Why did my dog throw up after natural flea & tick chew? Is it safe?

Poor pup! Nausea is less common with Nexgard than with some of the other oral flea meds available (such as Comfortis or Trifexis), but can still happen in some dogs. Normally, giving the pill with a meal helps to prevent this, but it doesn't sound like it's helped much for your dog. It normally doesn't matter what type of food you give it with, because the purpose of giving with a meal is to slow absorption of the medication so that it's more gradual - it's the presence of food in the stomach that helps, rather than any specific ingredients. So if this hasn't helped with your pup, you may want to try a different medication next month - the vomiting isn't dangerous and is not a sign of toxicity problems or any other serious issues, but I know it's no fun for either of you to have him vomit every month! He might do better with Bravecto, or a topical flea/tick med such as K9 Advantix.

Yes, the products can be used together. Zodiac flea and tick powder can be quite irritating to a dog's eyes, nose, throat and lungs and is a very harsh chemical, so it is not my favorite method of flea control. I much prefer using a topical spot-op or oral flea and tick prevention which will work better and likely be safer and less irritating for Alice. The oral tablets are safe, but are likely not as effective as the other products on the market. I am attaching a handout below on flea control and a second one that has a link to current flea products on the market for dogs that might be helpful for you. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951999 https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952808 Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

It is possible that Xina had a reaction to the flea collar. If you have not already done so, I would remove the flea collar and wash the fur and skin where the collar was. Many pets will have reactions to flea collars, so I recommend another form of flea preventative. She may also react to topical flea preventatives, so, in her case, it may be best to use a prescription oral preventative from your vet.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. With this much vomiting I would be worried about the possibility of Penelope eating something she shouldn't have, such as a toy or other foreign material, which could have caused a blockage or obstruction of her intestines. The topical flea and tick medication should not cause her to vomit. I recommend offering Penelope a small amount of boiled chicken and rice, and see if she tolerates this. If she vomits this up and/or cannot even keep water down, she should be seen by your veterinarian for x-rays. If she can eat a small amount of this bland diet, I recommend feeding this boiled chicken and rice for the next 2-3 days and slowly transitioning her back to her usual diet. I hope this is helpful!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Heidi. Garlic tablets will not be an effective method of flea and tick control. Furthermore, garlic can actually be toxic to dogs. It can damage the red blood cells. Fleas and ticks can spread diseases to your pet. It is best to use approved products that are known to be safe and effective in controlling them. I hope this information helps!

I occasionally see toxicity issues with some of the over-the-counter topical flea products like Hartz, Sergeant's, etc. - this is more commonly a problem in cats, but can sometimes be an issue with small dogs as well, especially if they've been dosed above their weight range. All of the prescription flea/tick medications currently on the market (Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica, etc.) are quite safe and effective.

Both of those should be safe if applied to the outer coat. However, they will not effectively prevent fleas and ticks. The best way to prevent external parasites is by using a product from your vet. There are newer products like Bravecto and Nexgard that are oral tablets that prevent fleas/ticks for 30 days. This is the best way to keep your dog parasite free.