Dog on Apoquel: What flea/tick protection won't irritate her skin?

Great question! If Diesel has sensitive skin, I recommend using an oral flea and tick medication. Simparica is an oral flea and tick medication, as is Bravecto and Nexgard. I recommend using one of them. I hope this helps!

There are a few causes for the bumps you are seeing. Fleas are still a possibility. Bravecto is an excellent preventative, but it can still take 3 months for all of the fleas in Elli Mae's environment to die. She could still have a bacterial infection. Sometimes these infections need a second antibiotic or a longer round to effectively treat. I have occasionally used antibiotics for 3-4 weeks to get infection under control. Unfortunately, apoquel does not work very well on an as-needed basis. It works much better when given regularly. It is typically prescribed for twice daily use and tapering to once daily use. It is safe for long-term use. You can also try a medicated shampoo as a treatment, like Dechra DermaBenSs Shampoo which will help to flush the follicles. If the problem continues for another week, I would recommend a re-check with your vet.

If Adam seems to have skin problems secondary to food allergies it is possible that she is reacting to the flavoring in the Bravecto and Interceptor. You may want to look into using unflavored Heartgard and something like a Seresto collar (although this could cause topical skin irritation similar to the Frontline). Unfortunately there is no chemical free heartworm preventative, and most ‘natural’ options for flea prevention contain essential oils that don’t work well and can even cause harm.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I recommend that you try a product called Capstar which can help kill a lot of fleas at once. You can consider switching to another flea preventative product such as Bravecto or Frontline. In the meantime, your veterinarian can consider a medication such as prednisone or Apoquel to help with the itch for now. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! She is adorable! Bravecto is an excellent product and is currently one of the most recommended flea and tick products by veterinary dermatologists. This is what I use for my own dogs and I think would be a great option for Willow. Best of luck!

Skin parasites can range from ticks/fleas where I would suggest a flea/tick preventive such as Seresto collar, Capstar or Bravecto. Bravecto is an oral medication that off-label can also protect from mange and mites. Bravecto can be ordered by your vet and the collar or topical flea/tick preventive is over the counter in the USA. Hope this helps! -Dr. Gordon

Bravecto is generally a very good product and at this point, especially with not seeing any fleas, it’s unlikely that they are the cause of itching. I don’t recommend to apply another product or to give the Bravecto early. Pets can be itchy for many reasons. Itching on the feet can be a sign that she walked through a chemical or plant that may be causing an allergic reaction. Also try to recall if she has had any new foods or treats as that could cause itching too. Lastly, environmental allergies can flare up when our homes are closed up in winter time with the furnace circulating large amounts of dust, dust mites and other indoor allergens. At home you can start her on an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this will help improve skin health. You should also call you veterinarian and ask about antihistamines or if they think she needs something stronger. Bathing her in a oatmeal dog shampoo and conditioner can also help decrease itchiness. Most dogs can be bathed once a week. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.