American Dog Tick, Vector of: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Brown Dog Tick, Vector of: Ehrlichiosis Lone Star Tick (note the "star" on the belly), Vector of: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Deer Tick or Black-legged tick, Vector of: Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), and Anaplasmosis (Anaplasma platys)

Confused about tick protection? This FAQ compares the currently available tick control products to assist you in determining which is right for your situation. These are products made by reputable major pharmaceutical companies and most are available only through licensed veterinarians. Because there are 13 different products compared in 14 different categories, we have split up the information into 3 separate tables

Table 1:	Tick killing ingredient; Format (topical, collar or spray); For dogs or cats; Approved against which ticks Youngest age or size approved for use; How long one application lasts
Table 2:	Waterproof or water resistant; Approved for pregnancy or lactation (nursing); How long until maximum effect against ticks is reached; Other parasites killed, controlled or repelled; Other active ingredients
Table 3:	Prescription drug or insecticide; LD50 (lethal dose to 50% of the population); Manufacturer and product website; Additional cautions

TABLE 1 Tick Killing Ingredient Format For dogs or cats? Approved against which ticks Youngest Age Approved How long One Application Lasts K9Advantix Permethrin Topical Dogs only all shown above 7 weeks 1 month Revolution Selamectin Topical Feline product available but not labeled against ticks American Dog Tick only 6 weeks 1 month Scalibor Collar Deltamethrin Collar Dogs only Brown Dog Tick, American Dog Tick, and Deer Ticks 12 weeks 6 months Preventic Collar Amitraz Collar Dogs only all shown above 12 weeks up to 90 days Frontline, Fiproguard, PetArmor, EasySpot (cats), Parastar (dogs) Fipronil Topical or spray Dogs and Cats all shown above 8 weeks 1 month Vectra 3D, SimpleGuard 3*, FirstShield Trio* Permethrin Topical Dogs only (feline product does not include a tick ingredient) all shown above 7 weeks and 2.5 lbs 1 month Certifect Fipronil and Amitraz Topical Dogs only all shown above 8 weeks and 5 lbs 1 month

TABLE 2 Waterproof or water resistant? Approved for Pregnancy and Lactation? Time to Reach Maximum Effect Other parasites controlled or repelled: Other active ingredients: K9Advantix water resistant No 98% dead within 48 hours fleas, flies, mosquitoes imidocloprid Revolution water proof Yes 48 hours ear mites, fleas, sarcoptic mange mites, heartworm none Scalibor Collar water resistant (remove collar for bathing) Not specifically labeled against, veterinary consultation recommended 2 - 3 weeks fleas killed, flies and mosquitoes repelled none Preventic Collar water resistant (remove collar for bathing) Not specifically labeled against, veterinary consultation recommended 100% dead in less than 24 hours none none Frontline, Fiproguard, PetArmor, EasySpot (cats), Parastar (dogs) water proof Yes for topspot, no for spray 24 - 48 hours fleas methoprene in Frontline Plus, Fiproguard Plus and PetArmor Plus Vectra 3D SimpleGuard 3*, FirstShield Trio* water resistant No 98% dead within 48 hours fleas, flies, mosquitoes dinotefuran, pyriproxifen (former kills fleas, latter sterilizes them until former product kills them) Certifect water resistant Yes 18 hours fleas methoprene

TABLE 3 Prescription Drug or Insecticide? Toxicity/LD 50 (what is LD 50?) Manufacturer & product web site Additional Cautions K9Advantix insecticide Imidacloprid Dermal Dose: >5,000 mg/kg in rats Imidacloprid Orally: 450 mg/kg in rats >4,000 mg/kg in rats for Permethrin Bayer Permethrin is toxic to cats, use feline product only for cats. Avoid cat/dog snuggling. Revolution prescription drug >1,600 mg/kg in rats Pfizer Dog should test negative for heartworm before using Scalibor Collar insecticide oral LD 50 for dogs is 300 mg/kg, the dermal LD 50 in the rat is greater than 2,940 mg/kg Merck Deltamethrin is toxic to cats. Avoid cat/dog snuggling. Preventic Collar insecticide > 2,000 mg/kg in rats for Amitraz Virbac Amitraz is associated with an assortment of drug interactions, check with your vet. Also, collar is toxic if swallowed. Frontline, Fiproguard, PetArmor, EasySpot (cats), Parastar (dogs) insecticide Fipronil Dermal Dose: >5,000 mg/kg in rats Fipronil Orally: 750 mg/kg in rats Methoprene Orally: >34,600 in rats (virtually non-toxic) Merial Sentry Fidopharm Novartis Novartis none Vectra 3D SimpleGuard 3*, FirstShield Trio* insecticide >2,400 mg/kg in rats for Dinotefuran, >4,000 mg/kg in rats for topical Permethrin Summit Permethrin is toxic to cats, use feline product only for cats. Avoid cat/dog snuggling. Certifect insecticide > 2,000 mg/kg in rats for Amitraz Fipronil Dermal Dose: >5,000 mg/kg in rats Fipronil Orally: 750 mg/kg in rats Merial Amitraz is associated with an assortment of drug interactions

As of spring 2011, Pfizer has discontinued the manufacture of Promeris (active ingredients: amitraz and metaflumizone)

For general tick information including how to remove ticks, U.S. maps showing prevalence of tick-borne disease, and other general information, please visit:     www.dogsandticks.com