Spring 2025 brought not only warm days, but also a dangerous surge in tick activity. Due to the atypically mild winter and wet weather, the number of these parasites has grown to critical levels. Already from the first minutes of a walk ticks can be on the fur of the animal – and not only in the forests or parks, but even near the house. Literally: you go out on the grass and the tick is already on your dog’s body.

What’s the danger? A tick bite can transmit dangerous diseases to your pet: babesiosis, anaplasmosis, borreliosis, ehrlichiosis. Some of them affect the liver, blood, immune system, and some of them can develop lightning fast – no chance if you miss the time. And if dogs are still more or less known, the risk for cats is often forgotten. And for nothing: ticks do not distinguish whom to bite – and a cat walking on the street or dacha is also in the risk zone.

That is why today the main question of every owner is not as before “whether to protect”, but “with what and how to do it effectively”.

The most effective means of protection: experience and reviews

In Ukraine there are enough good means against ticks, but it is important to choose the right one for your animal. Here are the proven options recommended by groomers and veterinarians and actively used by our clients:

  • Drops on the withers
    This is the most common and convenient method. Among the best:
    Advantix (Bayer) – powerful protection against ticks, dog ear mites, fleas, mosquitoes;
    Vectra 3D – wide spectrum of action, fast effect;
    Stronghold Plus – a universal option that is suitable even for cats.
    Drops act systemically: they spread over the skin, are not absorbed into the blood, and paralyze parasites on contact.

  • Collars
    Ideal for long-term protection:
    Foresto (up to 8 months) – most popular in Europe, odorless, water resistant;
    Scalibor – works well against ticks and mosquitoes, but has a slight odor.
    Advantage – you do not need to remember about monthly treatment, as in the case of drops, but not everyone they help. Especially if it’s a subcutaneous tick in a dog.

  • Sprays
    Ideal for quick protection before a walk:
    Beaphar, Frontline – treatment before leaving the house, especially for paws, belly, neck.
    But sprays do not last long, so they are better used as an additional protection.

  • Tablets (only in consultation with a veterinarian)
    Bravecto, Simparica, NexGard – meat-flavored tablets, act from the inside, destroy ticks after the bite.
    This is a powerful but not always necessary option – you need to assess the animal’s health and weight.

Important: do not combine multiple remedies without consulting a veterinarian. More does not mean better.

Folk methods against ticks: myth or additional insurance?

Despite the abundance of modern means, some owners still prefer natural solutions. But it is important to understand: no folk method does not replace full-fledged protection, but can only strengthen it.

Most often used:

  • Essential oils: tea tree, lavender, cloves, eucalyptus – drop on the collar or dissolve in water as a spray.

  • Infusions of wormwood, peppermint, calendula: spray before a walk to lightly repel parasites.

  • Vinegar solution (apple cider vinegar 1:1 with water) – for wiping the coat (not suitable for sensitive skin).

Such methods can reduce the probability of a tick bite, but do not protect the animal completely, and especially will not help in places of mass accumulation of ticks. Therefore, they are acceptable only as auxiliary to the main protection.

Conclusion

In the season when ticks are more active than ever, protection of your tail is not a matter of desire, but a direct necessity. Every day we are contacted by dog and cat owners who have already encountered the problem – and almost always it starts with the thought of “just a walk near the house”. Unfortunately, that’s enough.

Modern means of protection give an effective barrier – the main thing is to choose them correctly and apply them regularly. Folk methods can be a useful addition, but not a replacement. And the earlier you take care of prevention, the less chance of being in a situation where you have to save your pet under the drip.

At V.O.G DOG SALON we see a lot of things: skin condition, presence of parasites, alarming symptoms of tick bite in dogs. We’re there to make sure we don’t miss a single threat – and to help you keep the one you love most healthy.