Flea & Tick

Stephanie Howe, DVM

PetMD’s medications content was written and reviewed by veterinary professionals to answer your most common questions about how medications function, their side effects, and what species they are prescribed...

Veronica Higgs, DVM

What Is Flea and Tick Medicine Poisoning in Cats?Some pet flea and tick medications—including topical sprays, dips, and shampoos—contain pyrethrin and/or pyrethroid. Pyrethrin and pyrethroid may also be found in insecticidal agricultural and home products. Pyrethrin is an insecticide derived from Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium (“mum”) flowers. Pyrethrins are safe to...

PetMD Editorial

Knowing where fleas live, both in and around your home, can help you cut off an infestation at the source. See our step-by-step guide to making your house inhospitable to fleas. You won't be sorry! 

PetMD Editorial

Where Do Ticks Hide?Ticks can pose a serious threat to our pets and their health. Ticks can spread diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. To help prevent your pet from getting infected...

PetMD Editorial

You are probably aware of the fact that fleas are the most common (and annoying) type of pest, responsible for the discomfort of our dogs and cats (and us). But did you know that there are over 2,000 species...

JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

With the start of spring, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief that the tight grip of winter has finally given way to warmer temperatures. However, with warmer temperatures comes the nuisance of fleas...