There’s nothing more exciting than bringing home a new puppy! The first year of your puppy’s life is arguably one of the most important because it sets them up for a healthy, happy life as they age. They should get exercise (but not too much), the best diet possible for their rapidly growing bodies, and just as importantly, protection against parasites.

Once a flea infestation takes hold, it can be difficult to get rid of, and fleas can cause endless irritation to your dog’s skin. Ticks are even more worrisome because they can harbor potentially serious illnesses, both for your pooch and your family. This is why tick and flea protection is vital for your growing pup. However, choosing a medicine that’s safe for young puppies yet effective against these parasites can be challenging and stressful.

Luckily, you’ve come to the right place! We rounded up seven of our favorite tick and flea medicines, complete with in-depth reviews, to help you choose the best option for your new puppy. Let’s get started!

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 7 Best Puppy Flea & Tick Medicines

1. NexGard Chews for Dogs — Best Overall

NexGard Chews for Dogs are vet-recommended, making this our top choice overall. These chewable pills will kill adult fleas before they have a chance to lay eggs and will kill or deter ticks as soon as they bite. The formula is FDA-approved to help prevent Lyme infections and provides safe and effective protection for 1 month. They have a delicious flavor that your dog will love, making them easy to administer, and can be given to puppies starting at 8 weeks old.

These pills are potent and contain the chemical afoxolaner, a member of the isoxazoline class. This is known to cause tremors in some dogs, even those without any history of tremors or seizures, so it is a good idea to speak to a vet if you have any concerns.

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2. ZoGuard Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Dogs — Best Value

ZoGuard Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Dogs is the best flea and tick medicine for the money. This topical formula contains Fipronil (9.8%) and (S)-methoprene (8.8%), both proven to prevent and kill fleas, flea eggs and larvae, chewing lice, and ticks on contact. It also aids in the prevention of the mites that cause sarcoptic mange. It gets to work quickly, lasts for up to a month, and is waterproof, keeping your pooch safe even while they’re wet.

Several customers reported that this formula worked initially but only lasted for a week or two.

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3. Simparica Trio Chewable Tablet for Dogs — Premium Option

For a premium solution to ticks and fleas for your pooch, Simparica Trio Chewable Tablets are great. Offering more than just protection from fleas and ticks alone, these pills contain a trio of ingredients: Moxidectin for heartworms, Sarolaner for ticks and fleas, and Pyrantel for roundworms and hookworms. The formula kills fleas before they can lay eggs, kills five types of ticks, and has a delicious liver flavor that makes administration to your puppy a breeze. It can be used for puppies as young as 8 weeks of age and begins working within 4 hours, and it has 100% efficacy after only 8 hours.

There are possible side effects with this medication, including vomiting, diarrhea, and possibly tremors and seizures in some dogs.

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4. Capstar Flea Oral Treatment for Dogs

Capstar Flea Oral Treatment for dogs is fast-acting, begins working within 30 minutes, and kills 90% of fleas within 4 hours. The pills contain the ingredient nitenpyram, which is safe and effective for both adults and puppies as young as 4 weeks. Capstar claims that one dose should do the trick, but it can be given to your dog up to once a day if they get fleas again. The leftover pills can be stored and will keep their potency, and you can give your pooch a pill once a month to prevent re-infestation.

While this product is effective on fleas, it doesn’t work for ticks and other parasites. Also, it doesn’t kill all life stages of fleas, so you’ll likely need to keep redosing, which can be both frustrating and expensive.

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5. Frontline Plus Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Small Dogs

Frontline has long been the go-to name in tick and flea prevention for pet parents, and for good reason. Frontline Plus Spot Treatment kills adult fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, chewing lice, and ticks and is formulated with fipronil and (S)-methoprene, ingredients proven to be highly effective against infestations. The solution is fast-acting and lasts up to 30 days, and it is completely waterproof after 24 hours.

While Frontline is one of the most trusted names in flea and tick prevention, it comes at a price and is an expensive product. Also, some customers reported that the solution caused irritation on the application site, resulting in itchiness and redness.

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6. K9 Advantix II Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Dogs

K9 Advantix II Spot Treatment is a broad-spectrum, vet-recommended solution specifically formulated to repel and kill fleas, ticks, and mosquitos on contact. The solution is effective against all life stages of fleas, as well as lice and biting flies, and is 100% waterproof and effective for up to 4 weeks. The formula begins working within 12 hours and contains the active ingredients imidacloprid, permethrin, and pyriproxyfen, all proven to prevent flea and tick infestations.

