What safe OTC flea & tick for my small long-haired chihuahua?

I would recommend Frontline plus as it is the safest for dogs that small. Also, I believe comfortis has a size for really small dogs but this product only controls fleas, not ticks. I hope this 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.

Treating fleas in such tiny pups is definitely a challenge! You can try bathing Dallas in original blue Dawn dish soap to initially kill off any adult fleas. Just be sure to rinse and dry him well so that he doesn't get too cold. While it's not my favorite flea preventive in terms of how well it works, Frontline spray is the only over the counter product available for such tiny pups. Given his young age, I assume that Dallas will be going to his vet in the coming days or weeks for booster vaccinations. During this appointment, your vet will be able to weigh him and discuss the flea treatment and preventive options based on his body weight. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Over the counter flea products that are fine to use with sentinel include frontline plus, advantage and Advantix. Just be sure to not bathe your dog a couple days before or after applying any of those products as that can affect how effective they are.

Since it's been at least two weeks since Oreo last received a flea treatment it's fine to apply Frontline or Advantage to him now. Of the two, I recommend Advantage. The best flea treatments are the ones like Frontline or Advantage, I never recommend OTC ones because they are poor quality and do not work well. I hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Buddy. I prefer to use a topical liquid for flea and tick prevention. The reasoning being this will prevent the spread of disease from ticks. All oral products require the patient to actually be bitten by the tick for the prevention to work. The bite is how tick born diseases are spread. My favorite product is Vectra 3D. It also repels mosquitoes so it works in conjunction with your dog's monthly heartworm prevention. This is a huge benefit. It is also effective against lice, certain types of mites and biting flies. Unfortunately, natural products are not going to effective. The diseases spread by ectoparasites can be a serious threat to your pet. A lot of times there are manufacturer rebates available when you purchase Vectra 3D. I hope this information helps!

I do not recommend any flea or tick shampoos, these are usually not safe products and not as long lasting as more modern preventive treatment for fleas and ticks. here is the list of the best flea products on the market. Spot ons: Revoulution Advantage Advantage Multi Frontline (ticks as well) Tablets: Trifexis/comfortis Bravecto (ticks as well) - for dogs Collar: Seresto ( (ticks as well) House spary: Indoorex