Hi Cliff,

Thanks for your question.

For liability reasons, I don’t recommend individual medications. My license actually forbids me doing that. But I can certainly give you the kind of guidance you are looking for.

You’ve listed the 3 main agents that we look to protect our pets from throughout the summer and beyond. Most products that will be recommended to you will prevent a couple of these entities but not all of them. If you’re looking to be as financially efficient as possible, I would recommend that you do not buy a combination of products that may treat more than one of these agents. For example, many veterinarians will give you a product that protects against fleas and ticks, and then give you a product that protects against fleas and heartworm. You’ll end up paying more for these products combined because they both prevent and treat fleas. I recommend that you ask your veterinarian for a product that protects against fleas and ticks, and then ask for a product that protects against heartworm only. There is a monthly oral medication that is inexpensive which will protect against heartworm. Ask for this combination and you will be saving money while still providing complete protection for your pet.

Hope this helps,

Dr. Clayton Greenway