Several customers reported that this solution caused irritation on the application area of their dog, causing persistent itchiness for a few days.

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7. Vectra Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Dogs

Vectra Flea & Tick Spot Treatment repels and kills on contact fleas, mosquitoes, biting sand flies, mites (excluding mange mites), and ticks, including brown dog ticks, American dog ticks, deer ticks, gulf coast ticks, and lone star ticks. The waterproof formula is quick-drying and fast-acting and gets to work within minutes of application, and it can be used on puppies as young as 8 weeks old. It contains the active ingredients dinotefuran, pyriproxyfen, and permethrin, all proven to protect against flea and tick infestations.

A handful of customers reported that this solution didn’t work at all on their puppies or worked for a week or so only, and they had fleas and ticks again a week or two after application. Also, it caused skin irritation in some dogs at the application site.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Puppy Flea and Tick Medicine

There are several important factors to consider after bringing home your new puppy, including vaccinations, training, socialization, and, finally, flea and tick prevention. Most flea and tick medications on the market are only suitable for puppies at around 8 weeks old, so this is the perfect time to begin preventative care, especially if you live in an area where your new pup can easily pick up ticks and fleas.

There are various flea and tick preventatives on the market, most commonly found in the form of shampoos, sprays, collars, chewable tablets, and spot treatments. While collars do have some effect on dogs, spot treatments and pills are the most popular and, arguably, the most effective products, especially for puppies. Chew pills are a breeze to administer because they are usually flavored to entice your pup into eating them, while spot treatments can be a bit tricky to apply on a bouncy puppy!

Puppies are at a vulnerable stage in their development, so you’ll want to prevent any flea and tick infestations from taking hold, but you’ll also want the medication that you use to be as safe as possible. Let’s look at a few points to consider when choosing flea and tick medicine for your pooch.

Are Flea and Tick Medications Safe for Puppies?

In general, as long as you stick to the recommended age and weight guidelines provided by the manufacturer, flea and tick medications are perfectly safe to use on puppies. Of course, all dogs are unique, and some dogs may have adverse reactions to certain medications. These side effects usually occur within 1 and 12 hours after administration and will vary depending on the type of medication used. Common side effects include:

If you notice any adverse reactions in your puppy, contact your vet straight away. If you’ve used a spot treatment, it’s recommended to wash the area with gentle soap and warm water. Most dogs recover easily and quickly from adverse reactions, though, and the majority of dogs don’t have reactions at all. Many of these reactions come from not following label directions, so it is vital to read the instructions carefully, not administer the medication too often, and make sure the medication is correct for your dog’s age and weight.

Is Flea and Tick Medication Necessary?

Fleas and ticks are not only uncomfortable for your pooch but can also cause potentially serious illnesses. Fleas are among the leading causes of tapeworms because the larvae are carried onto your dog by fleas, and they can cause skin allergies and irritation. Ticks can cause various illnesses, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis.

Flea and tick medication can go a long way toward preventing these illnesses, but you’ll also need to treat your home to prevent the life cycle of fleas from continuing. Always check your dog for fleas and ticks after walks, and make sure to carefully remove any attached ticks. In most cases, ticks need to remain attached for 36–48 hours or more to transmit disease, but the quicker that you get rid of them, the better.

Conclusion

NexGard Chews for Dogs are vet-recommended and our top choice overall for flea and tick prevention. These chewable pills will kill adult fleas and ticks as soon as they bite, are FDA-approved to help prevent Lyme disease, and have a delicious flavor that your puppy will love, making them easy to administer.

ZoGuard Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Dogs is the best flea and tick medicine for the money. This topical formula contains ingredients proven to prevent and kill fleas, flea eggs and larvae, chewing lice, and ticks on contact, lasts for up to 1 month, and is 100% waterproof.

For a premium solution to getting rid of ticks and fleas on your pooch, Simparica Trio Chewable Tablets are ideal. These pills contain a trio of helpful ingredients: Moxidectin for heartworms, Sarolaner for ticks and fleas, and Pyrantel for roundworms and hookworms. They have a delicious liver flavor that makes administration to your puppy a breeze.

Bringing a new puppy home can be stressful all on its own, and making sure they are protected from fleas and ticks can add to the burden. Luckily, there are proven solutions, and we hope that our in-depth reviews have narrowed those solutions and helped you find the best tick and flea medicine for your new pup!

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Featured Image Credit: Varvara Serebrova, Shutterstock