Best Pest Control for Your Dog

It’s summer! If your dog loves to swim, finding effective waterproof pest control products can be challenging. Check out the pros and cons of waterproof options plus tips to maximize their effectiveness below.

Topical Products

Apply waterproof topical products at least 48 hours before swimming or bathing. Better yet, don’t bathe your dog for at least 48 hours before application. This ensures plenty of natural skin oil to help evenly distribute the pest control on your dog’s body, forming a protective barrier. Now, some experts say 12 hours. I’m a bit old school, as I was taught 48 hours from several product vendors while I was working as a vet tech. Plus, waiting until topical solutions dry before swimming in lakes decreases toxic exposure to fish and other wildlife.

After application, take your dog on a short walk. Walking helps topical products migrate your dog’s body and prevents dogs from rubbing applied product off onto carpet or grass. If you must bathe your dog, use a gentle detergent-free shampoo that doesn’t strip your dog’s skin of oils, moisture or topical pest control.

In my experience, Frontline Plus does a great job killing ticks and fleas for 30 days even during constant exposure to baths and swimming pools.

RELATED: Natural Pest Control for Your Home

Pills

Oral pest control products are truly waterproof options. They can’t be washed off and are effective for several weeks. My only concern is fleas and ticks must bite a dog before dying. For some dogs, just one flea bite sends them into a scratching frenzy and, worse yet, lead to flea bite dermatitis. Not all oral products kill ticks.

There’s a new product in town and it’s called NexGard, which claims to kill both fleas and ticks by “excreting through your pet’s metabolism.” I haven’t used this product before so I’m not able to provide an honest review, but it seems like a viable option for frequent canine swimmers.

Collars

With pest control collars making a comeback, there are many options to choose from. However, most collars are not waterproof and can easily be pulled off by branches. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate a waterproof option that kills pests effectively. If you have a favorite, by all means, let me know in the comment section below so we can share with others. 🙂

Natural Products

These options do work. However, they must be constantly applied and reapplied, depending on exposure. By far, my favorite is Dr. Ben’s Paw & Claw Cedar Oil. When sprayed, it works quickly. However, some dogs really dislike the intense aroma and may drool excessively. If this happens, discontinue use.

Cedar oil not only kills and repels fleas, it’s also very effective against ticks, gnats and mosquitoes. Apply cedar oil after swimming to kill any pests that may have come into contact with your dog while swimming and protect him once out of the water. Cedar oil is not harmful to the environment, but it’s not recommend for use on cats.

Re-Infestation Depends on Your Climate

Yes, choosing waterproof options and following best practices will certainly keep pests at bay, but product longevity depends on exposure and where you live. Dogs swimming in Canada could probably remain pest-free for 30 days when a topical product is used. Dogs in Louisiana wearing topical pest products may not see the same effectiveness compared to dogs in Canada due to the greater number of pests in the area.

Hopefully, these products and best practices will keep your dog pest-free this summer. Stay cool!