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Dogs and cats can get sick from tick bites, and they can carry the disease-carrying arachnids into your home
As your dog goes on a joyful run through the woods or a park, its body is the perfect height to pick up a hungry tick, which can make your pet sick or give the tick a free ride home.
Experts recommend checking your pets for ticks anytime they return from spending time outdoors. Run your fingers through their fur, checking for small bumps. With dogs, check in and around the ears, eyelids, and tail, under the collar and front legs, between the back legs, and between the toes. Ticks can be removed from pets the same way as from people, pulled gently and steadily with tweezers.
A variety of oral and topical products can help protect pets from ticks. For dogs, there are prescription oral chewables (such as NexGard), chemical collars (such as Seresto), and several topical options (such as Vectra 3D and Frontline). Similar products exist for cats. Dogs at risk can also be vaccinated against Lyme. These all come with risks of side effects, sometimes serious, so talk with your vet about the best, safest option. Never use dog products on cats or vice versa.
Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the May/June 2026 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
Kevin Loria is a senior reporter covering health and science at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2018, covering environmental health, food safety, infectious disease, fitness, and more. Previously, Kevin was a correspondent covering health, science, and the environment at Business Insider. Kevin lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and children. Follow him on X: @kevloria.
