You bought the flea and tick prevention. You put it on. A month later you are still pulling ticks off your dog.
Most of the time the product is fine. It never reached the skin. Topical prevention is absorbed through skin, not fur, so squeezing it onto a thick coat leaves most of the dose sitting on hair where it cannot do anything. Gavyn Broce, one of our licensed veterinary technicians, walks through the fix in the video above.
Book a Fear Free AppointmentCall or text (703) 273-2110
Why do you put gloves on first?
Because your skin absorbs it too.
The property that makes the product work through your dog’s skin works the same way through yours. Gloves take five seconds and they keep the whole dose where you meant to put it. Wash your hands afterwards anyway.
Where does the product actually go?
Between the shoulder blades, and the spot is not arbitrary.
It is the one place on a dog that is genuinely out of reach of their own tongue. Put it further down the back or along the ribs and a flexible dog will find it, which costs you the dose and gives them a mouthful of insecticide.
Run your hands down from the base of the neck until you feel both shoulder blades. Aim for the midline between them.
How do you get it onto skin instead of fur?
Part the coat first, then apply. This is the step almost everyone skips.
Push the fur apart with your fingers until you can see a clear line of bare skin. On a short coated dog that takes a second. On a double coated dog it takes real effort, and that is exactly the dog most likely to get a wasted dose.
Touch the applicator tip to the skin you just exposed and squeeze. You are aiming for one open spot of skin, not a stripe painted down the back.
What should your dog be doing while it dries?
Anything except sitting still.
Play with them, take them for a walk, get them out of the room. The product needs time to absorb, and a dog who settles onto the couch to groom, or a cat who wanders over to groom their housemate, undoes the work. Keep small children off the treated spot until it is dry too.
Why is the right product different for every pet?
Because what works for one may not work for another.
Age, weight, coat type, whether your dog swims, how much time they spend in tall grass, and whether there are cats in the house all change the answer. A product that suits a seventy pound Lab who hikes every weekend is not automatically right for a nine pound senior whose range ends at the back fence.
That is a two minute conversation with your veterinary team, and it is worth having instead of guessing in a store aisle.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put flea and tick prevention on wet fur?
Wait until your dog is completely dry. Water on the coat spreads the product across hair instead of letting it sit on skin, and a damp coat is harder to part cleanly. The same goes for the days after: check your product label, but most ask you to hold off on baths and swimming for about 48 hours.
What if my dog licks the spot?
Between the shoulder blades is chosen because a dog cannot physically reach it. If your dog manages to lick a topical product, or another pet in the house grooms it off, call us at (703) 273-2110 and we will tell you whether it needs anything.
Can I use my dog’s product on my cat?
No. Some dog products contain permethrin, which is toxic to cats, and a cat that grooms a treated dog can be affected too. Cats need a product labeled for cats. Ask us which one suits your household.
Do indoor pets need flea and tick prevention?
Yes. Fleas ride in on people, on other pets, and through open doors, and ticks turn up in Fairfax back yards, not just on trails. Year round prevention is easier than clearing an infestation out of a house.
How often does it need reapplying?
Most topical products run on a monthly cycle, but that varies by brand and by pet. Follow the label your product came with, and set a recurring reminder on your phone so a missed month does not turn into a flea problem.
Ready to get your pet covered?
Town and Country Animal Hospital is a Fear Free Certified practice in Fairfax, which means the visit itself is built around keeping your pet calm from the waiting room to the exam table. Book online, or call or text us at (703) 273-2110 if you would rather talk it through.
Book a Fear Free AppointmentCall or text (703) 273-2110
More on prevention: flea and tick prevention for dogs, flea and tick prevention for cats, parasite testing and treatment, and our wellness plans.