Caring for a dog's health is a top priority for pet owners, and protecting them from fleas and ticks is a crucial aspect of this. The market is flooded with various brands offering solutions to combat these pesky parasites, making it essential to choose products that are both effective and safe for your furry friend. Brands such as Frontline, Seresto, Advantix, and Bravecto have established themselves as leaders in providing reliable flea and tick prevention through various forms like topical treatments, collars, and oral medications. For a comprehensive list of the best flea and tick products tailored to your dog's needs, and to see how other brands measure up, explore the options detailed below.
Illustration of flea and tick for dogs
Best brands of flea and tick for dogs in 2025
Frontline Plus
Frontline Plus, produced by Merial, is a highly effective and popular spot-on treatment for controlling fleas, ticks, and chewing lice in dogs and puppies aged 8 weeks or older. It contains the active ingredients fipronil (9.8%) and (S)-methoprene (8.8%), which work to kill adult fleas, flea eggs, and flea larvae, breaking the flea life cycle for up to three months. Frontline Plus also kills ticks for at least one month and is recommended for monthly application where tick control is necessary. The treatment remains effective even after bathing, water immersion, or exposure to sunlight. As of 2015, Merial was the leading flea/tick marketer, with Frontline Plus being a dominant product in the market. For more information, you can visit their Frontline Plus product page.
NexGard
NexGard is a leading brand in the flea and tick prevention market for dogs, demonstrating exceptional effectiveness in various studies. It kills adult fleas with over 99% effectiveness within eight hours of administration and maintains this efficacy for up to 35 days. NexGard also prevents infections that cause Lyme disease by killing Ixodes scapularis ticks, with 100% prevention of Borrelia burgdorferi transmission 28 days post-treatment. In field studies, NexGard showed 98.0%, 99.7%, and 99.9% effectiveness against fleas on days 30, 60, and 90, respectively. This product is FDA-approved and has been recognized for its comprehensive protection against multiple parasites. For more detailed information, visit the NexGard product page.
Seresto
Seresto is a highly recommended and widely used brand for flea and tick prevention in dogs, known for its 8-month continuous protection against these parasites. With over 41 million collars sold and stocked in over 8,000 vet clinics, it stands as the #1 vet-recommended flea and tick collar. The collar operates through contact, utilizing active ingredients imidacloprid and flumethrin, and is water-resistant, maintaining effectiveness even after shampooing, swimming, or exposure to rain. Despite some safety concerns, a comprehensive multi-year review by the EPA confirmed the continued registration and safety profile of Seresto. For more details, visit the official Seresto page.
Bravecto
Bravecto, a leading brand from MSD Animal Health, is renowned for its fast-acting and long-lasting efficacy in protecting dogs against fleas and ticks. Since its introduction in 2014, Bravecto has distributed over 300 million doses in more than 100 countries, providing up to 12 weeks of protection against Ixodes scapularis ticks, a vector of Lyme Disease. The product has shown a 100% tick-free rate at every 24-hour tick count in studies, outperforming competitors like Simparica TRIO. Bravecto's sales grew by 4% in 2023, reaching $1.1 billion, highlighting its popularity and effectiveness. It is available in various formulations, including chews and topical solutions, making it a versatile and reliable choice for pet owners.
Advantix II
K9 Advantix II is a highly recommended brand for flea and tick prevention in dogs, offering comprehensive protection against ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, biting flies, and chewing lice. It kills 98-100 percent of fleas within 12 hours and continues to work for one month, preventing further infestations. The product is effective against all life stages of fleas and ticks, including those that transmit diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. It is suitable for dogs and puppies 7 weeks of age or older, weighing 4 lbs or more. K9 Advantix II is waterproof and remains effective after shampooing, swimming, or exposure to rain or sunlight. For more information, visit the K9 Advantix II product page.
Simparica Trio
Simparica Trio is a highly effective and comprehensive veterinary medicine for dogs, offering protection against fleas, five species of ticks, and two types of intestinal parasites, as well as preventing heartworm and lungworm disease. It contains sarolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel, and is administered as a monthly chewable tablet. The product has seen significant growth, with a 47% operational increase in the third quarter of 2023, driven by corporate account contracts and expanded direct-to-consumer advertising. Suitable for dogs as young as eight weeks old and weighing at least 2.8 pounds, Simparica Trio is not recommended for pregnant or lactating dogs and requires a heartworm test before initiation. Its broad-spectrum protection makes it a reliable choice for pet owners seeking to prevent flea and tick infestations and associated diseases. For more details, visit the Simparica Trio product page.
Advantage II
Advantage II is a highly effective and vet-recommended topical flea control product for dogs, containing 9.10% imidacloprid and 0.46% pyriproxyfen, which kill fleas through contact within 12 hours and provide protection against further infestations for 30 days. It is suitable for dogs and puppies over 7 weeks old and weighing more than 3 pounds. Advantage II breaks the flea life cycle by killing adult fleas, flea larvae, and flea eggs, and also controls chewing lice. The product is waterproof after 24 hours and does not require a prescription. It is available for various weight ranges, including extra-large dogs over 55 lbs. For more information on Advantage II for dogs over 55 lbs, visit the official PetSmart product page.
Revolution
Revolution, produced by Zoetis Inc., is a highly effective topical medication for controlling flea and tick infestations in dogs. It demonstrates over 90% control of flea infestations within 30 days of the first dose and kills adult fleas within 36 hours, preventing flea eggs from hatching for one month. For tick control, Revolution is specifically effective against the American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis), with efficacy achieved within 5 days of application. Clinical field studies have consistently shown its efficacy, including a study published in 2013 that highlighted its long-lasting effectiveness compared to oral medications. Revolution also treats and controls other parasites such as ear mites, sarcoptic mange, and heartworms. For more information, visit the Revolution product page.
Capstar
Capstar is a highly effective and rapid-acting flea treatment for dogs, eliminating 90% of adult fleas within just 4 hours and beginning to work as swiftly as 30 minutes after administration. It is suitable for dogs and puppies as young as 4 weeks old and weighing at least 2 pounds. Capstar tablets come in two strengths: 11.4 mg for small dogs and 57 mg for larger dogs, making it a versatile solution across various dog sizes. This over-the-counter medication is particularly beneficial for sudden flea infestations and can be safely administered as often as once per day if reinfestation occurs. Capstar is a popular choice among pet owners due to its quick action and user-friendly application. For more information or to purchase, visit the Capstar flea treatment page.
Trifexis
Trifexis, produced by Elanco, is a highly effective medication for dogs, demonstrating a 90% reduction in flea count in 97% and 89% of treated dogs at days 14 and 30, respectively. It prevents flea infestations, treats and controls adult hookworm, roundworm, and whipworm infections, and prevents heartworm disease with 100% effectiveness in some laboratory studies. Trifexis contains spinosad and milbemycin oxime, killing fleas within 4 hours and preventing egg production. It has been administered to over 70 million dogs as of 2013, highlighting its widespread use. The medication is available in flavored, chewable tablets for dogs and puppies 8 weeks of age or older and 5 pounds of body weight or greater. For more details, you can visit the Trifexis page on Drugs.com.
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