Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- All dogs should be on a flea and tick preventive year-round, regardless of how much time they spend outdoors.
- Our vets recommend Simparica Trio for most dogs — a monthly chewable that covers fleas, ticks, heartworm disease, and intestinal parasites in one dose.
- Before starting Simparica Trio, your dog will need a heartworm test, which can happen at the same visit.
Fleas and ticks are easy to underestimate until your dog is already dealing with them. Beyond the itching and discomfort, both can transmit diseases that are genuinely serious. Prevention is straightforward, effective, and much easier than treating an infestation or illness after the fact.
Here's what to know before your dog's next visit.
Why Do Fleas and Ticks Pose a Risk to Dogs?
Fleas are one of the most common causes of itching and skin irritation in dogs. But beyond the discomfort, fleas and ticks can both transmit diseases that go well beyond a surface-level nuisance. Ticks in particular are responsible for transmitting illnesses like Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections that can have lasting health consequences.
Keeping your dog on a consistent preventive is the most reliable way to break that chain before it starts.
What Is the Best Flea and Tick Prevention for Dogs?
Our vets almost always recommend Simparica Trio for dogs. It's a flavored monthly chewable that covers fleas, ticks, heartworm disease, and intestinal parasites all in one dose, making it the simplest and most comprehensive option for most dogs.
Because Simparica Trio includes heartworm prevention, your vet will need to confirm your dog is heartworm-negative with a simple blood test before prescribing it. This is standard veterinary practice — giving a heartworm preventive to a dog that already has heartworms can cause a serious reaction. If your dog is current on heartworm testing, you're good to go. If not, that test will happen at the same visit.
Do Dogs Need Flea and Tick Prevention Year-Round?
Yes. Fleas and ticks remain active longer than most people expect, and in many parts of California, Texas, and Colorado where Modern Animal has clinics, the season can stretch well beyond summer. Stopping prevention during cooler months creates a gap in protection that's easy to avoid with a consistent monthly routine.
How Do I Stay on Top of Monthly Flea and Tick Prevention?
Consistency is what makes these products work. Simparica Trio is available through autoship in the Modern Animal app. Set it up once and have your dog's prevention delivered to your door on schedule, so staying current doesn't require remembering to reorder.
How Much Does Flea and Tick Prevention Cost for Dogs?
Prevention costs vary depending on your dog's size and where you live. Pricing for Simparica Trio can be found in the pharmacy hub in the Modern Animal app. For a full breakdown of service and product pricing at Modern Animal, visit modernanimal.com/pricing. Everything is listed transparently so you know what to expect.
Keep Your Dog Protected Year-Round
Flea and tick prevention is one of the simplest, most consistent things you can do for your dog's health. If your dog isn't currently on a preventive, or if you want to confirm what they're on is the right fit, bring it up at your next wellness visit.
If questions come up before then, Modern Animal All Access and Essential members can reach our team anytime through 24/7 Virtual Care.
