Q29: Flea and Tick Treatments
Q29: I understand that April and May are the start of the tick and flea season. There are a bewildering number of treatments available over here - from flea drops by Frontline SpotOn, SpotLine, to many types of (dog) collars in different colours and from 10TL to 70TL. Does anyone have any advice on what works the best, or any money-saving tips?
A29.1: I find the "Paraband" (by Intervet) flea and tick collars to be really effective. They really do seem to protect for 6 months as it says on the package, and it also claims they protect against the type of fly that carries Lieshmaniasis. I think vets are currently selling them for about 35TL. I used to use Frontline- either spot treatment or spray bottle. It is also good, but works out more expensive since each application lasts roughly 2 months. --Jayne
A29.2: I have found that fleas are rarely a problem, but ticks are nasty little things that are not only unsightly but disease carriers. I always use drops at this time of year, either Frontline or there is a Turkish equivalent which seems to work just as well. The drops will kill off ticks for around a month and fleas for two months. I would recommend checking prices with a few different vets as they do vary, and also check the weight of the dog and ensure you are given the right strength. The only flea collars that really work are quite expensive, again from vets, the cheaper versions available in supermarkets are a waste of time and money. I brought some Frontline combo spot-on back from the UK recently which worked out at £5.53 per pipette for a 10 – 20kg dog. --Peter Fearnley