, now is the time to think about flea and tick protection.

Heartworm protection should do without saying in this day and age. Heartguard is so easy to administer, as a beefy tasting chew, and so inexpensive now, there is really no reason to not just give it to your dog all year round, to protect it from this horrific disease.

For your flea and tick protection options, monthly topical protection you can apply directly on the pet’s body is the most popular choice, with oral protection second.

They are both convenient and effective, and also safe providing that you make sure you  follow the instructions for appropriate use.

bioSpot SPOT ON® for Dogs provides your dog with complete flea, tick, and mosquito protection for a full month. It is a tick preventive that offers complete protection against all stages of the flea life cycle. In addition, bioSpot SPOT ON® for Dogs effectively kills and repels ticks (carriers of Lyme disease), and also repels mosquitoes (potential carriers of Heartworm and West Nile Virus). It tends to be the least expensive of all the products mentioned here.

K9 Advantix for Dogs is relatively new  and combines two effective ingredients for total once-a-month topical protection from fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. In addition to killing flea larvae, K9 Advantix kills adult fleas before they can lay eggs, and stops them from biting within 5 minutes of application.
K9 Advantix is also effective on ticks – repelling and killing up to 98.5% of them before they can attach. Mosquitoes are also no match for K9 Advantix; it repels and kills them before they can bite. This topical treatment, available for various sizes of dogs, is also excellent for dogs who love to swim, and those who require frequent bathing. It resists water and can be effective up to six weeks. K9 Advantix is designed for dogs only, and SHOULD NEVER BE USED ON CATS. It is also recommended that if you live in a multipet household, you never use it.

Advantage for Dogs is an excellent product to use for flea control alone. While it is not designed to kill ticks, Advantage kills adult fleas rapidly and also kills flea larvae in only 20 minutes, preventing them from developing and reproducing. Because Advantage is water-resistant, this is another good product for dogs who love the water.