Most veterinary tick treatments don't repel ticks. They control them after the tick attaches and begins feeding. So finding ticks on a treated dog is normal and doesn't mean the product isn't working.
Finding a tick crawling on your dog right after a treatment feels like the treatment failed. That reaction is completely understandable, but the way most tick products work is different from what most pet owners expect.
The majority of topical and oral treatments for dogs are designed to control ticks through contact or ingestion after the tick attaches to the dog. The medications don’t prevent ticks from latching on, in other words. Rather, when the tick bites, they come into contact with the active ingredient in the dog’s skin or bloodstream. Within 24 to 48 hours, the ticks become sluggish and then eventually die.
True repellent-based tick products exist but are less common and typically need to be reapplied more frequently. Tick collars with repellent properties are one option, and some topical treatments include a repellent component. If seeing ticks on your dog at all is unacceptable to you, talk to your vet about products that actively repel ticks.
In Connecticut, especially in the counties of Middlesex and New London, tick populations are high. And tick season runs long. A dog that runs past garden beds and wooded borders is going right through tick habitats. Even the best veterinary treatment can’t prevent ticks from climbing on. It can only control them after contact.
This is where property-level tick control comes in handy. If you’re looking for tips you can follow on your own, check out our video on the 6 C's of tick control to reduce tick presence on your property.
If you’re a homeowner in Middlesex or New London County, and you don’t want to see ticks on your dog, Mosquito Squad of Middlesex New London can help. Mosquito Squad provides tick control treatments that target the places where ticks like to spend time in your yard. When paired with veterinary tick treatment, your dog can enjoy two layers of protection instead of fully relying on just one.
