Flea & tick prevention for a 5-month Dalmatian

A 5-month-old Dalmatian heading out on first adventures — great timing to get protection in place before any real exposure happens. The most effective option depends on your dog's current weight, your local tick risk, and whether you'd prefer a monthly chewable, a spot-on, or a collar. Some widely sold products are noticeably less effective than others, so it's worth getting this right. Can you tell me roughly how much your pup weighs right now, whether you're walking in areas with high grass or woodland, and do you have any preference on treatment type — for example, some owners prefer chewables because there's nothing to wash off or for kids to touch?

Perfect, that makes the decision straightforward. At 14kg and in a known tick-heavy area like Leith Hill, you want something with solid tick kill speed — that matters because ticks need to be killed quickly to reduce disease transmission risk. What's your pup's current flea and tick prevention status — has she had anything so far, or is this her first treatment?

Bravecto is a solid product — it lasts 3 months per chew which is convenient. But for a young dog just starting out, I'd actually lean toward NexGard Spectra. It's a monthly chewable, licensed from 8 weeks and 2kg, so it's well-tested for puppies. At 14kg she'd take the medium dog dose. It covers fleas, ticks, and also lungworm, heartworm, and intestinal worms in one tablet — which is genuinely useful for a dog just starting to sniff around outdoors and eat things she shouldn't. It kills ticks within 24–48 hours, which is the window you need to prevent disease transmission. The monthly cycle also means you're checking in on her regularly as she grows and her dose may need adjusting. NexGard Spectra is prescription-only in the UK, so you'll need your vet to prescribe it — but it's available to buy from licensed online pharmacies like PetDrugs Online or VetUK once you have a prescription, which keeps the cost down compared to buying direct from the vet. It's the one I'd go with for her situation.

Yes — give it with or just after a meal. It's absorbed better with food and reduces any chance of a mild stomach upset, which is rare but can happen with any oral treatment in puppies. Most dogs take it willingly because it's beef-flavoured, but if she's fussy you can hide it in a small amount of wet food. Keep an eye on her for an hour or so the first time, just to be sure she tolerates it well — again, reactions are uncommon but worth watching for with any new medication. After that first dose you'll almost certainly find it completely uneventful every month. Given how fast Dalmatians grow, it's also worth weighing her monthly so you know when she moves into the next weight band — the dose steps up at 25kg.

That's the right move. Mention she's 14kg and currently unprotected, heading into tick-risk woodland — your vet will confirm NexGard Spectra is appropriate and give you the prescription on the spot. Once you have it, PetDrugs Online and VetUK are both reputable and usually cheaper than buying at the practice. Enjoy those first Leith Hill walks with her — Dalmatians love the space.