Best Flea and Tick Treatment
and Prevention for Mastiffs

by Ken Alden

What is the best flea and tick treatment and prevention for Mastiffs? Does one stand taller than the rest or are they pretty much all the same? 

As any owner knows, seeing your gentle giant scratch like crazy due to fleas isn't an easy thing to witness. Yet when that time comes to deal with these 6 legged buggers (ticks have 8 legs) you should know the best products to eliminate them quickly before your Mastiff scratches itself raw or worse gets infected.

The Best Flea And Tick Treatment And Prevention Include...

• Bayer K9 Advantix II
• Seresto Flea & Tick Collar for Large Dogs
• TropiClean Natural Flea & Tick Shampoo
• Adams Flea and Tick Carpet Powder

This article will go into detail about how to identify flea and tick infestations, steps you can take to prevent and minimize them, and the best products available to use.

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How to Identify Flea and Tick Problems

Though people may know that fleas and ticks are problems for animals and humans alike, not everyone knows how to identify an infestation of them or why they're a big deal.

Fleas can cause flea allergy dermatitis, a serious allergic reaction that happens when a dog has fleas. This condition causes sores and pustules that make your dog itch intensely. Fleas also transmit tapeworms, which are both dangerous and contagious to animals and humans alike.

It's important to know the difference between fleas and ticks, as prevention and removal may differ. Many products nowadays, though, offer protection from both parasites. Some even offer heartworm protection.

A simple technique to prevent parasites like fleas and ticks is to rush your mastiff after they spend time with other dogs. If you take your dog to a dog park or they see other dogs in the neighborhood, they can get infested. And this can happen even if you have a regular brushing and bathing routine! Constant vigilance is required to keep fleas and ticks at bay. Read More Below...

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Every time you brush your mastiff, be on the lookout for fleas and ticks. Fleas look like black specks about the size of a rice grain that often jump around on animals. This can make them tougher to identify than ticks. If you notice your dog itching or black and red spots on their coat, you may want to check further for parasites. Larvae, especially, can lead to a full-blown infestation.

Ticks, on the other hand, attach themselves to animals (and people!) in one spot and engorge themselves on blood. If allowed to fester, a small tick can grow to an alarmingly large size. Be careful when checking for ticks, as they carry disease and latch onto humans as well. You'll need to inspect your mastiff more closely for ticks than fleas - try a flea comb and check for both!

Gently brush your comb across your dog's coat, making sure you don't press into their skin. If you happen to press into a tick, it can crush its body into your dog and release harmful bacteria. Deer ticks are especially dangerous because they're smaller than other ticks. Deer ticks carry Lyme's Disease, which can be deadly to humans and dogs alike.

If you don't identify any bugs shallowly combing, try a little deeper, but not so deep that you press into the dog's skin. If you don't identify any ticks, your dog might be safe. Fleas can also lay larva in your dog's coat that is hard to identify.

If you identify an infestation of either fleas or ticks or both, there are steps you can take to kill the bugs and prevent them from reproducing and coming back. Even if you aren't sure if your mastiff has bugs or not, prevention options will give you peace of mind. flea and tick treatment and prevention for mastiffs.

Pro-tip: Mastiff's (and their owners) love dog crates…and for good reasons. Crates keep dogs from mischief while you're away, are perfect for house training, for traveling by car, and provide the dog a place to de-stress. Check out the best Mastiff crates on Amazon.com now.

Best Flea and Tick Treatment and Prevention
for Mastiffs Products

Bayer's K9 Advantix II for Large Dogs
from Amazon.com

Bayer's K9 Advantix II is a topical gel-based treatment option that both kills and repels fleas and ticks. Other top flea and tick gels only kill bugs, so Advantix takes the cake. Some pros and cons are listed below.

Pros

• Waterproof 24 hours after application
• Kills and repels fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes
• Simple application makes using it a breeze

Cons

• Can be washed off in the first 24 hours after application
• Can't be used around cats
• Harmful if ingested, so be careful if you have multiple dogs that lick each other
  
  

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Seresto Flea & Tick Collar
from Amazon.com

The Seresto Flea & Tick Collar is a great choice if you don't want to deal with regular applications of medicine. Some key features are listed below.

Pros

• Repels and kills fleas, ticks, and lice
• Effective for up to 8 months
• Non-greasy
• Odorless
• Safety latch if your dog catches the collar on something

Cons

• Being collar-based, it may not be as effective in other body parts
• Medicine from the collar can get on you and may not be suitable around children
  
  

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TropiClean Natural Flea and Tick Shampoo
from Amazon.com

TropiClean Shampoo uses natural ingredients to kill fleas and ticks while containing cocoa that nourishes your dog's skin. This may be ideal if you're concerned about harsh chemicals in treatments.

Pros

• Kills fleas and ticks on contact with natural ingredients
• No harsh chemicals
• Repels fleas, ticks, and larvae for up to 7 days
• Doesn't wash away gel-based treatments if they're over 24 hours old
• Pleasant scent left behind

Cons

• Not as long-lasting as chemical-based treatments
• May wash away gel treatments if used within 24 hours of each other
  
  

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Adams Flea and Tick Carpet Powder
from Amazon.com

If you’re concerned about any fleas and ticks present on your Mastiff getting into your carpet, this powder will ensure your carpet remains pest-free. 

Pros

• Prevents fleas and ticks from breeding in your carpet
• Long term preventative measure
• Kills fleas, ticks, and larvae in all stages
• Easy to use
• Leaves a citrus scent

Cons

• Not an actual treatment
  
  

Best Flea and Tick Treatment and Prevention for Mastiffs...Final Thoughts

Fleas and ticks may be an unsettling discovery on your mastiff, but don't lose hope! As you can see, there exist some fantastic preventative medicines and acute treatments for killing bugs and keeping them away. 

For a topical, gel-based treatment, consider Bayer's K9 Advantix II. This product has a slight edge over competitors because Advantix alone repels insects as well as kills them - the competing Frontline Plus, for example, does not.

If you fancy the idea of a collar you can simply put on your mastiff and forget about, try the Seresto Flea & Tick Collar. It may not be as efficient at treating your dog's entire body because the medicine concentrates around the neck, but it offers protection for 8 months.

As a simple, easy preventative measure, use Adams Flea and Tick Carpet Powder. It won't treat your dog directly, but it stops the parasites from living and breeding in your carpet. This is best used with more acute treatment.

If you're concerned about harsh chemicals in bug treatments, TropiClean Natural Flea & Tick Shampoo is for you. Used regularly with other measures, it will keep your dog smelling and feeling great.

As a final, acute treatment, Capstar Fast-Acting Oral Tablets kill fleas and ticks within 30 minutes and kill 90% within hours. Used with other preventative treatments, it can help solve your mastiff's infestation for good.

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I’m Ken Alden. This website
is a labor of love from years of research and personal experiences with Mastiffs.

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