When we opened our store in 2000, we weren’t willing to sell chemical flea prevention at all. In the early 2000s, that was a lot easier to stand by. Truthfully, even the chemical options available at the time were often not enough. Since then, the spread of ticks and the severity of tickborne disease have both increased dramatically. According to the CDC, annual reports of tickborne diseases more than doubled in roughly a decade, from over 22,000 in 2004 to over 48,000 in 2016. By 2023, over 89,00 cases of Lyme disease alone were reported, making it by far the most prevalent tickborne illness. And diseases like ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis are now common in the Northeast and beyond, in nearly every season.

Ticks aren’t just a nuisance for pets. They’re a genuine health threat. Dogs and cats exposed to ticks can contract serious diseases that cause lasting damage to joints, organs, and the nervous system if not caught early. What makes these diseases especially tricky is that pets, particularly dogs, often show no obvious symptoms in the early stages. That makes prevention far more reliable than waiting for signs of illness, and prompt treatment critical when infection does occur.

So what is the best flea and tick prevention for pets? Let’s walk through it together.

The Honest Truth About Chemical Prevention

Say you are open to chemical prevention. It will take care of much of the risk, but there are real trade-offs worth knowing. Some products lose their efficacy in water. Some trigger reactions in sensitive animals. Some are safe for dogs but not cats. And because fleas and ticks are parasites, they are built to adapt. Insecticide formulas are updated regularly to stay ahead of resistance. All to say: chemical preventatives are effective tools, but not a set-it-and-forget-it silver bullet.

Build Your Base

Whether your plan is all natural or includes chemical prevention, think of it in terms of multiple layers of defense.

If you are open to chemical prevention, the Seresto Flea and Tick Collar is one of our top recommendations, available for Small Dogs, Large Dogs and Cats. It uses a patented sustained-release technology to continuously deliver two active ingredients, imidacloprid and flumethrin, through the collar and into your pet’s coat for up to 8 months of protection. It kills fleas within 24 hours of application, is water-resistant, non-greasy, and odorless, making it one of the most hassle-free options on the market. One important note: to maintain the full 8-month duration, dogs should not be bathed more than once a month, and for pets who swim frequently, tick protection may shorten to around 7 months. Seresto is safe for dogs 7 weeks and older and cats 10 weeks and older.

If you want to stay within all-natural options, we love Wondercide. Their Flea and Tick Collar for dogs uses cedar and peppermint essential oils to repel fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes for up to 4 months. It is water-resistant, free of artificial dyes and fragrances, and phenol- and clove-free. The cat collar has a breakaway safety feature for added peace of mind. Wondercide also makes a Spot On treatment for dogs and Spot On for Cats, a monthly topical powered by cedarwood oil that repels fleas and ticks for up to one month and mosquitoes for up to one week. It comes in size options for cats and small, medium, and large dogs. One note: the spot on repels rather than kills, so for active infestations, pair it with a spray treatment.

Layer On: Shampoos and Sprays

Once you have your base, layer on additional protection to minimize risk further. One of the best steps you can take for dogs is a shampoo designed to repel fleas and ticks. We like Skout’s Honor Max Strength Flea and Tick Shampoo. Powered by cedarwood oil, peppermint oil, and other natural essential oils, it kills fleas and ticks including larvae and eggs, and helps repel mosquitoes. It lathers well and leaves a fresh peppermint-cedarwood scent. Use it every two weeks for best results and prevention. Important note for multi-pet households: this shampoo is formulated for dogs only and is not recommended for cats.

Heading Out? Don’t Skip the Spray

Supplement your prevention arsenal with 100% natural sprays safe for your yard and directly on your pet. We like Skout’s Honor Flea and Tick Dog and Home Spray and the Wondercide Flea and Tick Spray for Pets and Home (available in Cedar or Peppermint). The Wondercide spray is lab-tested and proven to kill, repel, and prevent 98-100% of fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes on contact. It is safe for dogs and cats of all ages when used as directed, and works on your pet, your furniture, and your home. Both sprays are ideal for tossing in your bag before a hike, a trip to the beach, or even an afternoon in the backyard.

A Few Tools Every Pet Home Needs

Every home with pets needs a few indispensable tools. This JW Flea Comb tops the list. Its teeth are so tightly spaced that fur passes through easily but fleas cannot. A few passes through your pet’s coat will tell you quickly whether you have unwanted visitors, and it does double duty by loosening dander and dirt at the same time.

The Tick Mitt has become our most popular tick-removing tool, and for good reason. Its textured mitt surface grips ticks without squeezing them, reducing the risk of releasing pathogens during removal. It works on both pets and people.

New to our lineup is the Tick Sidekick by Tick Mitt, a slim tool designed specifically for ticks that have already latched onto skin. We love that it includes a built-in bright light, which is especially helpful when you’re doing a solo tick check on a squirmy pet. You can see and safely remove a tick with just one hand.

Stay Vigilant Year-Round

Except during periods when temperatures are consistently below freezing (and those windows are getting shorter every year), flea and tick season is now essentially year-round. Always monitor for ticks while you are outside, and do a thorough tick check on your pets and everyone in your household when you return home. If you spot any ticks or want to be safe after time in wooded or grassy areas, shed your outer clothing and put it in the dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Diet

Remember that fleas and ticks are parasites, and parasites are opportunistic. They seek the easiest path to a meal, which means a weaker animal is always the more attractive target. The healthier your pet’s diet, the stronger their immune system, and the less appealing they become to parasites.

If you have ever wondered whether that premium all-natural food is worth the cost, or whether supplements like probiotics for gut and immune health and omega oils for skin and coat health are truly making a difference, the answer is yes. Read more on probiotics here, and omega oils compared here. Your pet’s skin is their largest organ and their most important physical barrier against pests. Keeping it healthy from the inside out matters. Feed your pets as well as you can reasonably afford to. They will be better equipped to survive and thrive, no matter what they encounter out there.