Protecting your dog from tick-borne diseases

As the spring sun begins to warm and the snow melts away, it's not just people and dogs who start to move around more. Ticks become active when temperatures rise above 5 degrees. Depending on where in the country you live, it's advisable to start using tick protection for your dog in March-April. There are now countless tick protection products on the market, both over-the-counter and prescription, and many owners find it a confusing jungle when choosing one. In this article, we hope to help you understand the difference between the various tick products available and how you should approach choosing one for your dog.

So, what are the main differences and how should you think about choosing a tick product? Let's start by dividing the available tick products into two main groups:

Group 1

This group includes tick repellents that act only locally on the outside of the skin, killing the tick on contact. These come in the form of collars (e.g., Seresto, Scalibor), spot-on treatments that aren't absorbed through the skin (e.g., Exspot), or various insect sprays.

Group 2

This group includes tick protection products that are absorbed by the body and work in the bloodstream, killing the tick when it attempts to bite. These are available as chewable tablets (e.g., Nexgard, Bravecto, Credelio) or spot-on treatments absorbed through the skin (e.g., Bravecto spot-on).

Pros and cons of the different groups of tick protection

Both categories have their advantages and disadvantages. The benefit of 'topical' tick repellents (group 1) is a reduced risk of internal side effects like vomiting and diarrhoea, which are the most common drug side effects. However, side effects such as skin irritation and itching can still occur.

The 'externally acting' type of tick repellent might feel like a safe choice for a dog that is unwell, sick, or has a very sensitive stomach. This is because the aim is to minimise the risk of the medication causing internal side effects that could further compromise their immune system.

A downside to this type of product is that its effectiveness can be reduced by bathing, shampooing, etc., which isn't ideal for dogs that love a summer swim or require regular grooming. Furthermore, the active substances on the outside of the body can be directly harmful to other household members (cats, puppies, children) who have close contact with the dog during the treatment period. It's often advised that children avoid prolonged close contact (like sleeping together) with animals treated with 'externally acting' products. Additionally, several of these products are harmful to fish and aquatic organisms.

Children are often discouraged from prolonged close contact (e.g. sleeping together) with animals with "outside-acting" preparations. In addition, several of these preparations are harmful to fish and aquatic organisms.

With the other group, tick repellents absorbed into the bloodstream, the risks of reactions from external close contact are avoided. Instead, there's a slightly higher risk of internal side effects in the treated animal. A common misconception is that this type of product doesn't protect against tick-borne diseases because the tick must bite the dog to be affected. In reality, ticks die so quickly after biting that the risk of disease transmission is very small, though like 'externally acting' products, protection isn't 100%.

How do I choose the right product for my dog?

There isn't one 'right' tick repellent that suits all dogs, as many factors need consideration. Therefore, it's usually best to discuss the choice with a vet. Here are some important factors to consider:

- Does the dog have any underlying health conditions, is it on any medication, or has it reacted sensitively to any medication in the past? Always discuss the choice of tick repellent with a vet in these cases!

- Do you have cats in the same household? Avoid topical treatments that are toxic to cats (e.g., Scalibour and Ex-spot) even for the dog in the household.

- Do you have puppies at home that might chew or lick the other dog, or small children who have close contact with the dog? In these situations, chewable tablets may be preferable to topical treatments.

- Does your dog love to swim or have a coat that requires regular shampooing? In these cases, tick collars that can be removed or one of the treatments absorbed into the bloodstream are preferable.

- Is it a puppy requiring tick treatment, and if so, will it gain significant weight in the coming months? It may be advisable to use a treatment with a shorter interval so that the dosage can be adjusted according to its new weight, for example, monthly.