This is a specific conversation about Flea and tick prevention — what works — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
Switching from a collar to a monthly chewable is a popular move, and for a Miniature Schnauzer it usually works really well — tablets avoid the skin irritation some dogs get under collars and give you precise monthly dosing. The right product depends on your dog's exact weight, current health, and your local tick pressure. Can you tell me how much your Schnauzer weighs, whether they're on any regular medication, and whether ticks are a genuine concern where you walk them?
She's about 8kg, pretty healthy for her age but she's on a joint supplement. We do walk in woodland so ticks are definitely a worry. That's partly why I want to move away from the collar — it doesn't seem to be doing much.
inparticular.ai
8kg and woodland walks — that's exactly the profile where a collar often falls short for ticks, so the switch makes sense. Before I point you to a specific product, one quick question: has she ever had a chewable flea or tick treatment before, and does she have any known food sensitivities? Most of these tablets are pork- or beef-flavoured, which matters for the occasional dog with protein allergies.
No known sensitivities, she eats everything. Never had a chewable before though — always been on collars or spot-ons.
inparticular.ai
Perfect — no complicating factors there. My recommendation for her is NexGard (afoxolaner), the 4–10kg size. It's a beef-flavoured soft chew given once a month, it kills fleas within 24 hours and ticks within 48 hours, and it's well-studied in small breeds including older dogs. At 9 years old, a joint supplement isn't a contraindication, but do mention the switch to your vet at her next check — NexGard is prescription-only in the UK, so you'll need a vet sign-off anyway, which is actually a good thing for a senior dog. It's the clearest step up from what you've been using.
I didn't realise it was prescription-only. Is there anything over the counter that's comparable, just in case?
inparticular.ai
Honest answer: nothing over the counter matches NexGard for tick kill speed and reliability in a woodland-walking dog. The OTC chewables — things like Bob Martin or Beaphar — target fleas adequately but are weak on ticks. If getting a prescription is a hurdle, an online vet consultation through services like PetDrugs Online or VetUK can issue one quickly and affordably, sometimes same day. It's worth the ten minutes for a dog that's regularly in woodland. For fleas alone while you sort the prescription, Advantage spot-on (imidacloprid) is a solid OTC bridge — but I wouldn't rely on it for ticks.
That's really helpful, thank you. I'll get a vet consultation sorted and go for the NexGard.
inparticular.ai
Good call. One practical tip: give it with or just after a small meal — absorption is slightly better with food and it reduces any chance of a mild stomach reaction, which is rare but more likely on an empty stomach. At her weight you want the 4–10kg pack, and set a phone reminder for the same date each month. She should be much better protected once you're into the second month.
