Are tick preventatives poisonous? Is it better to use "natural" products?

Tick preventatives are poisonous to ticks in order to kill them. Most tick preventatives affect the nervous system of the tick so that it paralyses it, resulting in death. The products available at your veterinary clinic have been developed so that they can kill ticks but minimally affect dogs and cats.

Veterinary tick preventatives (in difference to for example dietary supplements) have been carefully tested and the side effects documented. Information regarding potential side effects is found in the accompanying information leaflet. The leaflet also contains other important details about the product. It is therefore advised to read the leaflet prior to using the product. If you do not understand the information or are unsure what is stated in the leaflet you can contact us or a local pharmacist. ALL medications have side effects, which is why many require prescriptions by medical professionals, as well as are sold at pharmacies by educated, legally registered staff.

Natural products and dietary supplements do not undergo the same kind of rigorous testing that medications, such as tick preventatives, do. This is why there are not as many side effects listed because the products have not undergone as intense scrutiny and testing. In other words, it is often unknown exactly what types of side effects they can have. Since natural products and dietary supplements also do not undergo larger studies it is not known how effective they are (if they even have an effect at all).

Some natural products against ticks contain garlic. It is very important to NEVER administer products containing garlic to dogs or cats since garlic is poisonous and can have serious outcomes if consumed.