General Diseases: Lyme Disease Medicine
Dog General Diseases and Symptoms QuickLinks
There are many different types of dog tick medicine. Here is a guide to the different types available. Note that most products are not safe for dogs under 12 weeks of age. Be sure to read the label. If combining products be sure to determine if both can be used together.
According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPCVET), dogs should be protected from ticks by using the products listed in the charts below.
Favored products include K9 Advantix, Frontline Plus, Frontline Spray, and Preventic Collars.
Prescription Dog Tick Medicine
Antibiotics (tetracyclines) are the first drug to be prescribed to help a dog with Lyme disease. Treatment lasts for 1 month Doxycycline is the drug most often prescribed. These types of antibiotics help with lyme, other diseases transmitted by ticks such as ehrlichiosis and helps with arthritis, the primary symptom seen in dogs.
As an alternative, another antibiotic called azithromycin and atavaquone. It is used if your dog is suffering from a bacterium called bartonellosis.
In only the most severe cases of Lyme disease called Lyme nephropathy and Lyme nephritis, doxycycline might be combined with aspirin, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and a change in diet.
Over the Counter Dog Tick Medicine
There are several categories of dog tick medicine including:
- SpotOn/Topical - Liquid applied to the back 1x
per month.
- Sprays - Good for protection before your dog
goes outside. Repellent effect lasts up to 2 months.
- Collars - Kills any ticks on your dog and repels ticks for up to 3 months.
- Shampoos - Kills ticks on contact and helps to repel ticks
- Dips - Kills any ticks on your dog and her coat. Used if your dog was outside and picked up many ticks. May be repeated every 7 days for 3 to 4 weeks.
- Homeopathic Remedies - Strengthens the body with focus on the liver and blood to help the body fight tick borne illnesses.
Check the label if your dog is sick, a puppy or pregnant to be sure that the products listed below are safe for your dog.
Dog Tick Medicine Brands by Category
Topical Canine Tick Products
Topical tick products are simple to apply to your dog's back. Liquid applied spreads through the skin and kills ticks on contact. They are easy to use and very popular for preventing and killing ticks.
| Brand | Ingredient (s) | Days Protected | Repels and Kills Ticks | Repels and Kills Fleas |
| K9 Advantix | Permethrin and Imidacloprid | 30 - Apply 1x/month | Yes | Yes |
| Bio Spot | Methoprene and
Permethrin |
30 - Apply 1x per month | Yes | Yes |
| Revolution | Selamectin | 30 - Apply 1x per month | Yes | Yes |
| Frontline Plus | Fipronil and Methoprene | 30 - Apply 1x per month | Yes (and lice, controls, mange) | Yes |
| Frontline Top Spot | Fipronil | 30 - Apply 1x per month | Yes (also controls lice and mange) | Yes |
Dog Tick Sprays
Similar to shampoos, these products are good to use either before or just after your dog is exposed to ticks.
| Brand | Ingredient (s) | Days Protected | Repels and Kills Ticks | Repels and Kills Fleas |
| Bio Spot Flea and Tick Spray | Methoprene and Pyrethrin | 60 - Apply 1x every 2 months. | Yes | Yes |
| Frontline Spray | Fipronil | 30 - Good if there are infestations already on your dog | Yes | Yes |
Dog Tick Collars
Many veterinarians recommend Preventic collars. The provide long lasting protection against ticks. If your dog is outdoors and picks up many ticks, quickly purchase and use one of these collars to kill them before any disease can be transferred. It will cause the ticks the fall off your dog. Be sure to clean the area where your dog sleeps daily if using this method to vacuum up any ticks.
| Brand | Ingredient (s) | Days Protected | Kills Ticks | Kills Fleas |
| Preventic | Amitraz | 90 | Yes | Yes |
Dog Tick Shampoo Products
If you believe your dog has picked up ticks when outdoors, then a bath with one of these products will help any ticks that your dog may have picked up.
| Brand | Ingredients | Days Protected | Kills Ticks | Kills Fleas |
| Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo | Pyrethrin, Piperonyl butoxide technical, pyriproxyfen | 7 to 14 days | Yes | Yes |
| Lambert Kay Fresh N'Clean | pyrethrins, Piperonyl butoxide | 7 to 14 days | Yes | Yes |
| Sentry Flea and Tick Shampoo | Permethrin, Piperonyl butoxide | Up to 10 days | Yes | Yes |
|
Zodiac Flea and Tick Shampoo for Puppies |
Methoprene, Pyrethrins, Piperonyl butoxide | 7 to 10 days | Yes | Yes |
Dog Tick Dips
Dips are and effective dog tick medicine, but they are messy to apply. Be sure to use gloves and work in a well ventilated room. They are used when a dog has many ticks on her body. Dips can also be applied in a veterinarians office. They may need to be repeated for 3 to 4 weeks to ensure that all ticks were killed.
| Brands | Ingredients | Days Protected | Kills Ticks | Kills Fleas |
| Bio Spot Pyrethrin Dip for Dogs & Cats | Pyrethrins, Piperonyl butoxide, N-Octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide, Di-n-propyl isocinchomeronate | Repeat every 7 days if needed | Yes | Yes |
| Adams™ Plus Pyrethrin Dip for Dogs & Cats | Pyrethrins, Piperonyl buboxide, N-Octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide, Di-n-propyl isocinchomeronate | Repeat every 7 days if needed | Yes | Yes |
Homeopathic Natural Tick Remedies
| Brands | Ingredients |
| PetAlive TF-Defense Formula |
Combines several
ingredients known to
support dogs that are suffering from tick borne illnesses such as:
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