A little girl does homework on the floor while her small dogs watches

Why Is Tick Protection for Dogs Important?

All dogs are at risk of tick bites. A single tick bite can lead to multiple health concerns, including Lyme disease in dogs. This is why it’s so important to be proactive and do everything you can to reduce your dog’s risk of tick exposure.

A white lab sits on the back deck of a house

Where Can Dogs Get Ticks?

It may not be possible to prevent your dog from encountering ticks. Ticks can be found almost anywhere, including your backyard, so even taking short walks around the neighborhood can put your dog at risk. Luckily, there are simple steps you can take to reduce the number of ticks in and around your home and reduce the risk of tick encounters. An easy way to protect your dog is to start tick protection early and administer it all year long.

How to Protect Your Dog from Ticks: 6 Tips

There are plenty of precautions you can take as a pet owner to keep your dog protected from ticks.

1. Avoid tick-prone areas.

Various tick species have different environmental conditions they prefer, but they generally prefer humid climates. The cool, shady cover of densely wooded areas makes a perfect habitat for many species, but ticks are also commonly found in many other places, including your yard or local park. They prefer areas that protect them from drying out (under leaf litter, in tall brush or grass, and around trees or shrubs). When possible, keeping your dog away from tick-infested areas can help reduce tick exposure.¹

2. Keep tick-friendly habitats out of your yard.

Ticks don’t just love the woods.¹ Keep your dog protected from ticks in their own yard by mowing, raking leaves, and removing brush piles on a regular basis—which also helps reduce tick encounters by reducing habitat that is suitable for wildlife hosts such as mice.

3. Know when ticks are most active in your region.

Ticks can be found in all 50 states, and they don’t go away just because it’s cold outside. However, they are more active in some seasons than others.¹ Your veterinarian can tell you more about when peak tick season is in your area.

4. Administer tick protection regularly.

Year-round tick protection is necessary, and it can help prevent Lyme disease in your dog. Be consistent with dosing, even during times of the year when ticks aren’t as active in your area.

5. Treat all pets in your home.

Make sure all pets in your home are treated with tick protection on a regular basis. Treating just one pet is not enough to protect the other animals in your home.

6. Check your dog for ticks regularly.

Protect your dog by performing a thorough tick check every day and removing any ticks that are found.

A black and white dog gets pet on the couch

Check Your Dog For Ticks

To look for ticks on your dog, run your fingers through their fur to feel for small bumps on the skin. Pay special attention to inside the ears, under the tail, under the legs, near the groin, and between the toes.²

What to Do if You Find a Tick on Your Dog

Don’t panic if you find a tick on your dog’s skin. Follow these simple steps to safely and quickly remove ticks from your dog.

Use the right equipment. You should always wear gloves when removing a tick. Use either tweezers or a tick removal tool. Grasp the tick as closely to the skin as possible without pinching your dog. Pull upward in a slow, straight, and steady motion.³

Practice proper cleanup and aftercare. Once the tick has been removed, clean the bite area and your hands thoroughly using rubbing alcohol or soap and water. Clean the tweezers with alcohol as well.³ Store the tick in a small container of alcohol so you can show your vet. Keep an eye on the bite area for the next several days. If it continues to look irritated or infected, make an appointment with your vet.

Protect your dog from ticks with NexGard^® (afoxolaner). Consistent dosing with the #1 vet-recommended flea-and-tick-killing chew⁴ will kill ticks fast. Plus, it kills black-legged ticks, which can help prevent Lyme infections.

— Proper tick care —

A vet using tweezers on a dog's ear to remove a tick

Tips for Easy Tick Protection for Puppies

Use the appropriate dosage for your dog’s weight. NexGard chews are safe for puppies as little as 4 pounds.
Use a veterinarian-approved tick protection product. Your vet can help you select the correct product and dosage to kill ticks on your pup.
Use tick protection products on all dogs in your home. Don’t rely on the treatment of older pets to protect your puppy. Start all dogs on tick protection at 8 weeks or older.

NexGard Chews Offer Protection From the Risks of Ticks for Puppies, Too

Don’t wait until your dog is an adult to start protecting them from ticks. Tick exposure can happen to any dog, regardless of age. That’s why it’s crucial to start your puppy on tick protection as soon as they’re old enough, according to the product label. NexGard chews are safe for puppies as young as 8 weeks old, weighing 4 pounds or more.

Get NexGard Chews for Dogs