I would stick with a good flea/tick prevention, I prefer the internal vs the topical. I use Nexgard (monthly dose) or Bravecto (lasts 3 months), both are treats like Heartgard and they love taking it. Some of my friends use the Sorresto collar.

I blindly took the recommedation of my Vet to give Bravecto to my large rescue dog. I then did some research and I will not be giving it to the dog again. You are having your dog ingest a pesticide that lasts for 3 months in their body ... what could go wrong with that long term?

Lots of feedback, from Vets even, that show some pretty bad side effects from the Bravecto. One Vet who has a blog , is very much against it as she has had a few dogs have kidney failure after starting the Bravecto. She is against it because she has no way of telling which dogs will have a bad reaction.

The dose will finally be out of my dog's system this month, so I also need to come up with an alternative. Will probably go with a topical, such as Advantix II.

I've been using Vectra 3D for years and knock on wood my dog has never had fleas or ticks, we are having a real bad year with ticks also, my vet says he's never seen anything like it. I'm in NY, I wonder if its just the east coast?

I just read this morning that NY will be the worse state on the east coast infested with ticks this year

Here's something on Bravecto that people may find interesting. My 3 have never had any side effect from it.

http://www.snopes.com/bravecto-flea-and-tick-warning/

Thank you!

My3Dogs - where in Maine are you? I am a bit north of Skowhegan. Luckily I haven't seen any deer ticks here so far. In NJ where I used to live they were everywhere.

Very interesting, its just like humans, some can take certain meds with no side effects and others have real bad side effects. I always trust snopes too

I'm near Portland. Just taking a break from lawn mowing to have lunch, and I am wearing long pants tucked into my socks (I know - awful fashion image) but a friend was helping me a few weeks ago wearing shorts and had ticks on his legs when he finished. Here's an article from the Portland paper last month -

http://www.pressherald.com/2016/04/11/deer-ticks-already-out-in-force-in-maine/

Yup I rock that chic look myself when I garden. Next purchase tick related is some gators and maybe a hat from this company for me. My dog has two jackets which seem pretty effective.

https://www.dognotgone.com/

I'm another Bravecto fan. Both of my bulldogs have been on it for at least two years now. I don't give it in the colder months, but come April, they're back on it.
One of mine had a reaction to Frontline so no topicals.

I'm also in NY.

Spoke to a friend who is a pharmaceutical rep for Merck (for humans) and has a good understanding of clinical trials, etc. I'm assuming she has some "inside" information too. She will not give her dogs Bravecto until it has been on the market much longer.

My3dogs -your Brittany is beautiful. May I ask did you get her in Maine? My parents have had Brittany's for 40 years. Put their last one (whom they have for over 15 years) to sleep last year. They are looking to maybe get another one. They love near Biddeford Maine, just south of you. Any help would be appreciated.

i've been using frontline plus on my 3 danes and it has been working well. they still come in with ticks but they die as soon as they bite. too bad we can't use that stuff on ourselves. just this morning, i found a tick on myself, on my back right where my pants are around my waist. it itches like crazy!!