And I am wondering if it will be another bad one because we had such a warm winter. Last year I used Frontline and still had two tick scares with the ticks actually attached/burrowed in. This year I am looking for something different for an area with a pretty significant tick problem. I also regularly walk my dog in wooded areas and want him as protected as possible. I have been reading up on NexGuard, but something about it makes me nervous. My last dog had a bad reaction to Frontline, but we just washed it off and in a couple of days he was fine. With NexGuard there is no washing it off if my dog has a reaction. Does anybody use the collar? Is it safe to leave on a dog that sleeps in our bed? What is everybody using?
I used the Seresto collar on Zinny last year with zero problems. We weren’t in tick central, but she certainly had no reaction to it.
My new vet here recommends Simparica, which is a pill, for fleas and ticks.
Unsure which way we’ll go, but curious to hear what others here have to say about it 
Bravecta is what my vet is recommending. I have already found several ticks on my dogs (4) so just bought some. Ticks I fear will be bad and the diseases they carry scare me. Our BIL has been diagnosed with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever just a couple of weeks ago.
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My vet is recommending Seresto collars. My problem is that two of my dogs still show so I don’t want them wearing a flea collar because it will damage the coat. They are also the two that are sensitive to Advantix, our next best option. I am going to try Vectra instead and hope that they are not sensitive to the carrier (which is usually the problem, not the pesticide(s).
I’ve been researching this myself. I’ve used Frontline + in the past, but its effectiveness has been on the decline in this area. My vet suggests one of four options: Seresto collar, Simparica, Bravecta, or NexGuard. The latter 3 are all in pill form. Bravecta is supposed to last for 3 months. The Seresto collar is supposed to last more than 5.
My sister uses the Seresto collar on her lab who is outside with her people nonstop. They live in a heavily wooded area. She’s never had a flea issue, and the only ticks she’s ever seen are dead in the dog’s bed.
My very good veterinary friend uses Bravecto on her hound mix who is also her marathon training companion. She’s never had an issue with using it.
IMO, the drug in Simparica, Bravecta, and NexGuard are similar in the way they work. If you read the reviews, you’ll often read ALL the horror stories because that’s generally the only time people review things. I’m still on the fence with what I’m going to use, but living in the South, and the hot winter we’ve had, I know I HAVE to go with something more than what I’ve used in the past.
Cost wise, NexGuard is the most expensive. Bravecto, since it is supposed to be a 3 month dose, is comparative in cost to Seresto and Simparica. The dilemma, as always, is that you won’t know if your dog will have an adverse reaction until you administer it. I’ve got another month to figure out my plan.
I’ve switched to nextgard. It’s a chewable and my girl likes it. I have a friend in Phoenix who switched to it also a year ago. She had a terrible tick problem and it took care of it.
Vectra 3D from my vet.
I’ve used Nexguard on my very allergic mini dachsie with good results. I’ve used Bravecto on my two large outside dogs also with good results. I want to try the Seresto collars.
Vectra didn’t work for my dog at all. I tried it after Frontline quit working. Granted I wasn’t using it for fleas, but had lots of ticks.
We’re seeing a lot of resistance to Frontline, as it’s been used for so long. Nexgard is okay, but dogs tend to still bring ticks into the house, as the tick has to bite the dog to be killed. It doesn’t repel them. I would recommend Seresto collars. This will be our third year using them and we have yet to see a tick. They’re easy, more affordable, and most importantly, they work. I really can’t recommend them enough.
Ticks are already here though they really never go away. Found two on one of my dogs last week. I started using Seresto collars last year. I did find a couple ticks on one of my dogs early on but nothing after that on either. The new collars will go on soon but it’s -12 windchill right now and we have a major snowstorm coming this week. Maybe just maybe all the ticks will hide for just a bit longer with this weather.
Agreed. We’ve seen some over the last few weeks as well.
Frontline did not work at all for us last year. Might as well have been dosing him with water.
I like the idea of the collars, but he sleeps in my bed, and we frequently cuddle. Do I have to worry about those things with the collar?
I don’t think there is any concern with snuggling or sleeping with a dog who’s wearing the collar
Can I ask where you are? I’m worried about Frontline not working here, too. The vet says it’s still effective, but I am dubious and trying to come up with a strategy for the summer.
I am in SW MI.
That is good to know about the snuggling. The reviews I was reading on Amazon said that several people have their dog sleep in their beds without any known side effects. Maybe it will make me tick resistant too?! :lol:
I would wear one if it would keep the ticks off! :lol:
Why don’t we have wearables like that for our horses, too??
Apparently the insert with the seresto collar says to not let your dog in the bed with the collar. Especially into children’s beds.
I’m torn about what to use. Don’t want to use a feed through (pill)for my dog with liver issues so I guess I’m back to the topicals…
My vet suggested using the Seresto Collar or the Bravecto pill. I used the Seresto collar on my last dog and on my current one as well. I’ve never had a flea or tick issue with either of them (knock on wood) and we are in a big tick area. Current dog sleeps in my bed and I’ve never thought to worry about it?
My vet said there was a recent study done on dogs that acquired Lyme while using something to prevent ticks. Those who used Frontline were the majority of the Lyme cases in the study. Wish I could find it now…will have to ask her for a copy when I’m in the office next.
I used Bravecta last year with no problems. Before that I used Nexgard and had no problem with that either. I can’t use collars because my dogs swim daily.
