That's a tricky one. No single product is perfect for all dogs against all parasites. It depends on your dog's age, lifestyle, how well they take medication (pet compliance!), and even where you live. 

Good news! All products in the Joii shop are effective against adult fleas. Spot-ons kill fleas on contact within 48 hours - no biting needed so less irritation. Some, like Effipro and Frontline Plus, also stop flea larvae from developing into adults, helping prevent reinfestations.

Frontline, Frontline Spray, Frontline Plus, Frontpro, Effipro and the Seresto collar all protect against ticks. And if harvest mites are a problem - the tiny red monsters with a maddeningly itchy bite! - Frontline Spray is your best bet.

Advantage isn’t effective against ticks. But, unlike some other spot-ons, it's safe for pet rabbits. It uses a different ingredient to other spot-ons, so may be a good option if you want to try something ‘different’’

Spot-ons are easy-to-use and some are water resistant, but you’ll still need to avoid bathing and swimming for 48 hours after application. If your fur baby is a ‘water baby', a tablet flea and tick treatment like Frontline Pro might be better. This tasty tablet kills fleas and ticks quickly, lasting up to 8 weeks against fleas and 4 for ticks.

Generally speaking, spot-ons protect for up to 4 weeks, Frontpro tablets a little longer for fleas. The Seresto collar provides 7-8 months of continuous flea and tick protection.

Ultimately, the choice is yours!. But remember, the ‘best dog flea and tick control’ is a complete approach.

• Use a household spray to stop fleas multiplying in your home 
• Use vet-approved preventives all year-round and as directed.
• Treat ALL pets in the house.
• Groom your dog daily and check for ticks, fleas, or flea dirt. And have a tick-removing tool handy to deal with your dog’s unwanted visitors!

Not long! How long your dog stays clear of fleas and ticks without treatment depends on factors such as living conditions, housemates, their coat type and immune defences. But unless they live on the moon, it won't be long before the pesky parasites move in. It only takes your dig picking up a single flea on a walk to bring the problem home and rapidly escalate. Playing with other dogs, sharing a house with an outdoor roaming cat, brushing through the long grass on a walk all contribute to the flea risk. And the problem doesn’t go away in winter. A warmer climate means we’re seeing ticks all tear round- in cities as well as the countryside. And central heating ensures fleas will continue to hatch and develop in your home all through winter.

How long flea and tick medicine lasts depends on the product. The Joii shop spot-ons offer up to 4 weeks of protection against both fleas, and ticks (where applicable). Fipro tablets last up to 8 weeks against fleas and 4 for ticks, while the Seresto collar lasts 7-8 months for both. But it’s worth bearing in mind that factors like problems with application, swimming and heavy infestations can all reduce effectiveness and duration of action.

• Use flea and tick preventives exactly as directed
• Avoid bathing your dogs within 48 hours of applying a spot on. Consider alternatives for frequent swimmers.  
• Treat the house and all household pets to reduce the reinfestation risk of infestations 
• Finding a flea or tick on a treated pet doesn’t necessarily mean the product is ineffective. Fleas die within 24 hours and ticks within 48, but their fate is sealed as soon as they make contact with the preventative. Ticks are dead before they can spread disease.

The Joii shop has a complete range of Flea and tick medicine to suit dogs of all ages, sizes and lifestyles. Many of these are available to buy directly from our shop without a prescription. Some stronger products that treat worms as well as fleas and ticks, are available ‘on prescription’. You can buy these directly from your vet or ask them to provide you with a written prescription. Vets make a charge for preparing this prescription, but it allows you to shop for the products online for up to a year of parasite prevention for your dog.

And remember, our expert team of Joii Vets is available 24/7 to offer expert advice if you're unsure which product is right for your dog.

Generally speaking, most flea and tick products in the Joii are safe to use from 8 weeks old. But always check the manufacturer’s guidelines and your puppy’s weight to maximise safety. 

It's a strong possibility that young puppies will catch fleas.. Unweaned puppies can get fleas from their mum and any other visiting or household pets. If fleas are in the house, beds and bedding may all be infested. 

The risk of getting ticks is low until they venture outside for the first time. But fleas are particularly dangerous to puppies because of their small size and  weak immune systems. Puppies can suffer from dangerously severe flea infestations. “Dangerous” because fleas feed on the puppy’s blood. And in a small puppy, a heavy flea burden may lead to anaemia and death.

There’s no upper age for flea and tick medicine, although other health concerns may influence the choice of medicine. Like puppies, older dogs have weaker immune system and a greater risk from fleas and ticks.

Always check the manufacturer’s guidelines and your puppy’s weight to maximise safety. For younger puppies or if you have any specific concerns, the Joii team is available 24/7 for expert individual advice about safe options for your dog.