I have been doing a lot or research on tick prevention for my new pup but it seems opinions are all over the board. Ideally I'm looking for something that actually works to prevent ticks and is safe (she is 8 weeks). I want to start taking on her hikes and start getting her use to different types of terrain (she will be taught to pheasant hunt). Seems like Seresto, NexGard, and Bravecto are most commonly talked about. Are there any new products on the market? Any studies/research done on any of these? Thanks!
There are a lot of safety concerns being discussed at the moment with the oral tick meds - Bravecto and Nexgard and Simparica too. For example, here is the FDA warning on the subject: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterina...-and-veterinarians-about-potential-neurologic Here is a news article based on the same info: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/heal...-cause-nerve-reactions-pets-fda-warns-n911536 I think it is always wise to be cautious about new drugs being released onto the market, especially because there is much less stringent testing for animal drugs than for human. The Seresto collar has been around a long time and has a good safety record. Moreover, you can remove it if the puppy has an adverse reaction - unlike an oral medication or a spot-on. So either the Seresto or the Scalibor (another collar) would probably be my first choice. However, a young puppy may well not be going through cover or picking up ticks yet - and so may not need treatment this year. She will be too young to go on hikes with you, as she shouldn't be overexercised during puppyhood to prevent the risk of joint disorders later. You might want to check her over thoroughly every time you take her out and see how things go, before deciding to treat.
