Best flea treatments for dogs

Top pick: NexGard PLUS — a monthly beef-flavored chew that kills fleas and ticks and also deworms (roundworms), so one tablet covers the three things dogs pick up most. No greasy spot-on, and it's labeled for puppies from 8 weeks. Best if your dog takes tablets easily and you want flea, tick and worm cover in one.

Who the others suit:

• Bravecto (chew or topical) — if you'd rather dose every 12 weeks than monthly; the topical suits dogs that spit out chews.
• Simparica / Simparica TRIO / Credelio Quattro — chewables for dogs that need broader parasite cover (TRIO and Quattro add heartworm and intestinal worms).
• Revolution — a topical that also handles mites and heartworm; good for sensitive dogs or homes with cats.
• K9 Advantix II / Advantix / Advantage II — budget spot-ons; Advantix repels mosquitoes and ticks too, but is toxic to cats, so skip it in cat households.
• Flea & Tick Spot On — the cheapest basic fipronil option for a quick flea-only fix.

Whatever you choose, treat every pet in the house and wash bedding, or fleas keep coming back. Prescription options need your vet's OK.